Signature To Provide Skyport Infrastructure for Uber
Signature Flight Support was named the first nationwide operations and on-airport infrastructure partner for Uber Elevate, the companies announced today at the Uber Elevate Summit. As such, Signature will facilitate ground-based operations and skyport infrastructure for Uber Air, as well as be the ground handler of choice for UberCopter services.
Uber Air plans to operate a network of electric air taxis in cities worldwide to enable four-person shared flights in densely populated urban markets, initially in U.S. launch markets Dallas and Los Angeles in 2023. Until then, Signature will leverage its involvement in UberCopter, which begins next month in New York City via a partnership with HeliFlite, as a “building block” for Uber passenger handling that could then be scaled up for Uber Air, Signature chief commercial officer Shawn Hall told AIN. For UberCopter, he said Signature will use its existing FBOs and also provide passenger-handling agents at the New York Heliports where HeliFlite operates.
“Signature Flight Support’s understanding of the private aviation space makes them an ideal fit for Uber Elevate’s business,” said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate. “Efficient and safe skyports are a critical component of our business model, and our future collaboration with Signature will allow for a seamless rider experience from the moment they arrive at a Skyport, to the moment they depart.”
In response to several recent incidents involving jet aircraft suffering fuel system contamination from diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), an industry task force consisting of stakeholders—including the FAA, NATA, NBAA, AOPA, and GAMA, along with fuel providers, FBO chains, and aircraft OEMs—has issued a report with recommendations on how to mitigate this serious, recurring hazard.
DEF is a colorless liquid used in diesel-powered ground vehicles to meet EPA emission-control standards. When it comes into contact with jet fuel, it crystalizes and can clog fuel systems, leading to engine failure.
The 40-page document examines each of the three recent events and describes the contamination vector and effects on the aircraft involved. Its authors conducted a safety analysis and established a list of short- and long-term recommendations for aircraft operators, FBO operators, and fuel suppliers, concluding: “The risk of another inadvertent DEF contamination event is too great to not take a concerted, aggressive, and multi-pronged coordinated approach to prevent another occurrence.”
“We are committed to working with our members and other industry stakeholders to eliminate the hazard of [DEF] contamination of aircraft fuel,” noted NATA COO and general counsel Timothy Obitts. “NATA encourages all of our members, including aircraft operators, FBOs, and fuel suppliers to read this report and implement the recommendations as soon as practicable.”
Bombardier Expands Mx to California with New ASF
Bombardier has expanded its factory-approved aircraft maintenance footprint to California for the first time, with the announcement that it has selected San Luis Obispo-based ACI Jet as its latest authorized service facility (ASF). The location is now authorized to perform line maintenance on the Global and Challenger series.
For the airframer, the designation marks its first new ASF in the U.S. in more than five years. “We have relationships with a lot of providers throughout the U.S., but we don’t have them as an approved line maintenance provider where they can conduct warranty work on our behalf, for example,” noted William Molloy, Bombardier Business Aircraft’s vice president of aftermarket sales. “This arrangement with ACI is about a partner that we’ve identified that we trust and that we feel can add value to not only our in-service aircraft but also [to] new customers.”
The news comes as ACI is in the process of a more than $18 million expansion of its complex at San Luis County Regional Airport, where it also operates the lone FBO. In addition to a new terminal, the company will be adding another approximately 25,000 sq ft of maintenance hangar, shop, and office space that is expected to be completed next year. To support the expected influx of Bombardier-focused support work, it is recruiting to fill 15 additional technical positions.
FlightAware Rolls Out Premium Flight-data Service
FlightAware is rolling out a premium version of its professional, private flight-tracking service, FlightAware Global, that will be offered to owners and operators of business jets through select partners, including launch participant Textron Aviation. Under the agreement with Textron Aviation, FlightAware will offer buyers of new or preowned Textron Aviation aircraft a complimentary one-year subscription to FlightAware Global.
“This program makes it easy for new aircraft owners to enroll in our service for no charge,” said FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker. “We will set up and configure their global coverage so that owners and operators can begin using it the moment they take delivery of their new Textron Aviation aircraft.”
