NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy expressed concern about the need to close “loopholes” for certain revenue passenger-carrying operations such as sightseeing or commercial air tour flights. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week during a hearing on FAA reauthorization, Homendy said the Safety Board “is particularly concerned about the safety of various revenue passenger-carrying operations that are conducted under Part 91.”
She cited as examples certain nonstop commercial air tours, sightseeing flights conducted in helicopters and hot air balloons, parachute jump flights, flight history experience sightseeing flights, glider sightseeing flights, air combat/extreme aerobatic experience flights, and tour flights conducted under the premise of student instruction or training flights.
“These operations, which carry thousands of paying passengers each year, are not held to the same maintenance, airworthiness, and operational standards as air carrier, commuter, and on-demand operation,” she said in her testimony, adding that people who pay to participate in these activities may not be aware the operator is held to less stringent safety requirements than other commercial operations.
The NTSB has recommended increased safety requirements and more comprehensive oversight of these operations. Specifically, the Safety Board believes there needs to be an appropriate framework for these types of revenue passenger-carrying flights conducted under Part 91, as well as mandatory safety management systems.
AINsight: Recent FAA Medical Updates and Controversies
All pilots who require any type of vision correction to meet FAA standards will notice new wording on their next FAA medical certificate. While there used to be seven vision restriction choices the AME could place on a pilot’s medical certificate—such as “must wear corrective lenses” or “must have available glasses for near vision”—there is now only one such choice.
The FAA made this change to simplify things for both pilots and AMEs alike, although at first glance this new limitation can be a bit confusing to read.
Please keep in mind that this only applies to visual acuity limitations and does not apply to separate vision restrictions. These include letters of eligibility or waivers (Statements of Demonstrated Ability) for color vision deficiencies or other types of conditions requiring specific FAA approval such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or true one-eye monovision.
This new change reflects only those limitations for run-of-the-mill use of corrective lenses for distant, near, and, when applicable, intermediate vision. The only limitation choice is now “must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances.”
A new business aircraft brokerage, Vertis Aviation Aircraft Trading, has been formed in Dubai by industry veterans Mark Abbott, Conan McGale, and Jeffrey Emmenis. The decision to launch the company was inspired by an increasing number of requests for aircraft transaction support from charter customers of sister company Vertis Aviation.
The company is focused on delivering “dependable, data-driven advice to existing and new buyers and sellers from pre- to post-transaction,” said Abbott, who serves as CEO. “In addition to supporting trading, we can help connect customers with reputable legal, financial, and fiscal professionals and advise on aircraft management, refurbishment, or maintenance options.”
Abbott splits his time between the Bahamas and Dubai, McGale is based in the UK, and Emmenis shares his time between Switzerland and Dubai. Vertis said the partners located themselves in key territories to support each market’s needs.
German MRO FAI Technik has opened a maintenance base at the Willy Brandt Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB). Located in the general aviation terminal, FAI’s new facility includes more than 36,000 sq ft of hangar space and 14,000 sq ft of workshops, stores, and offices. FAI Technik is the second MRO serving business aircraft at EDDB and the only one to support more than one aircraft manufacturer’s maintenance services. FAI will employ some 90 percent of Beechcraft Berlin Aviation’s (BBA) former workforce at the facility, following BBA’s filing for insolvency in 2022.
The location will offer line and base maintenance for aircraft including the Hawker HS125, Beechcraft Premier I/IA, and King Air-series aircraft and line maintenance checks to 1C for Gulfstreams including the G280, G450, G500, G550, and G650/650ER.
Additionally, an AOG team for Learjet and Bombardier aircraft will be deployed to support the FAI rent-a-jet fleet of Learjet 60, Challenger 604, and Global Express aircraft that regularly operate in and out of EDDB. The facility will complement FAI’s existing center of competence for base maintenance and modifications of Learjet and Bombardier aircraft at its headquarters at Albrecht Duerer Airport in Nuremberg.
