Bizav Operators Prep To Start CORSIA Monitoring

On January 1, business aircraft operators around the world are set to start participating in a new carbon offsetting scheme designed by ICAO. The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is expected to see a smooth introduction.

According to Bruce Parry, environment director for the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), ICAO has provided a range of CORSIA templates to address concerns that small operators—often with a single aircraft—simply do not have the resources to administer complex schemes.

Also to reduce the administrative impact on the industry, IBAC and its member business aviation associations have ensured operators are made aware of emissions and exemptions and provided an online “ready reckoner” so operators can quickly assess whether they are likely to ultimately need to take part and pay for offsets.

“If you’re in the exemption zone you don’t need to do any reporting,” said Parry, the small operator threshold being 10,000 metric tons of CO2 per year and aircraft with less than 5,700-kg/12,566-pound mtow.

With 2019 and 2020 being “benchmarking” years, 2021 will mark the start of the first three-year offsetting period, after which operators will be required to buy carbon offsets on the international market. The scheme is not set to become mandatory until Jan. 1, 2027. Parry advised that operators concern themselves with monitoring now and leave offsetting until later.

Graves Takes Leadership Role on House T&I Committee

U.S. House Republican leaders selected Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) to lead the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans in the 116th Congress beginning in January. Graves is filling the post that Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) will vacate when he retires at the end of the current Congress. But unlike Shuster, who chaired the committee, Graves will be the ranking Republican in the new Congress as the Democrats take control of the House.

Shuster called Graves an “outstanding choice” to fill the top Republican spot on the T&I committee. “I have known Sam Graves since I came to Congress, and in that time I have learned that no one has as much knowledge and passion for the issues before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as Sam,” Shuster said. “He knows how important infrastructure is to our economy and the everyday lives of Americans.”

A general aviation pilot who has co-chaired the House GA Caucus, Graves has worked closely with the business and general aviation community on numerous issues during his time in Congress. He also found himself at loggerheads with the community as he backed Shuster’s ill-fated proposal to create an independent, user-funded organization to run the nation’s air traffic control organization.

ADS-B Out Deadline Looms for Some PBN Routes in India

Beginning next month, ADS-B Out will be required for aircraft flying certain performance-based navigation (PBN) routes in Indian airspace above FL290, according to newly released Airports Authority of India AIP supplement 148/2018. The PBN routes in Indian airspace include those with designators L, M, N, P, Q, and T, as well as routes A201, A347, A465. A474, A791, B211, B466. G450, R457, R460, R461, W15, W19, W20, W29, W41, W43, W45, W47, W56S/N, W67, W111, W112, W114, W115, W118, and W153.

Aircraft not equipped with ADS-B Out will still be able to fly these routes below FL290, the authority said.

ADS-B equipment must meet equipage certification requirements and aircraft operational approval in accordance with EASA, U.S. FAA, Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia, or India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Aircraft operators must indicate the appropriate ADS-B designator in item 10 of the ICAO Flight Plan form to be able to fly these routes above FL290.

Sacramento Flying First Police Bell 505

Bell has delivered the first law enforcement-configured 505 Jet Ranger X light-single helicopter to the Sacramento (California) Police Department. The aircraft is equipped with high skid gear, forward/aft hard points for mounting equipment, a 15-inch monitor with moving map system, loudhailer, MX-10 EO/IR Sensor, and Trakka Beam Searchlight. 

“The ergonomic seats allow the pilot and tactical flight officer to fly for hours comfortably, and the large windows allow for greater visibility that makes searching for suspects and missing persons easier,” said Sergeant Randy Van Dusen of the Sacramento Police Department’s Air Operations Team.

As equipped, the helicopter costs approximately $2.8 million, with associated police equipment accounting for $1.1 million of that. The majority of the purchase price came from state grants and more than $400,000 from federal and state asset seizures. The department currently operates two military surplus Bell OH-58 helicopters.

The Stockton, California police department will also soon receive a new 505 and is slated to begin flying it in March. Its helicopter is comparably equipped and priced. Stockton received a $3 million state grant toward the purchase and operation of the helicopter. It estimates associated initial annual operating and fixed costs for the 505 at $1.7 million based on flying 16 hours per week.

