Directional Aviation Unit Halo To Buy 200 Eve eVTOLs
Halo, a new urban air mobility operation launched by Directional Aviation subsidiary OneSky Flight, today placed an order for 200 of Embraer’s four-passenger Eve, making it the largest single order to date for an eVTOL. Halo intends to start taking delivery of the Eve eVTOLs in 2026 and will split the fleet between operations in the U.S. and UK.
The new urban air mobility (UAM) operator will combine OneSky Flight helicopter operators Halo Aviation in the UK and U.S.-based Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), which were acquired by OneSky Flight in February and May, respectively. OneSky Flight also includes private aircraft fractional ownership provider Flexjet, jet card service Sentient Jet, and on-demand charter operators PrivateFly and FxAir.
Before delivery of the first Eve eVTOL, the new combined operation will provide flights with Halo Aviation’s Leonardo AW109 and AW169 helicopters and AAG’s Sikorsky fleet. Customers of the other Directional Aviation services will be able to access the Halo flights, which are expected to begin in the New York City and London areas. OneSky Flight’s expansion into vertical lift services is being led by Andrew Collins.
Halo has not disclosed the value of the deal or whether it is backed by a deposit. In a statement today, the company said it evaluated nearly a dozen other eVTOLs before agreeing on the partnership with the Brazilian manufacturer.
L3Harris has released a document listing business jet models that carry the required equipment for participation in U.S. domestic en route controller-pilot datalink communication (CPDLC) trials. According to a Honeywell briefing on this subject, the FAA will temporarily exclude aircraft that don’t meet the equipment requirements from the CPDLC trials, but these aircraft will be allowed to participate once their equipment is validated. The excluded aircraft “had a lower than expected transmission success rate,” according to Honeywell.
The list of qualified business aircraft includes the Gulfstream G280 and G500 through G700; Dassault Falcon 900A/B/C/EX and 8X; Bombardier Global 5000/5500, 6000/6500, and 7500 and Challenger 300/350 and 604/605/650; Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Praetor 500/600; and aircraft with specified Universal Avionics and Garmin G3000/G5000 equipment.
For unqualified aircraft, the FAA and L3Harris, communications service providers, and OEMs are working on identifying and resolving avionics compatibility issues “that are preventing the systems from attaining the desired performance,” Honeywell said.
NTSB Begins Probe into Fatal Citation Accident
Two NTSB investigators are in Smyrna, Tennessee, investigating a fatal crash of a Cessna Citation I/SP that killed all seven on board. The twinjet crashed into Percy Priest Lake on Saturday morning shortly after takeoff from Runway 32 at Smyrna Airport.
After taking off at 10:50 a.m. for a planned Part 91 personal flight to Palm Beach, Florida, the aircraft started a right turn and, after reaching 2,900 feet, it descended to about 1,800 feet before climbing again to 3,000 feet. The aircraft then began a rapid descent and crashed into the lake.
Weather at the time of the accident included a 1,300-foot overcast layer of clouds. The remains of the occupants have been retrieved and both of the jet’s engines and a portion of the fuselage have been recovered.
According to FAA records, the 1982 model Citation has been registered to JL&GL Productions of Brentwood, Tennessee, since March last year. FAA records also show that no one aboard was qualified to fly the Citation. The agency's airman database shows Joe Lara having a multi-engine commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating but no record of a current medical. Another occupant held a private pilot certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings.
Kodiak 100 Expands Airborne Flying Service’s Medical Ops
Airborne Flying Service is leasing two Daher Kodiak 100s from the non-profit American Heritage organization to expand its air medical services in the South Central U.S. Hot Springs, Arkansas-based Airborne Flying Service will use the first of the turboprop singles to support the ground and airborne network of LifeNet Emergency Services. The aircraft will extend operations to airports near rural communities, Daher said—a factor that played into the decision to launch Kodiak 100 air ambulance services.
“The Kodiak 100 was a very deliberate choice after considering a full range of options, having made detailed analyses on capabilities and costs for new and used aircraft in single- and twin-engine versions,” said JB Kirk, president of Airborne Flying Service. “Safety is the most important element of every flight we perform, and the Kodiak 100 fully meets our needs—especially at night and in bad weather—because it is simple and easy to use.”
Airborne Flying Serve will make the aircraft interoperable with ground ambulances through the use of a roll-on/roll-off capability, averting a need to move patients on and off stretchers during transfers and reducing their exposure during that time. “The airplane’s ergonomics are exactly what we need for emergency services,” Kirk added.
Kodiak dealer American Kodiak sold the two aircraft to American Heritage.
Skandia Offers Soundproofing Kit for Bombardier Globals
Skandia’s acoustic soundproofing kit for Bombardier Global Express, 5000, and 6000 large-cabin business jets has received Transport Canada STC approval, adding to the more than 80 airframe-specific soundproofing kits the Illinois-based company offers. Engineered and tested in 2020, Skandia’s Global soundproofing kit is Skandia's third for business aircraft to receive Transport Canada, EASA, and FAA STC approval. Its business aircraft soundproofing program began with the Beechcraft King Air 200 and Pilatus PC-12.
The Global kit is available to operators as an à la carte selection of soundproofing materials that include chin fairing, baggage, and floor damping; thermal acoustic insulation bags; overframe blanket; and Aerolite carpet pad. In a Global 6000, the kit reduces average sound by 3.06 dB (SIL), according to Skandia. The estimated net weight of the entire kit is between 550 and 600 pounds, company officials told AIN.
Skandia plans to extend its soundproofing kits to more business aircraft types. “As we move into larger jet aircraft, we continue to apply our engineering and material technology to business aircraft of every class,” said Skandia business unit manager Garrett Ondrus. “You can expect to see soundproofing kits for even more aircraft in the coming years.”
