As Capitol Hill mulls prospects for a massive infrastructure package, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen urged lawmakers to continue investment and maintain laws to protect airports, continue to build on NextGen, foster remote tower technologies, and to preserve funding streams. Bolen outlined these priorities in a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure leaders, who asked for stakeholder input.
Funding methods are critical, he added, noting that most programs are paid for through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF). Aviation taxes and fees have provided a stable revenue stream into the AATF, which is estimated to reach cash balances of nearly $60 billion over the next decade. However, proposals have sought to alter the funding stream, Bolen said. “Maintaining the AATF and associated taxes is the best approach to funding our future aviation infrastructure needs,” he said.
Bolen also pointed to a number of communities that have attempted to restrict access to airports. “Airports are part of a national aviation-transportation system,” he said. “We request that policies remain in place—and are enforced in practice—to protect both federal funds and interests at airports.” Further, Bolen endorsed the expansion of grant use on technologies such as remote towers and safety enhancements for drone integration and he called for continued investment in airports and NextGen technologies.
What determines if a pilot is “legal” to fly medically on any given day? It is a pilot’s responsibility to “self-assess,” an ongoing and never-ending process. But where is this self-assessment responsibility defined? FAR 61.53 discusses that a pilot shouldn’t fly when any “medical condition” or “medication” might interfere with safe flight operations by stating that the regulation applies when the pilot may become “unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation.”
FAR 61.53 is written a bit nebulously, as it would be impossible for a single regulation to list every medical condition, every medication, and every nuance of any combinations and interactions thereof. There is little to no guidance about a “What do I do today?” type of decision that a pilot must make.
The bottom line, therefore, is that the pilot will have to use some judgment. Obtaining advice at times of medical uncertainty is a good idea. Many airlines and some corporate operations have specific aeromedical consultants on call to answer questions. Some AMEs also provide between-exam advice for their pilots. However, the pilot-in-command has the final responsibility, both medically and operationally.
The third prototype (P3) of the Kopter SH09 single-engine helicopter has achieved forward speeds of 135 knots and flight at altitudes up to 10,000 feet during testing in Sicily, the Kopter Group announced Wednesday. Since March, P3 has performed 34 flights, logged more than 100 flight-test hours, and undergone its first major inspection. The company said the aircraft will now undergo “aerodynamic refinements” and be fitted with a new main gearbox housing before returning to flight and further flight envelope expansion.
Data from the improved P3 will then be used to configure two pre-series aircraft that will join the flight-test program next year. Kopter said it remains on track to obtain EASA certification of the SH09 in 2020.
The SH09 is powered by a single 1,020-shp Honeywell HTS900 engine. Performance goals include maximum cruise speed of 140 knots and a maximum range of 430 nm. The retail price is expected to be close to $3.5 million. In March Kopter announced that it had assumed occupancy of the former Bell 505 facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, and that it expected to eventually build half of its total production there, with deliveries from that facility beginning in 2021. To date, approximately 25 SH09s have been ordered by U.S. customers.
Nav Canada Sticks by ADS-B Antenna Mandate
Despite objections by U.S. and Canadian general/business aviation and avionics associations, Nav Canada is not budging on its requirement for ADS-B diversity antenna configurations, meaning antennas mounted on the top and the bottom of aircraft. The mandate is effective beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
Nav Canada claims these antenna configurations are needed to improve ADS-B reception and performance, as well as support five-nm aircraft separation using ADS-B. However, the organizations contend that the cost to equip small aircraft with diversity is “significant and installations of this type of system are rare.” In its response, Nav Canada said the mandate will provide efficiency and safety benefits that justify the expense, as well as “harmonize with U.S. and European ADS-B Out mandates.”
The requirement to be equipped with diversity antenna systems will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 starts Jan. 1, 2021, in Class A airspace between FL180 and FL600 and in Class E Airspace above FL600; Phase 2 starts on Jan. 1, 2022, in Class B airspace between 12,500 feet and FL180.
Nav Canada is also considering a Phase 3 that would broaden the mandate to Class C and D airspace around specific airports. Nav Canada said it plans additional stakeholder consultations and that if there is a Phase 3, it would not be implemented before January 2023.
