Rolls-Royce Plans ‘Smooth’ Pearl 15 Ramp Up

Rolls-Royce is ready to proceed with production of its new Pearl 15 turbofan that powers Bombardier’s new Global 6500 and 5500 twinjets following FAA certification of the engine on December 20, marking a major milestone for Rolls-Royce’s Pearl family. This family also includes the Pearl 700 that will power Gulfstream’s new G700, plans of which were unveiled at NBAA-BACE in October.

“We have completed all the preparations for our manufacturing processes to support Bombardier’s production rates and our new 24/7 Business Aviation Availability Centre is ready to support the Pearl 15’s smooth entry into service,” Rolls-Royce spokesman Stefan Wriege told AIN today. 

FAA certification of the Pearl 15, designated as BR700-710D5-21, builds upon certification the engine has already received from EASA and Transport Canada. The Pearl 15 features the same nacelle envelope as its predecessor, the BR710, but is more powerful with a maximum certified thrust of 15,250 pounds and up to 7 percent better fuel burn. It also is quieter by 2 decibels and shows a 20 percent improvement in nitrogen oxide emissions.

The Pearl also comes equipped with a new-generation engine health monitoring system with advanced vibration detection, remote engine diagnostics, and bi-directional communications that allow for easy remote reconfiguration of engine-monitoring features from the ground.

Pilots Arrested in Connection with Ghosn’s Escape

Turkish police have arrested four pilots and three other individuals in connection with the escape of former automotive executive Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon. The former Nissan CEO, who is facing serious charges of financial malpractice, appears to have been concealed in a private jet when he fled Japan late on Sunday and then appeared in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday after changing aircraft in Istanbul.

Interior ministry officials in Turkey confirmed the arrests to local media, without naming the individuals or their companies. However, the pilots are understood to be with an Istanbul-based charter company, while two other individuals reportedly work for a local handling company and another person is associated with a cargo company.

Analysis of flights leaving Japan on the evening of December 29 highlighted a Bombardier Global Express (tail number TC-TSR) departing Osaka Kansai Airport at 11:10 p.m. local time and arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport at 5:26 a.m. local time. At 6:30 a.m. a Bombardier Challenger 300 (tail number TC-RZA) departed Istanbul, arriving in Beirut at 6:14 a.m. local time.

Both aircraft are registered to Istanbul-based MNG Jet Aerospace. The company did not respond to requests from AIN to confirm whether its aircraft and personnel had been involved in Ghosn’s journey from Japan.

Cessna SkyCourier ‘Not Impacted’ by Explosion

Cessna's SkyCourier prototype appears to have been spared from the impact of an explosion on Friday at Textron Aviation's building in east Wichita, the airframer told AIN this week. “While the building damage assessment continues, the location of the company’s Cessna SkyCourier development program in Plant 3 appears to have not been impacted,” the company said.

Around 8 a.m. on December 27, the massive building that houses Textron Aviation’s composite manufacturing and experimental aircraft fabrication was damaged by a liquid nitrogen explosion, causing part of it to collapse and sending 11 workers to the hospital. Four others were treated at the scene. Textron Aviation said its primary focus remains on workers affected by the blast that could be heard and felt several miles away.

“The priorities at this time include continued care and support of our employees who were injured and assistance to those who were otherwise impacted, determining the structural integrity of the building, ensuring the safety and security of our employees and response team personnel, and coordination and cooperation with all investigations as to cause,” the statement said.

A Textron Aviation spokeswoman had earlier confirmed that the building housed its new SkyCourier twin-turboprop development program, which recently marked a milestone with the mating of the prototype's fuselage and wing.

Bizav Groups Cheer Tax Credit Promoting SAF

The business aviation community is resoundingly endorsing a measure included in the recently passed government-wide funding bill that industry leaders say will promote and develop use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill, which was signed into law on December 20 shortly after clearing the House and Senate that week, restores an expired biodiesel tax credit through 2022. The tax credit applies to qualified producers or blenders of sustainable fuels derived from biomass.

In a joint statement, the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Coalition called the tax incentive vital to the industry’s efforts to research, produce, and scale SAF use. “Ten years ago, the business aviation community made a commitment to sustainability and carbon-neutral growth. Utilization of SAF by business aviation operators is an important part of this commitment,” said the business aviation coalition.

“This innovative fuel can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80 percent, and they are a critical part of business aviation’s commitment to sustainability,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

NATA COO Timothy Obitts said the tax incentives, along with other initiatives such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, “will help create the supply of sustainable aviation fuels that the business aviation industry is demanding. SAF is one of the critical pieces that will help the industry achieve cleaner skies for future generations.”

AOPA Pans GAO’s FBO Pricing Report

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) described the recent report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on FBO pricing as lackadaisical and said it “misses the mark.” While the GAO report concluded that FBO pricing has not been identified as a widespread area of concern, AOPA’s primary gripe with the findings appears to be that it does not specifically back AOPA’s call for FBO pricing transparency, particularly at AIP grant-funded airports.