IBAC Sets IS-BAH Standards Board for 2021/2022
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) recently appointed the 2021/2022 International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) Standards Board, welcoming three new members. They are Kevin Donnelly from Jet Aviation, Dawit Lemma from Krimson Aviation, and Benjamin Hammond from Duncan Aviation.
According to IBAC, the IS-BAH Standards Board oversees content of the IS-BAH standard and suggests improvements or identifies other changes. A voluntary program, IS-BAH serves to establish best practices and enable FBOs/handlers to conform to those, in addition to the ICAO SMS framework. The program has registered more than 246 locations worldwide since its inception in 2014.
“The Standards Board consists of active professionals from around the world in the ground-handling service provider sector, demonstrating these are truly industry-driven standards,” said Terry Yeomans, IS-BAH program director. “The ongoing support of these leaders is promoting safer operations for us all. “
The new members join a board that also includes chair Allison Markey, of Wyvern; vice-chair Marc Pieters, of Jet Aviation EMEA; Joseph Azzaz, of Sky Valet Golf de St-Tropez Airport; Chris Barrow, of Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre; Jennifer Bartenstein, of Signature Flight Support; Alain Champannois, representing his own business; Gary Dietz, of AT&T Flight Operations; Dr. Benjamin Goodheart, of Magpie|Human Safety Systems; Paula Kraft, of Da Vinci/Tastefully Yours; Bob Schick, of TAC Air; Lou Sorrentino, of AvMASSi; and Kyle Quinn, of Modern Aviation.
Airbus Completes First Five-blade H145 Retrofit
Airbus Helicopters has performed the first conversion of a four-blade H145 light twin to the new five-blade version, the company announced last week. The helicopter, which was handed over in 2018 to German air ambulance operator DRF Luftrettung, will be located at DRF’s base in Villingen-Schwenningen.
The new five-blade bearingless rotor eliminates rotor hub maintenance, increases the 145’s useful load by 330 pounds, provides a smoother ride, and enhances the mission capabilities of the aircraft. This upgrade can be performed by any qualified Part 145 maintenance organization via the associated service bulletin issued by Airbus Helicopters. It consists of exchanging the rotor system, updating the helicopter’s Helionix avionics suite, and installing a new horizontal stabilizer.
Airbus announced the upgrade in 2019, with EASA approval following last June and FAA validation in November. It is also the configuration for new-production H145s, now known as the H145D3. Compared to its H145D2 predecessor, the D3 has a slightly smaller main rotor disk, from 36 feet to 35.4 feet. The D3’s twin Safran Arriel 2E engines now incorporate Fadec and the digital Helionix avionics suite incorporates a four-axis autopilot and an integrated wireless airborne communications system.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
What could be the effect of flying to an area of lower atmospheric temperature (lower than ISA) if no altimeter setting correction is applied?
A. The true altitude will be lower than the altitude indicated by the altimeter.
B. The true altitude will be higher than the altitude indicated by the altimeter.
C. The true altitude might be lower or higher than the altitude indicated by the altimeter, but the effect is negligible and easily corrected by using the correct QNH.
D. None of the above.
Jet MS Adds Detailing through Agreement at Côte d’Azur
The Allen Groupe will provide aircraft detailing services to Avia Solutions Group’s Jet Maintenance Solutions (Jet MS) under a new agreement between the respective France- and Lithuania-based companies. Under the agreement, Allen Groupe will provide interior and exterior cleaning and restocking and aircraft disinfection services to complement Jet MS’s line maintenance services.
Allen Groupe’s detailing services will initially be provided at Jet MS’s new line maintenance station at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France. Côte d'Azur was the region’s most active airport for business aviation in 2019 and 2020, according to Jet MS.
“Being able to offer additional services to our clients is one of the most important aspects of our business's growth potential,” said Jet MS head of line maintenance Steponas Grybas. “By partnering with Allen Groupe, we can now add increased value to our clients at our new line station in Nice. Plus, looking to the future, and expansion across the region, each new partnership and the valuable services they bring with them means that we are constantly increasing our ability to service the customer in more and more ways.”
Jet MS also plans to open a line maintenance station in London later this year.
People in Aviation
Texas Aerospace Technologies named Brad Sutphin vice president. Sutphin joins the company with more than 16 years of aviation experience, most recently as director of sales for DAC International.
Brent Wiggins was promoted to senior manager of the AOG team for Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems. An A&P, Wiggins brings years of hands-on experience, holding positions from technician to director of maintenance with companies including L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, Nicholas Air, and Wing Aviation Group.
Elliott Aviation hired Rafael Garcia to serve as international parts sales representative. Garcia has more than 20 years of aviation experience, including with Southeast Aerospace, Aero-Marine Technologies, Global Parts, and Newco Aviation.
West Star Aviation promoted Scott Debrie to interior senior team lead at its Grand Junction, Colorado location. Debrie joined West Star in 2002 and previously worked with Pfizer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Gogo appointed Gustavo Nader as chief strategy officer and Melissa Hale senior v-p of product and marketing. Nader, a telecommunications executive with 30 years of experience in the terrestrial and satellite communications industries, previously was head of strategy for Thales InFlyt Experience, and also has held senior positions with Echostar, Inmarsat, Ligado Networks, and T-Mobile (formerly Sprint Nextel). Hale brings 17 years of aviation experience to her new role, previously as director of program avionics at Gulfstream Aerospace.
Sage-popovich promoted Shawn Farrington to v-p of flight operations. Farrington, who joined the company in 2016, has held a range of positions, beginning as an aircraft detailer and also including ground/line service, maintenance support, parts distribution, liquidations, and flight coordination roles.
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