Users of the service will have unlimited web or mobile access to information derived from thousands of data sources. A key feature of FlightAware Global includes datalink integration with FlightAware terrestrial ADS-B, Aireon space-based ADS-B, and air traffic control radar and flight plan information.
Other features include selective unblocking of friends, family, and business associates; aircraft activity notification, including flight plans, route changes, delays, departures, and arrivals; and FBO scheduling at any of the more than 1,000 FBOs participating in the service. In addition to Aireon’s space-based ADS-B global coverage, premium features include “Ready to Taxi,” which offers live updates for aircraft activity on the ground, and DTN weather maps.
Textron Aviation Gives Thumbs Up to Traxxall Mx Tracker
Textron Aviation named Traxxall a recommended maintenance-tracking provider. Under the recognition, customers of new and preowned factory-delivered Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft will have the option of receiving the first year of Traxxall maintenance-tracking services for free.
“This service is an excellent opportunity for our shared customers,” said Traxxall president Mark Steinbeck. “Textron Aviation models account for a majority of all business aircraft in service today. We look forward to working with a growing number of new and existing Cessna, Hawker, and Beechcraft owners worldwide.” In addition to Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft, Traxxall programs also support in-service Hawkers. Traxxall said its programs will provide aircraft owners with operational efficiencies, reduction in downtimes, and strengthened residual values.
The recognition reinforces Traxxall’s rapidly growing client base. Based in Montreal, Traxxall has been named to the Startup 50 list of Canada’s top new growth companies for two consecutive years, the most recent list recognizing two-year revenue growth of 688 percent for the period ending in December 2017. This growth has spurred Traxxall to recently open a third office in Denver, alongside its bases in Montreal and Jacksonville, Florida. The company additionally has offices in London and Marseilles.
Founded in 2013, the company provides a cloud-based customizable aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory-management system for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The company has built templates for more than 180 aircraft.
Uber Eats To Expand Drone Delivery in San Diego
Uber will begin testing drone delivery of food to customers in San Diego for its Uber Eats service, executives announced this morning at the Uber Elevate Summit in Washington, D.C. It follows the FAA’s selection of Uber and the city of San Diego last year to participate in the Integration Pilot Program to test commercial food delivery in high-density urban areas.
Elevate Cloud Systems, Uber’s proprietary airspace management system, will track and guide all drone flights to take off, fly, and land independently. An Uber Eats delivery partner will meet the drone to complete the delivery. Later, Uber hopes to leverage its ground ridesharing program and land its drones atop vehicles using a QR code to complete the last leg of delivery.
“We’ve been working closely with the FAA to ensure that we’re meeting requirements and prioritizing safety,” Uber Elevate head of flight operations Luke Fischer said. “From there, our goal is to expand Uber Eats drone delivery so we can provide more options to more people at the tap of a button.”
Initial testing involved delivery of food from McDonald’s. It will be expanded to additional Uber Eats restaurants, including San Diego fine-dining restaurant favorite Juniper and Ivy. Uber Eats currently operates in about 520 cities in more than 20 countries.
Mitsubishi MU-2 Operators Warned of Wing Spacer Cracks
The FAA has issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-19-19 (SAIB) recommending that operators of all model Mitsubishi MU-2 twin turboprops comply, if they have not already, with three-year-old manufacturer’s Service Bulletins (SBs) that outline procedures to detect and correct cracks in the wing spacer plates. If left uncorrected, these cracks could result in reduced structural integrity of the wings, the FAA said, but added, “At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant Airworthiness Directive (AD) action.”
As part of the MU-2B aging aircraft program, one-piece and three-piece main wings were subjected to detailed teardown inspections, and cracks were found in the wing spacer plates attached to the forward lower spar area at wing station 580. It was determined that the cracks resulted from fatigue caused by flight loads.
To address this, Mitsubishi issued MU-2 Service Bulletin No. 245, dated April 21, 2016, and MU-2 Service Bulletin No. 107/57-005, dated May 3, 2016. These SBs describe procedures for performing a fluorescent penetrant inspection of the wing spacer plates for cracks and replacing cracked wing spacer plates with an improved part.
The FAA is urging owners and operators to follow these guidelines, but agency officials could not be reached by AIN at press time to comment if a low rate of compliance or other factors led to the SAIB issuance.
