At this year’s CES show in Las Vegas, which opens tomorrow, Bell will demonstrate a model-sized cityscape with scale flying versions of its Nexus passenger air taxi operating autonomously by Bell’s AerOS urban air mobility operating system. Calling it a “smart city ecosystem,” Bell president and CEO Mitch Snyder explained, “this year, we’re demonstrating what governing, operating, working, and living in a smart city will look like.”
The Bell demo at the CES Mobility Hall is designed to highlight how “mobility as a service” software like AerOS can manage a metropolitan area’s urban air mobility (UAM) activities. Bell intends to offer AerOS, which runs on Microsoft’s Azure platform, to cities to speed up their adoption of UAM capabilities.
Bell has also settled on a smaller version of its Nexus passenger vehicle, with four rotors instead of the six previously shown at CES. The Nexus is designed for all-electric or hybrid-electric power, but is “propulsion-agnostic,” according to Bell, “depending on customer needs.” The four-rotor Nexus will have initially a 60-mile electric range, though that could be greater with hybrid-electric power.
U.S. Turbine Bizav Fatalities Reach Record High in 2019
Although there were no fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets in the second half of last year, the 21 fatalities from accidents involving business jets in the first half were the highest number since the previous record level of 30 deaths in 2014 (all occurring under Part 91). An additional 55 fatalities from turboprop accidents (all except one under Part 91) further increased the total number of deaths for the full year to 76, a level not previously reached since 2006.
According to preliminary figures gathered by AIN, a single Part 135 business jet accident last year resulted in 13 fatalities, while eight died in four Part 91 mishaps. In 2018, there were no Part 135 fatalities, but 10 people lost their lives in four Part 91 crashes. Meanwhile, 55 people died last year in 11 Part 91 U.S.-registered turboprop accidents and one death resulted from a sole Part 135 mishap. In 2018, six turboprop accidents (all under Part 91) were fatal to 16.
Last year, one private non-U.S.-registered business jet suffered a fatal accident in which one person died. Also last year, three died in the crash of a chartered jet. Seven accidents in 2019 involving non-N-numbered turboprops were fatal to 30, compared to 19 killed in five accidents in 2018.
Turkish police have arrested four pilots and another employee of MNG Jet as part of their investigation into how two of the Istanbul-based operator’s aircraft were used by indicted automotive executive Carlos Ghosn to escape from Japan to Lebanon last week. According to MNG, police have also impounded the two aircraft—a Bombardier Global 6000 and Challenger 300—used for flights from Osaka to Istanbul and from Istanbul to Beirut.
Meanwhile, Japanese justice minister Masako Mori this morning announced an investigation into how Ghosn had been able to leave the country while subject to bail restrictions. According to MNG Jet, its crew used InterAviation Japan to provide handling for the Global 6000 at Osaka Kansai International Airport.
In response to questions from AIN, MNG issued the following statement today: “Following the filing of a criminal complaint by MNG Jet, against a former employee and against whoever cooperated on this illegal activity, the Turkish authorities have opened an official inquiry and have arrested the employee, as well as the four pilots. The two planes are being held in Istanbul by the police. The criminal investigation is ongoing. We are not authorized to comment on its developments, unfortunately. But we will keep on fighting for justice as we are a victim of this fraudulent scheme.”
Airbus Teams with Aston Martin on Special-edition H130
Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) on Friday revealed its ACH130 Aston Martin Edition at an event at Courchevel in the French alpine skiing region. The special edition is the first result of a partnership between ACH and luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda (AML).
Design teams at both companies have been working for more than a year to create the Aston Martin Edition, which is available with four external schemes. The first aircraft, which is being used as a demonstrator but is to be handed over to a customer in the first quarter, is painted in a Sterling Green scheme, which fades into Jet Black on the undersides. The intakes are in Skyfall Silver. Other schemes are also based on the Aston Martin car palette, based around Xenon Grey, Arizona, and Ultramarine Black.
The interior offers a higher level of comfort than the regular ACH130, which can seat up to seven including the pilot. The cabin is trimmed in Pure Black ultra-suede, with leather trims again drawn from the Aston Martin car range, colors comprising Oxford Tan, Pure Black, Cormorant and Ivory. The rear of the front seats features the brogue detailing found in the DB11 car, and Aston Martin’s wings signature is embossed in some of the leather elements.
No price details have been revealed, although the basic H130 lists for $3.13 million.
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has developed an avionics technician apprenticeship program with the help of the Urban Institute that has received U.S. Department of Labor approval, the Lee’s Summit, Missouri-based association announced today. Offering a competency-based occupational framework, the apprenticeship program meets industry standards, according to AEA.
