Directional Aviation’s eVTOL Strategy Coming into Focus

“We are great at doing six-hour flights in business jets, but now had to learn how to do six-minute flights in rotorcraft,” Directional Aviation principal Kenn Ricci told AIN in explaining why the company purchased two helicopter operators—Associated Air Group (AAG) in the New York City area and Halo Aviation in London—in its quest to launch eVTOL urban air mobility service around 2025. “This allows us to become proficient on very short flights.”

Ricci also gave more background on why the company’s Halo UAM subsidiary placed a large fleet order last week for eVTOLs from Embraer-affiliated Eve. “Embraer not only knows how to certify an aircraft but also understands you need a production certificate to build in quantity. It also has a firm handle on product support and, unlike some eVTOL manufacturers, doesn’t plan on also operating the eVTOLs—they won’t be our competitor.”

According to Ricci, Halo will announce more details later this year about how and where it plans to conduct UAM operations. “The AAG Sikorsky fleet is pretty big, so we can deploy helicopters to other U.S. cities to expand our UAM ops. We’re currently identifying the most attractive eVTOL markets before we move those assets,” he said. “And we’ll also announce our go-to-market strategy in the fall.”

Aviation Alliance Highlights Emerging Tech Efforts

As emerging technologies and sustainability continue to capture the attention of the aviation industry and government leaders, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is rolling out a new microsite and holding a panel discussion today to raise awareness of the importance that such developments play within local communities and the need for collaboration across federal, state, and local levels.

The website provides key figures that can be used to educate decision-makers, highlights sustainable efforts underway, and details policy and legislative initiatives. Future plans call for adding pages that will detail state initiatives.

“What many people don’t realize is that general aviation and business aviation are making significant investments in sustainability and emerging technologies,” Alliance executive director Selena Shilad said. “What many also don’t realize is how these investments are going to benefit local communities and how federal investments and local support are so critical at this time.”

Barbara Tolbert, mayor of Arlington, Washington, told AIN, “It’s absolutely, fundamentally important that Congress is behind this. We won’t get there locally.” 

Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz echoed those sentiments, emphasizing “the importance of partnership at the federal, state, and local level to advance on the technology side and sustainability side.” Each partner plays an integral role, she told AIN. “We need to have a three-legged stool.”

Jet Linx Pauses Ops for Safety Summit

Jet Linx voluntarily grounded its 120-aircraft fleet and paused operations on June 8 to hold an annual Safety Summit for the company's 560 employees. Now in its fifth year, the summit focuses on new safety practices and standards for the Omaha, Nebraska-based provider of jet card, aircraft management, and joint aircraft ownership services.

Under the theme, “Forward Together for a Safer Future,” this year’s summit focused on safety risk management, fatigue and critical human factors, and safety performance indicators. The event’s speakers included William B. Johnson, retired FAA chief scientific and technical adviser for human factors in aircraft maintenance systems; D Smith, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) aviation safety division manager; Roger Hood, DOT TSI senior air safety investigator; and Grey Aviation Services president and CEO Sharon Grey.

“Our safety summit continues to shine a spotlight on the significance of proactively advancing safety culture and the value of investing in collaborative educational efforts that will better inform our decision making and create the safest flight experience possible,” said Jet Linx president and CEO Jamie Walker. “Each and every member of our team plays a critical role in developing practices that further our standards and the standards of the industry.”

Raisbeck Progresses on Caravan Drag-reduction System

Raisbeck Engineering has completed pre-certification flight tests of its Epic Caravan drag-reduction system for the Cessna Caravan 208B, clearing the way for STC approval that is expected in August. A composite forward cargo pod fairing and metal dual aft body strakes comprise the Epic Caravan system.

Caravan 208Bs flying with a factory cargo pod experience what Raisbeck said is a significant decrease in speed and increased fuel burn. The 38-pound Epic Caravan system provides operators with the option to add about five knots in cruise speed at typical cruise power settings or reduce fuel flows and interstage turbine temperature (ITT) by flying at the same speed, according to Raisbeck. The latter results in lower engine maintenance costs. Maintenance costs are further reduced since a cargo pod deice boot isn’t needed with the forward cargo pod fairing.

Raisbeck president Hal Chrisman said that, with more than 131 flight hours completed, the company has verified that Epic Caravan complies with FAA Part 23 regulations. Up next, Raisbeck will present its test results to the FAA pending type inspection authorization that is expected in mid-June and is the final milestone before the FAA performs its own flight tests.

Take The Stress Out Of Turbulence With Bombardier’s Smooth Flĕx Wing

One of the most important aspects of a wing’s design that yields the greatest effect on ride quality is wing loading, which is the relationship between the weight of the aircraft and the size of its wing.

