Pilatus Refines PC-24 with New Cabin, Avionics Features

Pilatus Aircraft has announced a slew of new cabin and avionics features for its PC-24 twinjet based on customer feedback from more than 50,000 hours of fleet operations. PC-24s coming off the production line going forward will include these features, while “many” can be retrofitted to in-service airplanes.

In the cabin, new lie-flat seats provide more comfort while the standard forward left-hand coat closet can be swapped for a galley with a microwave oven, coffee/espresso maker, work surface, ice storage, and/or capacity for standard catering units.

The bulk of the new features are on the flight deck and were developed in partnership with Honeywell. To start, a touchscreen controller is now standard, replacing the previous multifunction controller. The PC-24’s flight control system now incorporates tactile feedback in both roll and pitch to prevent unintended unusual attitudes, including automatic roll limit and overspeed protection. An upgraded autothrottle system also includes automatic under- and overspeed protection.

Other new features include automatic yaw trim and a “pilot-defined” visual approach function that allows the pilot to set up an autopilot- and autothrottle-coupled visual approach to any runway. Among the new avionics features offered on the PC-24 are SmartRunway, SmartLanding, VHF datalink with AFIS, ACARS and SiriusXM graphical weather, FMS takeoff and landing data (TOLD), CPDLC over FANS 1/A+, and Honeywell RDR-7000 weather radar with predictive hail and lightning functions.

Jet East Opens Las Vegas Mx Facility, Plans Hiring Fair

Following the opening last month of a service hub at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS), business aviation maintenance provider Jet East is looking to bolster its staffing there by hosting a hiring event on July 26 and 27. In all, the Trenton, New Jersey-based company has more than 50 job openings at KLAS for maintenance, avionics, and structures technicians, as well as several other support positions.

At KLAS, Jet East is operating from an existing 30,000-sq-ft facility, a spokesman told AIN. The company plans to eventually have more than 100 people working at that location.

Designated by Jet East as a Citation center of excellence, the company's KLAS site will focus primarily on supporting the Citation Sovereign, the spokesman said, though “we are already seeing some super-midsize and large-cabin aircraft visit as well.” Jet East inducted its first Sovereign at KLAS on June 1.

Acquired by Gama Aviation in January, Jet East has a footprint in the U.S. that includes 400 employees, more than 90 AOG technicians positioned across the country, coverage of 65 business aviation airports, and more than 10 line stations and heavy scheduled maintenance facilities.

FAA Taking Case-by-case Approach to UAM Certs

Performance-based Part 23 regulations are opening the door to new urban air mobility (UAM) technologies, but the FAA is holding off on setting blanket standards while it examines the technologies of each company applying for type certification.

EASA late last month released for consultation its second publication of proposed means of compliance with the special condition for VTOL vehicles. The U.S., however, is working through VTOL/UAM projects individually, said Mel Johnson, the FAA’s director of organizational performance division in the Aircraft Certification Service. Johnson made his comments during a recent webinar on “General Aviation Post Pandemic—An Opportunity to Provide Alternative Air Transportation,” which was hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

“Unlike EASA, we haven’t come up with something that we can send out as generalized conditions,” Johnson noted. “We’re working directly one on one with each applicant.” He added that the agency will publish any special conditions or exemptions that result from these evaluations.

Helping these efforts, Johnson said, is the new performance-based approach adopted under the Part 23 rewrite. “We have been working very hard in the FAA to try to make sure that we don't have a situation where we develop standards that...create such high barriers that we stop safety enhancements from entering into the market, and that's been something that we've been quite passionate about,” he said.

Want more? You can find a longer version of this article at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.

Van Horn Developing AStar Tail Rotor

Van Horn Aviation (VHA) has completed the first ground run of its new tail rotor system for the Airbus Helicopters AS350/H125, with flight testing set to begin in the coming months and certification anticipated in 2022. The system will be able to be installed without aircraft modification and features individually replaceable composite tail rotor blades and a titanium hub with self-lubricating spherical bearings. The blades use the same NASA-designed laminar airfoil as VHA’s Bell 206 tail rotor blades.

Company engineers expect the new blades to yield greater tail rotor authority and an overall noise decrease versus OEM blades. “We’re excited about bringing the performance improvements that VHA is known for to the venerable AS350,” said VHA CEO James Van Horn. “We expect that our tail rotor blades will provide greater tail rotor authority, plus increased safety during a hydraulics failure.” 