Italy’s Riviera Airport is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the publication of a book entitled “Cento Anni al Volo” (“100 Years in Flight”), chronicling the airport’s history over the past century. A special event marking the milestone will take place at the airport on February 16.
Situated in Villanova d’Albenga, in Savona, the airport is located at the intersection of three countries, Italy, France, and Monaco. Originally named after Clemente Panero, a World War I hero, the airport initially served as a military airbase but became a civilian airport after World War II. In the late 1970s, it expanded into the freight sector. In 2016, business aviation and helicopters became the target clientele, with the UAE’s Hadid International Services taking over the site’s FBO management as Hadid Riviera in 2021.
“We want to invest, build hangars, and transform this location into a major hub for general and private aviation,” said Clemens Toussaint, a shareholder and v-p of Riviera Airport. “There is significant traffic from private jets on the Italian and French Riviera, so we want to position ourselves as an alternative. We intend to position the airport as the ‘gateway to Monaco,’ taking advantage of the proximity and the short flight time to the principality by helicopter.”
France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) has made the first test flight of an NH90 helicopter with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). During the February 3 flight from the DGA test center at Essais en vol in Istres, one of the helicopter’s two RTM322 engines was run on 100 percent SAF.
The flight was made without any engine modification and the fuel was previously validated during bench testing of an RTM322 in December at Safran Helicopter Engines' Bordes facility. Safran Helicopter Engines is working to certify operations with 100 percent SAF while assessing any operational impact amongst its partners and customers. Using 100 percent SAF offers a potential CO2 reduction of 80 percent. The company’s turbine range is currently certified to run on 50 percent SAF.
The NH90 flight was made in cooperation with Safran, Airbus Helicopters, and Total Energies. Total produced the fuel from used cooking oil using hydro processed esters and fatty acids technology, which has a carbon footprint four times smaller than that of fossil fuels and meets the European Union's 65 percent abatement requirement for sustainable fuels.
Hartzell Propeller has appointed Diamond—Sao Paulo as its second recommended service facility (RSF) in Brazil. Hartzell's other facility is Diamond Aviação in Goiania, which was appointed 40 years ago.
Both operations are owned by Licurgo and Geisa Sousa, and they are the only propeller shops in Brazil approved by Hartzell to provide technical support, service (including repair and overhaul), warranty support, delivery, and product sales.
To bolster support in the southeast region of Brazil, Diamond Sao Paulo is ISO 9001 quality-management-system certified and is Hartzell’s 25th RSF. It joins an RSF network that spans the Americas, Australia, Europe, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
Hartzell RSF’s must meet requirements for on-site quality, systems, and process audits; employ factory-trained, qualified propeller technicians; maintain approved propeller tools and equipment; and meet the company’s special process approvals on an ongoing basis.
Air ambulance provider Global Medical Response (GMR) has signed a purchase agreement for three additional Bell 407GXi helicopters for delivery by year-end. “Bell is fully committed to GMR’s mission, and we are proud to continue supporting them with these versatile aircraft,” said Lane Evans, Bell director for North American sales. Nearly 500 air ambulance-configured Bell helicopters operate daily and have accumulated more than one million flight hours.
GMR operates 220 Bell helicopters throughout North America and is the largest medical transport company in the world with 39,000 employees in more than 4,000 communities. GMR-affiliated brands include American Medical Response, Rural Metro Fire, Air Evac Lifeteam, Reach Air Medical Services, Med-Trans Corporation, AirMed International, and Guardian Flight. In 2021, GMR transported more than 125,000 patients.
The Bell 407GXi turbine single features the Garmin G1000H NXi integrated flight deck, providing connectivity to tablets and smartphones, high-definition imagery, and advanced displays. More than 1,600 Bell series 407 helicopters are in service worldwide.
Photo of the Week
Philly special. Jomar Aviation crew chief Joseph Schepis snapped this nighttime photo last month when his company’s Gulfstream IV-SP “sat proudly” on a rainy ramp at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE). You should be proud, Joseph—this is one beautiful bird. And thanks for sharing this photo, too!
Keep them coming. 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.
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