Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency has awarded Honda Aircraft type certification of the HondaJet Elite, the Greensboro, North Carolina-based airframer announced yesterday. Immediately following certification, the first HondaJet with Russian registration began operating in the region, the company reported.
Honda Aircraft's light twinjet holds type certification from 13 regulatory agencies. They include the FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, Mexico AFAC, Brazil ANAC, Argentina ANAC, Panama AAC, India DGCA, Japan JCAB, China CAAC, Turkey DGCA, and Pakistan PCAA.
“The HondaJet Elite is well suited to the needs of business travelers in Russia and the CIS as it can provide safe, quick, and efficient transport between cities in the region or between Russia and the European Union,” said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Our objective is to change the way we travel by growing the market for business aviation. We are excited to see that the first HondaJet in Russia is already in operation and look forward to further expanding our Russian fleet.”
The worldwide HondaJet fleet now numbers more than 170 that have collectively flown more than 63,000 hours.
Airbus Helicopter Deliveries Dipped in 2020
Airbus Helicopters reported annual 2020 results this morning, including 289 gross orders (net: 268) and 300 deliveries that amount to a 48 percent share of the world civil and parapublic market. These numbers are down from 2019, when the company posted 369 orders and 332 deliveries to achieve a 54 percent market share.
The company primarily lost market share to Russian Helicopters and Bell, while marginally gaining share from Leonardo. CEO Bruno Even noted key accomplishments on the year, including the certification of the five-blade H145 medium twin and the H160 intermediate twin, as well as the continued development of the zero-emissions CityAirbus eVTOL demonstrator. Highlights in 2020 included the delivery of the first five-blade H145 to launch customer Norsk Luftambulanse and, later in the year, to DRF Luftrettung; the handover of the 463rd UH-72A from the Airbus factory in Columbus, Mississippi; and the first H225M and NH90 deliveries to the Kuwait Air Force and the Spanish Air Force, respectively.
The significantly recorded orders count included 84 H145s, including 17 UH-72Bs for the US Army; 33 H135 light twins and EASA certification of improvements for that aircraft including alternate gross weight and a new single-pilot IFR cockpit layout; and orders for the new H160 from leasing company Milestone Aviation and Heli-Union. The German Bundeswehr ordered 31 NH90s to replace its aging Sea Lynx fleet.
Daher is bolstering its flight training efforts with the appointment of TBM mentor and factory demo pilot Wayman Luy to the newly created position of director of training and standards. In this role, Luy is tasked with developing standardized training programs for both pilots and instructors and folding in tools such as computer simulation, online learning, and e-learning for TBM and Kodiak turboprop singles.
In addition, Luy will be responsible for oversight of factory-approved flight training organizations. These include U.S.-based Parkwater Aviation, which offers training courses and the only full-motion simulator for the Kodiak; SimCom Aviation Training, which offers TBM courses and simulator training in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Orlando, Florida; and, France-based Sim-Aero A.T.O, which provides EASA-certified TBM training.
“With nearly 1,300 Kodiaks and TBMs now flying worldwide, we are more focused than ever on providing owners and operators with the knowledge and skills to operate their aircraft at the maximum level of safety,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior v-p of Daher’s aircraft division. “To be fully effective across the user base, this must be carried out in a standardized manner.”
An Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate, Luy accumulated 6,000 hours in his TBM roles over the past 16 years. He further spent 20 years working with flight students at Wayman Aviation Academy, which was established by his father in 1987.
Another drone has collided with a helicopter and this time a non-flying, left-seat crewmember was injured. The DJI Mavic 2 Pro pierced the acrylic windshield of a Bell UH-57B, a military variant of the 206B Jet Ranger III, while the helicopter was on coastal patrol Saturday for the Chilean Navy near Santo Domingo, 68 miles west of Santiago.
The helicopter made an emergency landing and the injured crewmember was transported to a local and, later, a military hospital at Vina del Mar for treatment. His injuries were described as moderately serious. The drone was recovered and attempts to locate the owner are ongoing. It did not have a registration number.
This Chilean incident occurred following several other reported drone-helicopter/fixed-wing aircraft collisions in Canada, the U.S., UK, and Mexico dating back to 2016 involving police, electronic newsgathering, military, and commercial airline aircraft. A drone also hit a manned hot air balloon in Idaho in 2018.
Jetex To Manage Falcon Aviation FBO in Dubai
Global aviation services provider Jetex has signed an agreement to manage the Falcon Aviation FBO and hangar at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport.
Considered one of the world’s largest private aviation terminals with more than 32,000 sq ft of passenger lounge space, it offers a dedicated crew facility equipped with a lounge, resting area, workstation, and shower facilities, refreshment bar and coffee lounge, conference rooms, prayer rooms, duty-free shops, on-site immigration and customs service, newly-added en-suite bedrooms, and a kids club. The location is also one of the first in the region to offer helicopter charters, linking Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 30 minutes.
Jetex will also manage the facility’s climate-controlled Code-F hangar, one of the largest in the Middle East, as well as administer its more than three acres of ramp space. Dubai-based Jetex already occupies 16,146 sq ft of space in the airport's VIP terminal, with an additional 12 acres of dedicated ramp parking space.
“I’m pleased to sign the management agreement with Falcon Aviation, which will cement our position as a one-stop solution in the world of private aviation,” said Jetex founder and CEO Adel Mardini, adding the company’s customers will benefit from the enhanced passenger facilities in the terminal. “With the dedicated hangar in Dubai, we will also be able to provide world-class support to aircraft owners and operators."
