Bombardier Business Aircraft has pressed its first European-based Mobile Response Team (MRT) jet—a Challenger 300—into service, the Canadian airframer announced today. The twinjet recently completed its first mission from its base in Frankfurt, Germany, providing assistance to a European customer with unscheduled maintenance, according to Bombardier.
“With this investment, we are adding expertise and increasing accessibility to OEM support for our European operators and paving the way for the industry’s largest and longest-range business jet—our flagship Global 7500—which is now in service,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, v-p and general manager of customer experience for Bombardier Business Aircraft. The MRT Challenger 300 will augment the shipping of parts from Bombardier’s main European parts distribution hub at Frankfurt International Airport.
Its 3,065-nm range and top speed of Mach 0.83 allows the aircraft to timely reach from Frankfurt the jet manufacturer’s installed base of more than 700 aircraft in Europe and the Middle East, Bombardier said.
The super-midsize jet supplements seven line maintenance stations in Europe—Luton, UK; Linz, Austria; Paris, Nice, and Cannes, France; and Milan and Olbia, Italy—as well as its service center at London Biggin Hill Airport and the jointly owned Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services in Berlin, Germany. The Challenger is Bombardier’s second MRT aircraft worldwide. It has an MRT Learjet 45 based in Chicago, where Bombardier operates a parts-distribution hub.
Honeywell To Debut Hybrid-electric Engine at Heli-Expo
Honeywell Aerospace’s hybrid-electric turbogenerator that will power the first generation of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft will make its public debut early next month at Heli-Expo, the Phoenix-based company announced today. The hybrid powerplant is an electrified version of its 1,100-shp HTS900 gas turbine engine used on Kopter’s SH09 light turbine helicopter and Eagle Copters’ Eagle 407HP conversion.
“In regards to urban air mobility, that’s really the sweet spot [for shaft horsepower],” Bryan Wood, who runs the hybrid propulsion division for Honeywell Aerospace’s engines and power systems group, told AIN. “This is an engine that we’ve decided to highlight. It has a very competitive power density and specific fuel consumption.”
A gearbox mounted to the HTS900 drives a pair of 200-kilowatt generators, Wood said. “We’re actually able to produce power from the engine, which then feeds into the generators, which will then downstream spin motors,” he said. The generators’ output is enough to power 40 average American homes running air conditioners at their highest setting, Honeywell said.
In tandem with batteries, the hybrid will produce 30 to 50 percent fewer carbon emissions than the traditional HTS900 engine. XTI’s TriFan 600 is the first airframe where the turbogenerator will be used, though Wood added there are “other customers as well that we’re very engaged in conversation with” about using it.
At 100, AIA Eyes Tariffs, Workforce, Ex-Im Issues
Celebrating its centennial year, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) outlined a four-pronged agenda for 2019 that focuses on government funding, trade barriers, a level playing field, and workforce issues. AIA president and CEO Eric Fanning last week detailed the plans for the association’s landmark anniversary year, including calling on Congress to fill out the board of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, monitoring progress on trade negotiations to ensure tariffs don't have unintended consequences, and ensuring regulations foster technologies such as supersonics.
The association also plans to launch three foundational studies that explore what the past 100 years of aerospace and defense have meant “in our daily life,” a Vision 2050 probe that looks at what’s ahead on the horizon, and a third long-term view of what is necessary for success in the next 100 years.
“One thing we do know, and it seems to resonate when we talk about this, is that when our industry is successful, what's good for our industry is good for the American economy,” Fanning said. Last year, he said, aerospace recorded $865 billion in economic output, had a positive trade balance of $86 billion (the largest of any U.S. exporting sector), had a workforce that has grown to 2.4 million people, and paid $220 billion in wages and benefits.
Astronics’ Max-Viz Approved for Leonardo’s AW109, AW119
The FAA and Transport Canada have approved Astronics Corp.’s amended STC to equip Leonardo AW109 and AW119 helicopters with the Max-Viz 2300 Enhanced Vision System (EVS), the New York-based company announced today. The amended STC was obtained in cooperation with Avio Design Group in Calgary, Canada.
With these approvals, multifunction displays, primary displays, or standalone displays can now show EVS images produced by the Max-Viz 2300, Astronics said. The STC amendment upgrades the wiring package to include VIVISUN switches for better utilization with night vision goggles in search-and-rescue, emergency medical services, aerial firefighting, and military missions.
“Our technology provides pilots with an unprecedented level of situational awareness and safety,” said Tom Geiger, Astronics Max-Viz business unit manager. “We worked closely with Avio DG to get this technology approved for daily missions on these Leonardo helicopters,” he added.
Max-Viz allows pilots to see better at night and in conditions such as haze, smoke, smog, and light fog. Astronics said it expects a recent FAA ruling permitting aircraft with the appropriate equipment to fly certain IFR landing approaches to drive greater acceptance of EVS technology. Of the more than 3,250 installed Max-Viz enhanced vision units, 60 percent are on fixed-wing aircraft while 40 percent are on helicopters, the company said.
Simhawk has rebranded to Avmkt to reflect the expanded services it is now offering through its online aviation marketplace. Launched some two years ago to match buyers and sellers of simulator time and training, the company can now connect buyers and sellers of other aviation services such as paint and interiors, avionics upgrades, aircraft maintenance, and crew services.
“Working with thousands of Simhawk buyers and sellers over the past few years, we realized that the same challenges existed for pilots, aircraft owners, and operators looking to find and buy the numerous other services that are needed to keep them and their aircraft flying,” said Avmkt founder and CEO Chris Weinberg.