EASA’s Rules for Drone Operators Level Playing Field
New rules published yesterday by EASA for recreational and commercial drone operators are intended to help protect the safety and the privacy of EU citizens while enabling the free circulation of drones and a level playing field within the EU. Drone operators have until June 2020 to start complying with these requirements.
“The common rules will help drone operators, whether professional or recreational, to have a clear understanding of what is allowed or not,” EASA said. “At the same time, it enables them to operate across borders.” Once drone operators have received authorization in the state of registration, they are allowed to freely circulate in the EU. “This means that they can operate their drones seamlessly when traveling across the EU or when developing a business involving drones around Europe.”
Technical and operational requirements are covered in the rules. For example, new drones will have to be individually identifiable, allowing the authorities to trace a particular drone if necessary. Regulators said this will help to better prevent events similar to those that happened late last year at Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.
They also cover each operation type, from those not requiring prior authorization to those involving certified aircraft and operators, as well as minimum remote pilot training requirements. The new rules replace existing national rules in EU member states.
Uber unveiled its first international pilot city for Uber Air and announced development partners and architecture firms of its skyports for its future air taxi network at the Uber Elevate Summit yesterday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Melbourne, Australia, will be its first international and third pilot city for Uber Air, joining Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Test flights in Melbourne are expected to commence in 2020 followed by commercial operations in 2023. “Australian governments have adopted a forward-looking approach to ridesharing and future transport technology,” said Susan Anderson, Uber regional general manager for Australia, New Zealand, and North Asia. “This, coupled with Melbourne’s unique demographic and geospatial factors, and culture of innovation and technology, makes Melbourne the perfect third launch city for Uber Air.”
Global real estate and lifestyle firm Related Companies will join Hillwood, a Perot company, as a skyport development partner for Uber. Related is collaborating with Uber on a skyport at Related’s 240-acre Santa Clara, California development to provide aerial ridesharing to Bay Area residents. Hillwood is the developer of AllianceTexas, a master-planned development and inland port that is home to Fort Worth Alliance Airport, BNSF Railway intermodal facility, FedEx Southwest regional sort hub, and Amazon Air regional hub.
Uber also announced that it will partner with eight architecture and engineering firms that have conceptualized 16 different skyports—both retrofit and new construction—designs.
Dassault’s new Falcon 6X business jet is on track for entry into service in 2022, the company says. With a cabin width of 8 feet 6 inches, and a height of 6 feet 6 inches, the 6X has the largest cross section of any purpose built business jet. Manufacture of major parts has commenced, with assembly of the first aircraft expected early next year and first flight in 2021.
Requires replacement of horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolts having P/N 555.10.12.139 and production order number FAUF 10169753, 10171067 or 10171267. According to EASA, horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolts were detected on the final assembly line that had not received correct heat treatment. Subsequent investigation determined that certain parts were improperly manufactured and consequently have reduced material properties. AD also prohibits affected parts from being installed.
Supersedes but retains requirements of AD 2015-22-02, which mandated inspecting the tail rotor pitch link assemblies, and also requires replacing certain pitch link bearings. Prompted by a new-design bearing introduced by Bell.
Requires revision to rotorcraft flight manual due to "misleading information" having been identified in the emergency procedure associated to “1(2) FUEL LOW” caution message. "In particular, the current procedure instructs the pilot to land as soon as practicable within 20 minutes," EASA said. "However, this remaining flight time is guaranteed only if a constant torque value of 50 percent is maintained. The correct time limit depends on the fuel consumption of the different engine ratings."
Supersedes but retains the requirements of AD 2018-0186, which mandated a one-time inspection of the main rotor hub scissors attachment bolts. Latest AD also requires the marking of affected parts, repetitive inspections to detect rotation and, depending on findings, any necessary corrective actions. Prompted by a reported occurrence where, during a pre-flight inspection, a main rotor hub scissors attachment bolt was found to be broken and another was found bent. Preliminary results of the technical investigation revealed that the event "might be due to exceedance of acceptable criteria of corrosion and some other efforts applied to the affected main rotor hub scissors attachment bolts."
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 AIN Publications, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
For advertising in AIN Alerts please contact Nancy O'Brien at nobrien@ainonline.com.