Groups Urge Coordination for European Drone Integration
Efforts by the European Union (EU) to develop a high-level framework for the integration of drones into the airspace have drawn broad support from the aviation community, but 14 organizations representing a cross-section of the industry are appealing to EU member states to iron out a number of issues related to airspace management, communications, infrastructure, liability, and costs.
“We are all ONE in the sky” issued an open letter to EU member states yesterday, calling the latest draft of the UAS traffic management, or U-Space, regulation “an important first step in establishing a performance-based and risk-based regulatory framework.”
But their letter adds that more needs to be done to address several areas of concern. Specifically, they cautioned on the EU’s concept of a dynamic reconfiguration of airspace between U-Space and air traffic management and pushed for a common information service that acts as the single point of access, information exchange, and coordination.
Also, they said regulators must address concerns surrounding the infrastructure needs to provide traffic information services at low altitude, particularly in states that have a significant amount of uncontrolled airspace. The groups further expressed concern over ambiguities surrounding responsibilities and liabilities among the air traffic management and service providers and called for an impact and cost assessment. “Cost of integration shall not be borne by the already existing/operating airspace users,” they said.
The FAA has proposed a $1 million civil penalty against Weathervane Aviation Services for allegedly operating about 1,400 illegal charter flights between May 9, 2016, and Aug. 31, 2018. The flights by the Westport, Massachusetts-based company were illegal because Weathervane didn’t have an air carrier certificate and they were flown by unqualified pilots, the FAA alleged.
During the period, Weathervane conducted the flights in two twin-engine Cessna 402Cs between New Bedford Regional Airport and Nantucket Memorial Airport, and all but 52 of them occurred after company president Richard Araujo was notified that the company was required to have an air carrier certificate, according to the FAA. Further, the FAA alleged 455 of the flights happened after it notified Araujo of an investigation into his company conducting illegal charters.
The regulator also alleged that Weathervane didn’t have an approved pilot training program and policies and procedure manual. Pilots operating the flights hadn’t passed FAA-required written, oral, flight, and instrument checks, the agency also alleged.
Araujo did not immediately return a message left on Tuesday from AIN seeking comment about the allegations. Weathervane has 30 days to respond to the FAA’s enforcement letter after receiving it.
Susan Northrup Becomes Federal Air Surgeon
The FAA appointed Dr. Susan Northrup as the federal air surgeon, responsible for all medical programs within the agency. Northrup succeeds Michael Berry, who held the role since January 2017. Northrup, the first female to be selected for the position, oversees airman medical certification, air traffic control specialist medical qualification policy, medical decision-making policy, aeromedical education programs, medical appeals, medical and human factors research, drug and alcohol testing programs, and aircraft accident investigations involving medical factors.
A private pilot and retired U.S. Air Force colonel who served during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, she previously has served as the FAA's acting deputy federal air surgeon and senior regional flight surgeon. Northrup also has held leadership roles as vice-chair for aerospace medicine on the American Board of Preventive Medicine, U.S. head of delegation to NATO’s aeromedical working group, and past president of the American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists and the Civil Aviation Medical Association. More recently, she has been the FAA medical subject matter expert to ICAO’s Covid-19 response.
A graduate from The Ohio State University who received her M.D. in 1989, Northrup has received numerous accolades, including as the FAA Flight Surgeon of the Year, TAC Flight Surgeon of the Year, and the recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
BJT Webinar: Basics of Flying Privately
AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler is holding a free webinar on March 3 about how to get started with flying privately. Hosted by AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber and veteran business aviation journalist Charles Alcock, the webinar will feature EBAA COO Robert Baltus and NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack in an unbiased and invaluable conversation through the basics—from charter, jet cards, and flight clubs to fractional aircraft shares and full ownership. Register now
People in Aviation
Signature Flight Support promoted Richard Allsop to sales director for EMEA. Allsop, who most recently was senior sales manager, has served with Signature for 17 years. Signature also appointed Mike French to the newly created role of senior director for real estate and tenant products. French, who has served with the company for 14 years, most recently was director of FBO Operations for Signature’s East region.
Matthieu Rosanvallon joined Freestream as director of sales and acquisitions. Rosanvallon formerly was sales director for the Mid-Atlantic for Guardian Jet and also has served as director of sales and marketing of the commercial real-estate firm Coalition.
Fernando Quental was appointed Brazil area manager for Bristow. Quental, who brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to this role, recently was business unit director of oil, gas, chemicals, and minerals from SGS do Brasil and, before that, Latin America services director for Baker Hughes.
Pula Aviation Services Limited (PASL) promoted Jasmine Sohanta to head of its aircraft sales activities. Sohanta joined PASL in 2019 as sales development and market analyst and also has served with Marshall Aircraft Sales.
Caitlyn Andrews joined Blackhawk Aerospace as marketing coordinator. Andrews, who will support marketing, tradeshow, and social media activities, recently graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University.
Woodward named Roger Alan Ross president of Aero Systems. Ross brings 25 years of aerospace experience to his new role, having served as president of airlines and fleets for StandardAero, executive v-p and president of sensors and systems for Esterline Technologies, and in a number of leadership roles with United Technologies Aerospace Systems.
Gary Spulak retired from his role of president of Embraer Aircraft Holding in North America after a 37-year career with the Brazilian airframer. Spulak, however, will remain on the board of Embraer Aircraft Holding, Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, and the Embraer Foundation, and will serve as a senior advisor with continuing responsibilities in corporate affairs and government relationships. He joined Embraer in 1983 as v-p of product support and information technology and later became executive v-p overseeing the U.S. launch of the ERJ-145 and, in 1998, president of the company in North America.
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 The Convention News Company, Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
