Daher Adds More Safety, Interior Features in 2020 TBMs

Daher is rolling out more new features for the 2020 versions of its TBM 910 and 940, with the focus once again on further e-Copilot enhancements and cabin improvements. Following on the addition of automated icing protection for both models and autothrottle for the TBM 940 in 2019, this year’s e-Copilot extension is HomeSafe, an emergency autoland system—but only for the 940.

HomeSafe, which will be standard equipment on the TBM 940 going forward, is based on Garmin’s Autoland system and can automatically guide the aircraft to a landing in the event of pilot incapacitation. It integrates weather, traffic, and terrain information to select the optimum airport for landing, considering such conditions as fuel range, flight distance, and runway length. Certification in the TBM 940 is pending.

Meanwhile, both TBM models will have new leather and material finishes, including six color choices for seat coverings and side panels, more wood fittings, and three new floor carpet colors. An “enhanced operational package” offers eight pre-selected palettes named after TBM owners’ favorite travel destinations such as Atacama or Goose Bay.

Comfort-related enhancements added in the 2020 TBMs are headset stowage hooks behind the rear seats, additional cupholders, and a tablet device holder for the pilot on the side of the central console, as well as an optional quick-change storage unit that offers more space for carry-on items.

Surf Air Targets Short-haul Flights with BlackBird Buy

Private aviation membership company Surf Air has acquired online charter and per-seat marketplace BlackBird to create Surf Air Mobility Corp., which will target short-haul charter flights ranging from 50 to 400 miles.

“Similar to the way that three-sided marketplaces have transformed the home and ridesharing economies, BlackBird has unlocked the potential of general aviation with a simple consumer experience and by tapping into an existing underutilized asset base to create affordable on-demand flying,” said Surf Air CEO Sudhin Shahani. “Combining this with our scheduled membership platform will bring increased value and options to both of our customer bases and current and future operating partners.”

BlackBird founder and CEO Rudd Davis said 50 percent of all flights in the world are less than 500 miles and represent “a massive opportunity for us today.” As part of the acquisition, Davis has been named COO of Surf Air Mobility. “That opportunity will only grow as electric fixed-wing aircraft come to market over the next 24 months, making flying cheaper than driving,” he added.

The new company has also added Peter Evans, former head of operations for Virgin Atlantic Airways, as head of operations. He will have oversight of Surf Air Mobility's safety requirements and vetting and safety policies of all Part 135 operators on the network.

Analyst Considers BBD Future as Standalone Bizjet OEM

With a deal in place to sell its train unit and the promise of shaving billions in debt, Bombardier looks to emerge as a standalone business jet manufacturer. But business aviation analyst Brian Foley noted today that the historical record isn’t kind to general/business aviation OEMs that rely on a single market.

“The business jet industry can be extremely cyclical, which makes for some very rewarding highs followed by bone-crushing lows,” Foley wrote. “The biggest unknown is just how the company will weather the next swoon with all of its eggs in one basket.”

Comparing the history of airframers such as Piper, Mooney—which “just shut its doors, again”— and Eclipse, Foley pointed out Bombardier competitors Dassault, Gulfstream, and Textron Aviation have a fallback when the general/business aviation market falters: defense work. “Often the two are counter-cyclical, with firm-contract military contracts floating the civil side in bad times and vice-versa,” he noted.

Bombardier won’t have that diversification, but he said it is “a very viable business jet concern” with a well-known, respected brand and a popular Global line that was second in delivery units and value in 2018. Longer-term, Bombardier could be an attractive acquisition target for defense contractors. “The Gulfstream grab several years back by General Dynamics played out well and could be emulated by others such as Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman,” Foley explained.

NetJets On Upswing in 2019, but FSI Earnings Down

Improvements in leases and flight hours helped boost revenue in 2019 at fractional ownership provider NetJets, but losses involving a government contract led to a decline in earnings at sister company FlightSafety International (FSI), parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported on Saturday.

Both NetJets and FSI are part of Berkshire Hathaway’s “services group,” which also includes quick-service restaurants (Dairy Queen), furniture leasing, media, and chemical businesses, among others. Berkshire Hathaway did not specify returns for the individual businesses in this group but did say NetJets’ revenues in 2019 contributed to a modest 1.2 percent year-over-year boost in the overall revenues for the group.

Berkshire Hathaway pointed specifically to the number of aircraft on lease, as well as flight hours in those increases. However, this was offset by less revenue via prepaid flight cards. Berkshire Hathaway also credited improved operational efficiencies as helping to boost overall earnings at NetJets last year.

As for FlightSafety, Berkshire Hathaway said the training provider contributed to revenue increases “to a lesser extent.” However, FSI posted a decline in earnings associated with “significant losses related to an existing government contract that were recorded in the fourth quarter.”