Van Horn Aviation is working with Piranha Aerospace Solutions, a membership-based helicopter parts distributor, to launch the product with its members. “In addition to the expected performance improvements, the VHA tail rotor system design also addresses several maintenance pain points for operators,” said Piranha sales principal John Holland. “The elimination of the underperforming half laminated bearings and the use of individually replaceable blades stands to save our members thousands of dollars in direct maintenance costs while also increasing aircraft availability.”

Paragon FBO Network Grows in Europe

The Paragon Network, a global group of independent upscale FBOs and handling agents, has expanded its European footprint with the addition of Magnum FBO, which operates facilities at Austria’s Vienna International Airport and in Slovakia at Bratislava M. R. Štefánik Airport. The company also provides handling at nine other locations in the two countries. Magnum FBO began operations in 2012 and offers a wide range of services including customs and immigration assistance, concierge, slot coordination, and lounge accommodations.

Members of the Paragon Network must undergo a comprehensive audit of their facilities and services to gain admission. Each company must also adhere to a set of core standards to remain a member. “We are proud that our customer service commitment has been recognized by Paragon Aviation Group,” said managing director Florian Samsinger. “Our common goal is to accelerate brand new opportunities to deliver the immense services, making sure our customers can experience and appreciate the value of such an advanced upgrade.”

The Paragon Network, which was founded in 2011, now encompasses more than 100 locations in 25 countries with members in many predominant business regions such as Barcelona, Madrid, Brussels, Zurich, Monterrey, Cape Town, Dubai, Sydney, and Paris. In the U.S. that list includes most of the major metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C.

ExecuJet Malaysia Performs First Falcon 2000 C-check

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia recently completed the country’s first C-inspection on a Dassault Falcon 2000, a major maintenance check with extensive inspections of aircraft structures and systems that company officials said further reinforce Malaysia’s status as an important center for business aviation MRO services in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

It also underscores the fact that APAC operators are opting to have their heavy maintenance performed in the region versus Europe and the U.S. because of international travel restrictions born by the Covid-19 pandemic, they said. The Falcon 2000 and its variants are the most popular Falcons in the region, with more than 40 of the type operated there, according to ExecuJet MRO. In all, there are more than 100 Falcons of all types operated in APAC.

“Operators of Falcons throughout Asia-Pacific have now been entrusting us to maintain their aircraft, being part of the Dassault MRO network,” said Ivan Lim, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia regional v-p for Asia. “Previously, some of these heavier maintenance inspections tended to be done in North America or Europe, but we are seeing a trend where operators are looking for an in-region solution, more so during this time where border restrictions across different countries could pose serious challenges in the positioning of aircraft.”

Safran Moves Ahead with SAF testing

Safran’s helicopter powerplant division is reporting advances in the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its engines. Last month the French engine manufacturer noted the first flight of a rescue helicopter on SAF. The Airbus H145, powered by twin Arriel 2E turbines, flew on a 40 percent SAF blend. The OEM and rotorcraft operator ADAC have agreed to continue studying SAF usage on a daily basis with the helicopter based in Cologne, while Safran is in discussions with other operators on similar tests.

The company also successfully completed a ground test of its Arrano engine on a 38 percent SAF blend derived from used cooking oil at its Bordes facility in southwest France. This is the first step in the company’s intent to run SAF in the test cells at all of its helicopter engine plants. By the end of the year, Safran plans to deploy at least 10 percent SAF blends at all of its French facilities and is eying certification of 100 percent SAF in all of its engines by 2023.

“Reducing CO2 emissions is a collective responsibility that has been embraced by the women and men of Safran,” said Franck Saudo, CEO of the company’s helicopter engine business. “By introducing SAF, and specifically biofuel, to helicopters and at our plants, we are reducing CO2 emissions at both.”

Bellawings Takes Delivery of Second Global 7500

HK Bellawings has taken delivery of its second Bombardier Global 7500 ultra-long-range twinjet, the Hong Kong-based charter operator and aircraft management firm announced yesterday. The handover, made at Bombardier’s Montreal headquarters, follows the addition of another Global 6000 to its fleet in early June.

In March, Bellawings took delivery of its first Global 7500. In May 2019, the operator exercised options for two 7500s and signed a letter of intent with Bombardier for an additional five Global 7500s.

“We are thrilled that the industry is growing and blooming from increasing demand,” said Bellawings president YJ Zhang. “As a part of business aviation, HK Bellawings will keep putting effort on clients’ requirements.”

Other aircraft models comprising Bellawings’ fleet include the Airbus ACJ318; Boeing BBJ and BBJ2; Global 6500 and 5000; Challenger 604 and 605; Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X; and Gulfstream G200, G450, G550, and G650ER.