As part of a commitment to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus, NATA today launched its new Safety 1st Clean standard for FBOs. The voluntary program incorporates best practices from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the maintenance of a safe environment, including cleaning and disinfection methods for all surfaces and areas of the terminal. It includes a checklist for companies to follow for self-certification and the right to display the Safety 1st Clean logo.
The document states that all organizations must adopt a hazard communication program, with workers receiving training to prevent the spread of disease. Such instruction will consist of implementing social distancing, using proper hygiene at work including the use of PPE, and staying home if aware of exposure to illness. Companies must also institute policies for evaluating the health of team members prior to and during work hours.
“The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world brought the entire aviation industry to a grinding halt in a way that many of us were unprepared for,” said NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack. “As flight activities continue to increase, NATA felt it was critical to develop and provide Safety 1st Clean for free to the entire business aviation community to maintain safe and successful operations moving forward and to be better prepared for future outbreaks.”
AINsight: Aviation Medicine in the Pandemic, Part 2
Last month, I discussed in some detail the medical exemptions issued by the FAA in response to the early concerns about the coronavirus. Since then, there have been no new medical expiration date extensions, which implies that a sufficient number of pilots have indeed been able to keep their medical certificates current.
Some pilots, specifically those required to provide additional medical data for special issuance authorizations—pilots with heart conditions, diabetes, or sleep apnea, for example—were somewhat stymied, as it has been difficult to obtain required medical data when so many physicians were operating at minimum capacity. At first, the FAA was not providing any relief for these pilots, but now it is permitting one-time exemptions, on a case by case basis, for pilots unable to provide required data by the time of their FAA medical exam.
The FAA has also weighed in on the use of hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic medication against coronavirus, issuing a blanket statement that is not approved for pilots. Whether it becomes approvable for such use in the future is not yet known.
And pilots who have contracted Covid-19, did not have severe medical compromise that will be ongoing, and are feeling well and past the time of any potential risks to others, may—in general—resume flight duties. If in doubt, consult an AME.
Rolls-Royce has delivered the 8,000th engine manufactured at its Dahlewitz, Germany facility, the company announced yesterday. The milestone engine, a BR725 powerplant, went to Gulfstream Aerospace and will be installed on a G650ER.
The Dahlewitz site, just south of Berlin, started production in mid-1995 and today employs approximately 3,000 who assemble the BR710, BR725, and Pearl 15 engines for business jets, as well as the Trent XWB for the Airbus A350. It is also Rolls-Royce’s center of excellence for business aviation and houses the development and testing facilities for the new power gearbox for the UltraFan demonstrator program.
More than 4,700 BR700 family engines have been built to date, and the fleet has recorded more than 27 million cumulative operating hours.
“We are very proud of this achievement, which comes as the result of 25 years of hard, dedicated work from our Dahlewitz team,” said Dirk Geisinger, director of business aviation for Rolls-Royce and chairman of Rolls-Royce Deutschland. “I’m especially proud of our employees who are committed, even in these unprecedented times, to delivering world-class products and to supporting our global customer base.”
Bizjet Activity Strengthens in June, but Still Lags
North America is leading the recovery in business aviation activity with flights operated in June down 31 percent, slightly ahead of the 34 percent decline experienced through the first nine days of the month globally, according to the latest WingX data. This compares with a global decline of 47 percent since May.
Europe is lagging with flights down 50 percent this month, WingX reported, with Asia and Africa 35 percent below June norms. The UK did see a resurgence leading up to the June 8 enactment of mandatory quarantines for international visitors but then experienced “precipitous declines” after that day. The number of flights fell from 100 on June 7 to a little more than 30 on the 8th and 9th.
WingX continues to see the shift toward lighter aircraft, with activity involving super-midsize, midsize, and super light jets down 35 percent this month. This compares with the 50 percent declines involving ultra-long-range and heavy jets and 80 percent for bizliner traffic.
“It’s encouraging to see the North American market continuing to come back, especially in Florida, and business aviation in Europe has accelerated its recovery in the last fortnight,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “It’s a shame that the traditional high point in European business aviation demand will get blunted by quarantines through the rest of June, especially in the UK.”
Manufacturers, Regulators Working Toward ‘New Normal’
Following a quarter where business and general aviation shipments were down across the board in the face of restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers have turned their focus to working through the current constraints to reach a “new normal,” according to Jens Hennig, v-p of operations for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
He said as the second quarter enters a recovery phase, the FAA, EASA, and other regulators have been working alongside the manufacturers to ensure all efforts are made to resume business, even if at lower levels. Different government agencies are involved in supporting efforts to get aircraft delivered, “but there are some constraints we have to deal with,” he said. Manufacturers must work through a series of restrictions that vary by location. “It’s become a very complex environment,” Hennig said. “Each is a case-by-case basis and it is very fluid.”