AOPA noted while that most FBOs charge fair and reasonable fees for services, others, particularly those in sole-provider situations, do not publish rates and charges, often surprising pilots with higher-than-expected fees.

In its rebuttal, AOPA stated, “It is disappointing that the GAO, the guardian of taxpayer dollars, failed to thoroughly address all aspects of federal grant requirements. The report reflects a complete lack of contextual knowledge of the industry and how it is intended to operate.”

AOPA also disputed the report's interpretation of market economics, which suggested that pilots dissatisfied with an FBO's pricing should simply use a different airport. Instead, AOPA said community airports are meant to be available to all pilots on reasonable terms.

Further, AOPA railed that the report failed to acknowledge its assertation that charts for all public-use airports should clearly indicate any non-FBO-controlled ramp space for aircraft parking when FBO services are not desired.

MRO Providers Consider 2020’s Challenges, Prospects

MRO providers are divided by what lies ahead for their business in 2020. While they benefitted to some degree from the FAA’s ADS-B Out mandate over the past couple of years, their business in 2019 continued to be driven largely by scheduled maintenance, equipment obsolescence, and improvements in avionics suites and connectivity.

Constant Aviation CEO Stephen Maiden said this year looks uncertain because of the upcoming Presidential election, as well as talk of an economic downturn in some business aviation circles.

“I think we all go to ask, 'What is 2020 going to look like?'—and it’s going to tie to an election year,” Maiden told AIN. “And is there a downturn in the market coming and how is that going to affect not normal scheduled maintenance?” He further questioned how a downturn could affect “discretionary spending,” such as interior and avionics upgrades. “I think that's where the concern is, or where the focus is.”

Duncan Aviation CEO Aaron Hilkemann told AIN he expects 2020 to continue to be a growth year for the Lincoln, Nebraska-based MRO, with work coming from scheduled maintenance and inspections, as well as replacement activity for cabin management systems and connectivity upgrades.

C&L Aerospace regional sales manager of corporate MRO Ron Jennings told AIN he’s seeing more activity in helping owners of aging business aircraft make upgrade determinations.

FAA Reminds of Changes in Approach Formatting

The latest issue of FAA Satellite News includes a reminder that WAAS LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) approach plates for runway ends won’t be listed as WAAS LPV, “or at least not in plain sight like you would see on an ILS approach plate.” According to the agency, an LPV is considered a “precision like” approach procedure.

For example, Runway 6 at Nantucket Memorial (ACK) has both an ILS and an LPV. One approach plate outlines the ILS or localizer approach with the title on top clearly stating it is an approach plate for the ILS or localizer approach. However, the LPV approach plate for the same runway is titled as an RNAV (GPS) approach.

“The older GPS based non-precision approach format is being phased out with a newer format prefaced by the acronym RNAV,” said the FAA. “An example would be the change from ‘GPS RWY 18’ to ‘RNAV (GPS) RWY 18.’ All GPS-based approaches moving forward are RNAV—to include LPV, LNAV/VNAV, LNAV, LP, and stand-alone GPS approaches. When looking for an LPV line of minimums at the runway end, it will be titled RNAV (GPS) RWY XX.”

The FAA has certified close to 4,500 LPV procedures, and more than 90,000 general aviation aircraft, including about 8,000 business jets and turboprops, are equipped to fly WAAS-enabled LPV or LP procedures.

Latécoère To Buy Bombardier’s Mexico Wiring Systems Biz

Latécoère has inked a definitive agreement to acquire Bombardier’s electrical wiring interconnection system business in Querétaro, Mexico, for $50 million, the companies announced on Tuesday. The deal is expected to close in the first half, following customary approvals.

Under a separate long-term agreement, Latécoère will supply electrical wiring systems for all Bombardier Aviation platforms—including Globals, Challengers, and Learjets—from the existing Querétaro facility. Approximately 700 employees are dedicated to the manufacture of these wiring systems at the Querétaro plant, according to Bombardier. The annual turnover of the business is anticipated to be around $80 million, the companies said.

The sale will not affect the remainder of Bombardier’s operations at its Querétaro site, which will continue to produce major structures for Bombardier aircraft, such as the aft fuselage for the Global family, including the company’s flagship Global 7500. Bombardier said these aft fuselages are the most complex aircraft component that it manufactures in Mexico.

Count on AIN for Full Coverage of Heli-Expo

As ever, you can count on AIN for full coverage of the 2020 Heli-Expo Convention. Our team will publish three of our award-winning daily HAI Convention News editions at the show on January 28, 29, and 30. We will also have comprehensive real-time reporting of all the top news at AINonline.com and in our daily e-newsletters. If you are an exhibiting company that wants to share news or propose pre-show interviews and briefings please contact show editor Kerry Lynch.