In conjunction with the new name, Avmkt has improved its marketplace platform that allows buyers to create a profile of the services that they need, for specific aircraft, so they will be automatically notified whenever a supplier posts an offer. Additionally, aviation suppliers can now post available capacity and directly reach operators of a specific aircraft type or category.
Avmkt has a mix of free and paid membership plans available, depending on the service level desired. New buyers who sign up by July 31 will receive a free upgrade to Avmkt Buyer Plus. It is also free for contract/freelance pilots to list themselves for hire on the platform.
Atlas Air Service Wraps First Tamarack Install on CJ2+
Germany-based Cessna Citation maintenance specialist Atlas Air Service has completed its first installation of Tamarack active winglets on a German-registered CJ2+. According to the manufacturer, its winglets are the only ones currently on the market that can reduce time to climb and fuel consumption, as well as improve range and stability, without significant structural modifications.
Atlas noted that test flights on the aircraft showed a significantly better climb rate and “noticeably enhanced stability” in windy conditions. The family-run MRO, which operates one of the largest authorized Cessna Citation service centers in Europe, was named an authorized center last year by Tamarack.
“Being a Citation jet expert, we can offer an active winglet upgrade during the regular maintenance slot here in Bremen,” said Serkan Akin, the company’s manager for CAMO and MRO business control. “By doing so, we reduce downtime and ferry costs for our clients.”
Purdue Adding FSI-built Hawker 900XP Simulator
Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology is adding an FAA level-D Hawker 900XP simulator that will allow Purdue to be the only university to offer Hawker simulator training, it announced today. The simulator, designed and manufactured by FlightSafety International, will arrive later this spring and be ready for use by the fall in the Holleman-Niswonger Simulator Center at Purdue University Airport in Indiana.
“We are the only university in the nation to offer jet-type training integrated into our bachelor of science degree program,” said Manoj Patankar, the Raisbeck Engineering Professor of Aviation Technology and head of the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. “Adding the Hawker simulator is a giant leap in collegiate flight education that gives our students a significant competitive advantage upon graduation.”
The new Hawker sim will join the school’s Embraer Phenom 100, Bombardier CRJ700, and Cirrus SR20 training devices, as well as several part-task trainers. “We plan on acquiring a full spectrum of flight training devices that allow us to expand our capacity to support the increasing enrollment, conduct leading research projects, and keep our students competitive in the job market,” Patankar said.
Bristow’s Delayed Financials Tied To Helicopter Engines
Bristow Group remains unable to file its latest quarterly financial report (Form 10-Q) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company announced this morning. The helicopter operator said it needs “additional time” to “complete a review of its existing processes and controls to ensure compliance with non-financial covenants within certain secured financing and helicopter lease agreements” before filing the report.
It also offered more specifics as to the “material weaknesses” in internal controls it announced on February 11, saying this relates to “certain pledged and leased helicopter engines…not matched to specific pledged or leased helicopter airframes or returned to such airframes within specified periods, as is required under certain of the secured financing and helicopter lease agreements.”
According to Bristow, the issue affects a small number of its 385 helicopter engines subject to secured financing or helicopter leases, noting the issue was discovered and cured for all but nine engines related to three agreements before December 31. Those engines were not returned to pledged airframes due to delays with certain maintenance service providers, Bristow said, adding it has obtained non-compliance waivers under applicable agreements related to those engines.
Bristow said the delay in filing its latest quarterly report (Form 10-Q) could trigger a delisting warning from the New York Stock Exchange.
AIN’s Tales from the Flight Deck Podcast: Emergency Response
When an aircraft emergency situation strikes, as a pilot, how prepared will you be to deal with it? For both an experienced aviator with thousands of hours of stick time and a novice on the first solo flight, proper training, a level head, and the ability to focus on the task can carry the day.
Airbus Helicopters appointed Alain Flourens as head of industry, succeeding Christian Cornille, who departed the company. Flourens is currently head of engineering and formerly was head of the A380 program for Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Stefan Thomé succeeds Flourens as head of engineering, moving over from his role as head of new business models and services at Airbus Defence and Space. Thome has also held multiple roles with Airbus Helicopters.
Richard Ramsden joined Ramjet Aviation as senior vice president. Ramsden, who is now on the board of the firm led by his son, Jeff Ramsden, recently retired from Wells Fargo Equipment Finance as vice president and territory management in the corporate aircraft division and has also served with The CIT Group and Bombardier Capital during his 50 years of experience.
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) named Katherine Hilst operations manager for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) program. Hilst, who has owned her own helicopter trekking and safety consulting companies, brings a background as a professional pilot, safety management expert, instructor, aviation lawyer, and experienced IS-BAO auditor to her new role.
FlightSafety International promoted Michelle Dodson to assistant manager of the Wichita East Learning Center. A former air tour and airline pilot, Dodson has served with FlightSafety since 2001, originally as a Dassault Falcon 20 instructor at the DFW North Learning Center and later as a program manager, assistant director of standard, and director of standards.
Kent Wong, Metrojet Limited head of safety and quality, was elected to the Standards Board for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). Nominated by the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), Wong oversees Metrojet’s safety management system.
Tim Kelly is moving to the position of regional sales manager for the Great Lakes region at Duncan Aviation. Most recently regional avionics sales manager, Kelly joined Duncan in May 2018 and has more than 30 years of aviation experience with Honeywell and predecessor companies. Separately, Duncan named Ryan Blake as the new Gulfstream airframe sales and services representative in Provo, Utah. A long-time pilot in the Salt Lake City area, Blake joined Duncan in November.
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 AIN Publications, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
For advertising in AIN Alerts please contact Nancy O'Brien at nobrien@ainonline.com.