Working with the Urban Institute, the program was created by a team comprising AEA member repair stations and manufacturer representatives. It follows an announcement from the FAA last January that formally recognized Aircraft Electronics Technician certification from ASTM’s National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies as equivalent to formal training when showing eligibility for the issuance of a repairman certificate, according to AEA.
“The avionics technician apprenticeship program offers a new career pathway where individuals can simultaneously earn a competitive wage, gain knowledge with structured learning and on-the-job training, and achieve industry-recognized credentials,” said AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. “Now that the apprenticeship program has been approved by the Department of Labor, AEA member repair stations have another tool to grow their own and successfully recruit, train, and retain high-quality technicians. It is another critical step in our industry's ongoing workforce development efforts.”
AEA will host a one-hour session on the program on March 26 during its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Erickson Flying Six Air Cranes on Australian Fires
Portland, Oregon-based Erickson is flying six of its S-64 Air Cranes on Australia’s record-setting wildfires. More than 12 million acres of that country have been charred during this year’s fire season—six times more than that consumed during California’s record-setting 2018 infernos that inflicted an estimated $3.5 billion in damages, consumed 1.9 million acres, destroyed 10,300 structures, and left 103 dead.
In Australia, some 130 blazes, mainly in New South Wales (NSW), have turned tourist beaches into refugee camps, incinerated in excess of 1,400 homes, and killed more than 23 so far, with fires predicted to linger for weeks. Damages are expected to top the $3.3 billion incurred during the nation’s 2009 “Black Saturday” fires that torched 1.11 million acres.
Area wildlife has been decimated—an Australian university estimates that 480 million animals have been killed in NSW wildfires since September. The country is under a state of emergency, with daytime temperatures reaching 120 degrees F and high winds combining to overwhelm the efforts of firefighters on the ground and the 160-plus fleet of aircraft attacking the fires.
Erickson has been working with Australian partner Kestrel for 21 years. Air Cranes flying during this season’s fires are based in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia and include N247AC (Jerry), N189AC (Gypsy Lady), N194AC (Delilah), N243AC (Marty), N218AC (Elsie), and N154AC (Georgia Peach).
Textron Aviation has delivered its first Cessna Citation Longitude to NetJets, a key customer for the super-midsize business jet, the two companies announced today. The delivery was completed on December 31 and the twinjet is expected to enter service for the fractional provider early this year. The $28.345 million Longitude received FAA type certification on September 21, followed by entry into service on October 2.
“No matter the reason for being on board, from takeoff to landing, the innovations of the Citation Longitude make it the most enjoyable flight imaginable,” said NetJets chairman and CEO Adam Johnson. NetJets is the largest, publicly-announced customer for the Longitude, having agreed to acquire up to 175 of the twinjets.
So far, NetJets has also taken delivery of more than 100 midsize Citation Latitudes. “We are pleased to have the new Citation Longitude enter the NetJets fleet and continue to strengthen a relationship that goes back decades,” said Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper. Since 1984, NetJets has cumulatively operated a fleet of nearly 500 Cessna Citations.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
In supersonic aerodynamics, what is an expansion wave?
A. A device used to deflect supersonic flow from the engines.
B. The name given to the downwash at high Mach number.
C. A wave that forms when the airstream turns away from the flow’s previous direction, when flowing around a corner, for instance.
D. A wave that forms when the airstream turns into the flow’s previous direction, when flowing into a corner, for instance.
HAI Names Senior FAA Safety Exec Viola as CEO
Helicopter Association International (HAI) has selected James Viola to succeed Matthew Zuccaro as president and CEO, bringing on board a long-time government and military professional with deep aviation safety and helicopter experience.
Viola will join HAI on January 16 after spending more than a decade with the U.S. FAA, most recently as director of General Aviation Safety Assurance. In that role, he oversaw 78 Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and 2,500 employees across the U.S. He further helped launch the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) as the initial government co-chair. A former U.S. Army special operations MH-6 and MH-47 helicopter pilot, Viola also gained experience managing large operations during his military service as division chief, Army Aviation for Current Operations.
“We sought someone able to take up the challenge of leading HAI forward to meet the needs of a globally changing industry. With Jim, we found that leader, as well as one who understands and supports HAI’s safety values," said HAI board chair Jan Becker
Zuccaro announced his plans to retire from the association he has led since November 2005. “Matt’s unwavering advocacy for safe flight of all kinds made him a pleasure to work with while I was with the FAA. I look forward to continuing his legacy of HAI advocacy for safety,” Viola said.
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.
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