GMSTEK Acquires Aircraft Information Guide Publisher

GMSTEK, developer of FBO management and payment processing software system X-1FBO, has acquired Sandpiper Media, the publisher of aviation technical publications that includes the Aircraft Service Directory, Aircraft Movement Guide, Aircraft Handler’s Guide, and Aircraft Crash Rescue Guide.

“Our mission is to provide end-to-end products for general aviation that not only serve, but raise the bar in management, payment processing, and making needed information available conveniently and in real time,” said George Reyes, founder and CEO of Florida-based GMSTEK. “Safety and quality control are critical issues in aviation, and this acquisition will enable GMSTEK to make critical QC and safety information available easily and in real time.”

Sandpiper was founded in 1989, and its reference books have received an international readership. “I am truly pleased to pass the stewardship of Sandpiper into such motivated and capable hands,” noted company founder Jerry Clausing. “GMSTEK shares my vision of providing information and services to the general aviation industry that truly make a difference.”

Waguespack Joins NATA as Vice President

Ryan Waguespack, most recently vice president of business development with Summit Aviation, has joined the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as vice president, focusing on membership and serving the needs of the charter, MRO, and aircraft management sectors.

As an association member, he recently served as the chair of NATA’s work force development committee and illegal charter task force, as well as vice chair of the air charter committee. The founder of the Alabama Business Aviation Association, Waguespack has served in business development roles with several aircraft charter and management companies, as well as in aircraft sales.

“Ryan has been an active participant in NATA and is well versed in our members’ issues and needs,” said Gary Dempsey, who was recently named president of the organization. “Ryan’s range of aviation experience and vision to elevate and continuously help the industry to evolve in these changing times are invaluable to fulfilling NATA’s strategic goals and mission.”

Satcom Direct Tapped as Leading Supplier for Jet ConneX

Satcom Direct (SD) has been appointed a top-level value-added reseller for Inmarsat Jet ConneX, allowing it to provide this high-speed data service directly to the business aviation community. According to SD, this new status brings more choices to its recently launched SD Xperience, which offers an end-to-end solution for cabin and cockpit communications services, aircraft connectivity hardware, and flight operations software.

“SD was the first business aviation communications provider to provision its services and transmit data over Inmarsat’s first two Global Xpress satellites. We’re delighted that our partnership continues to grow, and we’ve become the leading supplier of Jet ConneX to the global business aviation sector,” said SD president David Greenhill. “Additionally, SD proprietary solutions enhance and optimize the Jet ConneX service to deliver unmatched performance in the air. These services allow operators to manage and maximize bandwidth, improve voice call quality, prioritize passenger data, and more.”

Inmarsat Aviation president Philip Balaam said there are currently more than 400 Jet ConneX activations in the global business aviation market.

FAA Shifts Key Leaders in AIR, UAS as Baker Retires

The U.S. FAA promoted Earl Lawrence to executive director of the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR), succeeding Dorenda Baker, who retired after 32 years with AIR. Lawrence moves over to AIR from his role as executive director for the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office. Jay Merkle, who had been deputy vice president for the FAA Air Traffic Organization’s Program Management Office, steps into the role Lawrence is vacating. Both Lawrence and Merkle take their new posts on December 9 and report to FAA associate administrator for aviation safety Ali Bahrami.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association praised Baker's tenure with AIR. “She has played a pivotal role in defining a strategic vision and organization for AIR Transformation while establishing a culture of partnership and collaboration among stakeholders to effectively respond to safety, technology, and efficiency needs,” the association said. 

Lawrence brings a strong general aviation background to his new role, serving as vice president for industry and regulatory affairs at the Experimental Aircraft Association before joining the FAA in 2010. He formerly was director of the FAA Small Airplane Directorate before taking the lead on the UAS Integration Office.

Meanwhile, Merkle has 25 years of engineering and program management experience both with the FAA and the defense industry.

Best Tugs Reinvents the Aircraft Tug with Echo Line

Think of the Best Tugs Echo electric tug as the Tesla Model 3 of aircraft tugs. For a little less than half the price of a Model 3, an FBO or MRO can safely and efficiently move aircraft up to 24,000 pounds in and out of hangars and around the ramp with cutting-edge electronic controls including an autothrottle.