Fresh European Push on SAF

Airbus, Safran, Dassault, Onera, and the French Ministry of Transport jointly announced this morning that they are launching an in-flight study later this year on the compatibility of unblended 100 percent SAF with commercial fixed-wing and helicopter engines and systems. The project—called Volcan (VOL avec Carburants Alternatifs Nouveaux)—will begin by measuring in-flight emissions from an Airbus A320neo burning 100 percent SAF from TotalEnergies.  

This follows an announcement from Airbus Helicopters earlier this week that it was creating a SAF User Group to promote the use of biofuels in civil turbine helicopters. “We welcome all helicopter operators, engine manufacturers, fuel system suppliers, energy companies, fuel providers, handling companies, and all other stakeholders in the industry willing to pioneer sustainable aerospace with us,” said Stefan Thomé, Airbus Helicopters’ executive v-p of engineering and chief technical officer. Parties interested in joining the group can contact Airbus by June 20. 

On Monday, Safran Helicopter Engines revealed that the German air ambulance service ADAC Luftrettung had flown a mission in an Airbus H145 powered by Safran Arriel 2E engines fueled with a 40 percent blend of SAF cooking oil biofuel from TotalEnergies’ Normandy refinery. Using this type of SAF, ADAC’s fleet could achieve a 33 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, some 6,000 tons, annually.

Airbus Helicopters Taps Gorka as Russian Distributor

Russia’s Gorka Heliport has been appointed an authorized distributor for Airbus Helicopters, the companies announced at the recent HeliRussia exhibition. The agreement allows the turnkey purchase of Airbus H125 and H130 singles and H135 and H145 light twins by Russian customers. Gorka, which is part of Gorka Group’s Business Aviation Center, offers customers aircraft delivery, customs clearance, registration, airworthiness certification, storage, certification, and maintenance services.

Gorka previously announced maintenance agreements covering Airbus EC130 and AS350 helicopters. The company also performs maintenance on Robinson R44 and R66 models, as well as the Bell 407. Its heliport complex is located 28 miles from central Moscow in the Rublevo-Uspensky area and features a guarded car park, modern hotel, restaurant, cheese dairy, and wine boutique. 

“Airbus approval confirms our company's adherence to high European standards,” said Pavel Karyakin, founder and owner of the Gorka business aviation innovation center. “Today we are witnessing the transformation of the Russian helicopter market. Aviation equipment owners and operators have increasingly strict quality requirements for products and services.”

ExecuJet Adds Israel FBO

ExecuJet has expanded its footprint in the Middle East with the establishment of an FBO in Israel. The newest location is based at the Fattal Terminal at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, marking the country’s first private luxury passenger facility. A Luxaviation Group subsidiary, ExecuJet, in partnership with Israel-based aviation company Flyeast, will provide passenger processing, supervisory aircraft handling, concierge services, flight arrangements, and aircraft charter.

The terminal, which is under the same ownership as the Fattal Hotel chain, serves business aviation clients as well as diplomats, heads of state, and high-end commercial passengers. It provides security checks, hand luggage screening, and CIQ services, and offers private waiting rooms with beds and ensuite showers, as well as a main lounge with refreshments. The facility also includes a catering kitchen, 20- and 40-seat conference rooms, two duty-free shops, and chauffeur service.

An ExecuJet representative will meet guests at the entrance to the private terminal and be on hand to assist inside the facility. “We’re now finalizing key project elements, such as passenger flow within the VIP passenger lounge within the Fattal Terminal,” said Mike Berry, the company’s president of aviation services and v-p for the Middle East.

Over the coming months, ExecuJet will train new staff and develop its services to further enhance guest experience, it said.

Signature Adds SAF at Three More U.S. Locations

Signature Flight Support has increased its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) footprint to nine locations with the announcement that it will now have permanent supplies of the renewable fuel blend at three additional FBOs. Starting today, SAF is being pumped at the Signature facilities at Texas’s Austin-Bergstrom International and Houston-Hobby Airports, as well as at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in California.

Last September, Signature announced its Signature Renew program, which provided its first permanent supplies of Neste SAF at San Francisco International and the UK’s London Luton airports. Since then, the company, which operates the world’s largest FBO chain, has introduced the fuel at four other locations, including Van Nuys and Metro Oakland International Airports in California, Seattle’s Boeing Field/King County International Airport, and Mobile Downtown Airport in Alabama.

The fuel—which includes a 35 percent SAF component blended with conventional jet-A—provides a 25 percent direct lifecycle CO2 reduction compared with standard jet fuel.

“Signature is achieving yet another first in business aviation’s sustainability journey with the introduction of commercially available SAF in Texas,” noted COO Tony Lefebvre. “We continue to exhibit SAF growth that can be quantified in the millions of gallons, and to date, Signature Renew has prevented thousands of tonnes—not pounds—of CO2 from entering the environment.”

Last Chance: AIN Product Support Survey

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2021 AIN Product Support Survey is now open, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been picked to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their password and link to the online survey by e-mail. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on June 11.