Airspace at Some 600 Airports Opened for Drone Use
The FAA has expanded the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) testing program to increase access for non-recreational drone pilots into certain controlled airspace around specifically designated airports. Approximately 600 airports are covered by the capability. LAANC, now in beta testing, is designed to directly support unmanned aerial system (UAS) integration into controlled airspace under 400 feet agl near airports.
Through automated applications, drone pilots can apply for an airspace authorization; if approved, pilots receive their authorization in near real time. LAANC is available only to drone pilots operating under the Small UAS Rule Part 107. To qualify under Part 107, pilots must have registered their drones and hold a remote pilot certificate. So-called recreational drone operations are limited to specific fixed sites.
Applicants can apply up to 90 days in advance of a flight. At press time, 14 companies have been approved to operate their drones under the LAANC program. Operators should note that the list of facilities taking part in LAANC will change during testing, including possibly the removal of airports that previously offered LAANC capability.
Garmin Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Burrell Passes
Gary Burrell, co-founder and chairman emeritus of avionics and electronics manufacturer Garmin died yesterday at the age of 81. He retired in 2002 but continued serving as chairman until 2004, when he was named chairman emeritus.
“His vision, values, engineering skills and commitment to serving our customers have been the foundation for the growth of our company,” Garmin co-founder Dr. Min Kao said. “It has been both a great privilege and a blessing to have known this amazing man and I know his legacy will live on.”
Kao and Burrell founded the Olathe, Kansas-based company in 1989 to create products around Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with a handful of engineers that has since grown to more than 13,000 employees. Burrell is credited with leading the vision and development of a range of products that are industry staples including the G1000 integrated flight deck.
“While Gary will be remembered by many as one of the great entrepreneurs of our age, I will remember the unusual way in which he led our company, something he called servant leadership,” Garmin president and CEO Cliff Pemble said. “Whether it was about creating the best product or his behavior as a leader, Gary always considered the impact to others before himself. His example not only inspired my contribution to Garmin, it also positively influenced me as a husband and father.”
Boeing and Aurora Flight Science’s unmanned passenger air vehicle (PAV) prototype crashed June 4 during its fifth test flight in Manassas, Virginia, Aurora spokeswoman Luisa Guerra confirmed to AIN this week at the Uber Elevate Summit in Washington, D.C. Guerra said the crash is under investigation and a determination of cause is pending.
The vehicle previously had four successful test flights, Guerra noted, and it crashed in a closed area. “We are operating in a safe, confined space,” she said. “We follow strict protocols” during flight testing.”
Guerra declined to disclose further details of the crash. The 30-foot-long, 28-foot-wide electric-powered vehicle completed its first flight on January 22. It is expected to have a range of up to 50 miles and operate autonomously from takeoff to landing.
The air-taxi concept demonstrator completed a controlled takeoff, hover, and landing during its first flight, with later tests focusing on forward, wing-borne flight and the transition between hover and forward flight.
The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) concluded its first static, forum, and community event in Singapore today. Known as AsBAA Takes Off, the event—held at Jet Aviation’s Hangar 2 at Seletar Aerospace Park—attracted 150 guests from the industry and 100 students ranging from age eight through high school.
On static display were a Gulfstream G450 and an Embraer Legacy 500, provided by Asia Corporate Jet and Embraer, respectively. The morning session also included keynote sessions by IBAC, Asian Sky Group, and Indochina Aviation Centre. Announced at ABACE in April, the event was intended to raise awareness of the business aviation industry among students at a young age, as part of the AsBAA Discovery initiative.
“We are proud to be associated with AsBAA and to support the event,” said Joe Reckling, Jet Aviation’s senior vice president of Asia-Pacific operations. “To be successful in the business we have to invest in the education of the future workforce and make business aviation attractive to them. As Asia is one of the fastest growing markets, we have to start early in engaging them.”
“Events like this are critical in showing the magic of business aviation to the young minds and attract them to the industry,” echoed Kurt Edwards, IBAC’s director general.
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.