In all, pre-tax earnings were down 8.4 percent for the services group.

Engine STC Gives New Life to Old Hueys

British Columbia-based Trinity Aviation Services has acquired the STC to install the 1,679-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67D engine into the Bell UH-1H Huey platform. Trinity’s “Huey Talon” engine installation, which can be accomplished in 30 days, reduces fuel consumption by 30 percent—down to 60 gallons per hour—and increases available high/hot power compared to the stock T53 engine, the company said. Trinity forecasts fuel savings at $144,000 per 600 flight hours.

“We feel these aircraft are here to stay. They are well known, forgiving, maintenance-friendly, and with the proper TLC will keep on providing us with a cost-effective workhorse for many years to come,” said Trinity Aviation general manager Warren Malmberg.

The new engine comes with a four-year, 1,500-hour warranty and a 4,000-hour TBO. The line-maintenance interval is quadrupled to 600 hours/one year. Overall maintenance cost and hourly operating costs are predicted to be 30 percent less than those of aircraft with the legacy engine. The new engine installation also yields a weight savings of 50 pounds, eliminates bleed-air requirements via installation of an electric oil cooler blower, and has a 15,000-foot relight certification.

Textron Wins Order for Five Medevac-equipped King Airs

An Australian operator has ordered five Beechcraft King Air 350is from Textron Aviation in an air ambulance configuration, the Wichita-based airframer announced yesterday. Deliveries of these turboprop twins to Pel-Air are expected to begin later this year and continue into 2021.

Based in New South Wales, Pel-Air will provide contracted air ambulance service to government agency NSW Air Ambulance, an emergency services provider for NSW Health Service. The new King Airs will be configured for multi-stretcher operations and equipped with aft cargo doors and heavyweight options for additional performance. To be based in Mascot at Sydney Airport, they will replace a mix of King Air B200s and B350s.

“The King Air has proven itself very adept for special missions, particularly for air ambulance operations in New South Wales, where much of the need is to and from rural areas and unimproved runways that dominate our service area,” said Pel-Air COO Eugene Lee. “A key to our success has been the timely customer service from Textron Aviation, who has already been supporting Pel-Air’s King Air fleet for the past 10 years in the Ambulance Victoria contract.”

Nearly 200 King Airs in a variety of configurations are supported in Australia by Textron Aviation.

FreeFlight Systems Joins ACR Family

ACR Group has purchased Irving, Texas-based avionics manufacturer FreeFlight Systems, a specialist in NextGen avionics including ADS-B Out/In systems and GPS receivers. ACR’s portfolio includes ELT maker Artex as well as Flight Data Systems, Latitude Technologies, and Skytrac Systems.

No financial details of the acquisition were released. FreeFlight will continue operating as an independent subsidiary, according to the company, “retaining the existing leadership, products, brand, locations, engineering capabilities, and sales team.”

“We’ve always made it our mission to make flying safer and more efficient with the highest-quality, longest-lasting, and most affordable products available,” said FreeFlight president and CEO Tim Taylor. “Both companies share common values and goals, with focuses on safety, product performance, and client satisfaction, and together we will continue to lead the industry in the development of critical technologies that support the aviation industry.”

In addition to Artex, ACR’s other divisions manufacture cockpit voice and flight data recorders, global aeronautical distress and safety systems, flight management systems, satellite datalink and voice communication systems, and monitoring and data-acquisition systems, including fight tracking and messaging.

Rideshare Provider Sees eVTOLs as Air Charter’s Future

Helicopter charter booking service Ascent is in talks with eVTOL aircraft developers about partnerships to support their use for urban air mobility air taxi services. The Singapore-based company also announced this week that it has committed to the United Nations Carbon Neutral Now pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of that effort, Ascent will support carbon offsetting programs to compensate for emissions from rideshare flights booked.

Ascent co-founder and chief commercial officer Darren T’ng told AIN that his company is in discussions with eVTOL developers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Based on these discussions, it believes commercial eVTOL operations could be ready to start in Asia during 2025. 

The company measures the carbon footprint of each flight it books using the International Civil Aviation Organization methodology to calculate carbon emissions per aircraft and per passenger, including ground transportation associated with these trips. It then compensates for these emissions through payments to certified Clean Development Mechanism projects approved by the UN.

Privately-owned Ascent was founded in 2018 and books flights with a network of approved helicopter operators across Southeast Asia. It recently added Philippines-based INAEC Aviation to its network, and this company recently ordered a new eight-seat SH09 single from Swiss manufacturer Kopter.

This story comes from AIN's FutureFlight.aero resource.