However, manufacturers are having some success in deliveries, he said, adding that, positively, the industry is seeing a return to flying and some recovery of economic activity. “Are there are a lot of things to work through right now both with delivering aircraft and locking in contracts for future orders? Absolutely,” Hennig noted. “We are working our way through those. Each day we learn more and more about the new normal, we’re being more successful with it.”
New Jersey-based aviation services provider Meridian—which operates FBOs at Teterboro Airport and a recently opened facility across the country at San Francisco-area Hayward Executive Airport—has earned registration for both locations under IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH).
Based on ICAO standards and recommended practices in the preparation for handling business aircraft, the voluntary program was designed to promote safety management system adoption among FBOs and ground handlers, similar to the organization’s IS-BAO standard for business aircraft operators, of which Meridian holds Stage II registration.
“We are proud to be recognized for our continued commitment and conformance to these standards following the audit process that resulted in an IBAC certificate of registration for Hayward, as well as for our TEB FBO,” said Carlos Rodriguez, general manager of the company’s West Coast facility. “We’re dedicated to providing safe, efficient, and outstanding service in every aspect of our operations. Receiving IS-BAH accreditation shows our customers how much we value them.”
ESG Earns STC for 3G/4G Helicopter Cabin Wi-Fi
EASA has approved ESG’s STC for 3G/4G mobile communications and cabin Wi-Fi for Airbus EC135 and EC635 helicopters. The STC covers installation of a cabin Wi-Fi hotspot with 3G/4G cellular modem and outside antennas.
Germany’s ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik employs more than 2,000 and is a leading provider of security-related electronic and IT systems. The company said it was granted the STC after a series of comprehensive ground and flight tests that ruled out system interference from “all mobile radio frequencies.”
ESG software installed on a Wi-Fi router on board the helicopter enables secure internet network access that can be custom-configured to provide a wide variety of applications, including protected transmission of police mission data, real-time communication of sensitive patient information for medevac operations, secure private communications, or infotainment in helicopter shuttles. ESG said “the STC issued by the EASA also allows for a comparatively fast transfer to other helicopter types.”
EASA Awards First Electric Aircraft TC to Pipistrel
EASA this week announced the world’s first full type certification for a fully electric aircraft, issuing approval for Pipistrel’s Velis Electro two-seat trainer. The type certificate follows the European agency’s earlier approval on May 18 of the E-811-268MVLC motor that powers the light single.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, EASA described the completion of the type certification process as “an exciting breakthrough” that will pave the way for approval of other electric aircraft, including the new generation eVTOL models now under development. “This is the first electric aircraft EASA has certified but it will certainly not be the last, as the aviation industry pursues new technologies to reduce noise and emissions to improve the sustainability of aviation,” commented agency executive director Patrick Ky.
On May 25, EASA launched a consultation process for its proposed means of compliance for eVTOL aircraft seeking type certification under its Special Condition VTOL rules that were first published in July 2019. The comment process for these close on July 24.
According to Ivo Boscarol, founder and CEO of Slovenia-based Pipistrel Aircraft, the certification of the Velis Electro is a key step forward in the commercial use of electric aircraft. “It provides optimism, also to other electric aircraft designers, that the type certification of electric engines and aeroplanes is possible.”
Sixty-five years ago today, the Cessna Skyhawk 172 completed its first flight and since then has arguably become the brand’s best-selling aircraft. The 172 has become a favorite among flight training schools and recreational pilots and over a half-dozen decades, Cessna has delivered more than 45,000 of the piston singles around the world.
That’s despite a pause in its production in Wichita in the 1980s because of rising product liability costs. Production on the 172 and other Cessna piston aircraft resumed in a new, 400,000-sq-ft facility in Independence, Kansas in 1996 following the passage of the 1994 U.S. General Aviation Revitalization Act, which protected aircraft manufacturers from certain liability.
In addition to its role as a training airplane, the 172 has long been a favorite of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, which Textron Aviation announced this week had placed a new order for 11 of the type as well as for five Skylane 182Ts and one Turbo Stationair HD T206HD, using Fiscal Year 2020 funds. Those aircraft will join a fleet of nearly 550 Cessnas owned and operated by CAP, which is the Air Force Auxiliary and nonprofit organization that performs a variety of missions such as search and rescue, disaster relief, and homeland security.
It really doesn’t get much better than sun, surf, and airplanes. Long-time aviation author and editor Mark Twombly snapped this image in November 2018 of Searey amphibs on the beach at No Name Cay in The Abacos, Bahamas, which is known for its swimming and not-so-wild pigs that enjoy treats. In all, eight Seareys and a Piper Super Cub flew from Florida to the Bahamas on this group trek. Thanks for sharing, Mark!
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Data Shows Bizav Down, but Not Out for the Count
The latest business aviation flight activity numbers tracked by data analyst WingX show a recovery in North America, but a more varied picture in Europe and other parts of the world. In some places government travel restrictions are easing, raising faint hopes of improved revenues in Europe’s peak summer season. But in the UK, controversial quarantine rules have left the industry feeling that the government is kicking it while it’s down.
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