State and local government elected officials are taking fresh aim at New York City helicopter traffic. The state legislature passed what essentially is a poison pill for helicopter operators in New York City and the bill awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature. Meanwhile, new legislation has been introduced in the New York City Council that would eliminate non-essential helicopter flights from the two city-owned heliports at Wall Street and East 34th Street.
Late last month, both houses of the state legislature ratified legislation that would allow individual citizens to sue helicopter operators who “create an unreasonable level of sustained noise at ground level.” It also amends the Hudson River Park Act to ban non-essential helicopter traffic from the park.
Under the bill, “non-essential” is defined as anything other than for public health and safety, law enforcement, emergency response, disaster response, heavy lifting for construction, research, or newsgathering. The bill would apply to all helitour flights; photo flights not conducted by a licensed television, film, or production company; and helicopters not adhering to routes pre-approved by the FAA. It would become effective within 30 days of Hochul’s signature.
Proposed New York City legislation closely mirrors the state bill and comes weeks after the city’s Economic Development Corp. issued a request for proposal for a new operator bid for the Wall Street Heliport.
NBAA presented its American Spirit Award to Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee who is retiring at the end of his term after serving in Congress for 36 years. The longest-serving House member from Oregon, DeFazio has served on T&I throughout his congressional career.
“Our country has benefitted enormously from Chairman DeFazio’s decades of service to his constituents and his passionate commitment to representing the interests of the American people,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “He has always understood the importance of preserving America’s leadership in aviation, and the essential role that general aviation plays in our nation’s economy and transportation system.”
An original member of the House General Aviation Caucus that was formed in 2009, DeFazio was an architect behind certification reforms in the wake of the Boeing Max crashes and has continued to place pressure on the FAA to ensure changes are implemented. He also has been a steadfast opponent of efforts to privatize the nation’s air traffic control system, as well as pushed for legislation to shield FAA workers from government shutdowns.
NBAA honors individuals with the American Spirit Award who exemplify the courage, pursuit of excellence, and service to others that characterizes those who created and nurtured the American aviation community.
Aircraft management firm and charter operator Cockrell Resources has changed its name to Houston JetDirect in response to an increased demand environment for its Part 135 charter operations. “Following two years of dramatic change in the aviation industry, the company is poised to offer greater value to a larger number of aircraft owners and travelers,” said JetDirect president and general manager Alberto Castro. “Rebranding now to focus on our primary mission makes sense.”
Founded in the 1950s, the Houston-based company initiated the change to emphasize its aircraft management specialization, as well as its expanded charter offerings from Texas and the Southwest to points across the Americas.
Based at William P. Hobby Airport, JetDirect’s fleet comprises the Bombardier Learjet 45 and 75, Cessna Citation Sovereign, Bombardier Challenger 300/350, and Dassault Falcon 2000LX. The company also holds Argus Gold and Wyvern-registered operator designations.
Global trip support provider Universal Weather and Aviation has been accepted into the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) reimbursable services program (RSP), making it the first mission-management company to do so. The RSP program was initiated in 2013 and allows stakeholders such as airlines, cargo operators, FBOs, charter management companies, and some corporate flight departments (at their home base) to request after-hours inspection.
On behalf of its customers, Universal can now request and prepay for overtime CBP services at 11 U.S. airports where operational hours are limited. This includes Austin-Bergstrom International (KAUS), Bangor International (KBGR), Connecticut Bradley International (KBDL), Charleston International (KCHS), Louisville International (KSDF), Tampa International (KTPA), Reno-Tahoe International (KRNO) Salt Lake City International (KSLC), Teterboro (KTEB), Treasure Cay International (KFPR), and Will Rogers International (KOKC). Soon to be added are Francis S. Gabreski (KFOK), Republic (KFRG), and MacArthur (KISP) airports—all on New York’s Long Island—and Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX).
“CBP clearance hours have been severely restricted the last few years and are only getting more so, making it very challenging for operators conducting business overseas to come back home and clear U.S. Customs at their desired location,” explained Adam Hartley, Universal’s global regulatory services product manager. “As an RSP partner, we will be eligible to request overtime services that otherwise would not be available.”
The FAA has approved the installation and use of Viasat’s Ka-band inflight connectivity (IFC) business aviation system on the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X, the Carlsbad, California-based global communications company announced today.
Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal 5510, the hardware kit that makes the IFC possible, communicates with Viasat’s Ka-band satellite network that covers more than 90 percent of business aircraft flight routes. The kit also will be forward compatible with the company’s next-generation ViaSat 3 constellation. The system typically delivers speeds greater than 20 Mbps—suitable for videoconferencing, streaming video, and corporate VPN access—though some operators have reported speeds greater than 80 Mbps.
“The combination of our high-capacity satellite network and our compact and lightweight hardware allow us to offer incredible speeds,” said Viasat business area director of business aviation Claudio D'Amico. “Our service offers our fastest, most robust business aviation inflight connectivity solution and supports business-critical productivity capabilities and other data-rich applications while in flight.”
Installation of the system is available at Dassault-owned service centers. “Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) provides Falcon maintenance, interior refurbishment, avionics upgrades, and more, so it’s only fitting to now offer Viasat’s Ka-band IFC solution to Falcon operators,” said DAS senior v-p and COO Remy St-Martin.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
Regarding an aircraft stall, which of the following statements is correct?
A. The wing stalls if the critical angle of attack is exceeded.
B. At low altitude, the stall angle of attack decreases as weight decreases.
C. In a turn, the stall speed increases due to the increase in the stall angle of attack.
D. The critical angle of attack generally increases if ice builds up on the wing leading edge.
Newton, Kansas-based business aircraft modification specialist Avcon ISR Solutions has undertaken a rebranding, expansion, and new platforms as it looks to increase its foothold in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) market. Previously known as Avcon Industries, the company’s mainstay has been the Beechcraft King Air series for special-mission applications. In fact, earlier this year the company received supplemental type certificates (STCs) for the installation of wing-mounted inboard and outboard hard points on King Airs.
At the same time, Avcon has expanded the aircraft platforms on which it offers modifications, including developing and receiving FAA STCs for fuselage sensor ports and a camera hole on the Cessna 208 Caravan and 208B Grand Caravan. More recently, it developed hard points for underwing sensors, pods, and target reeling machine for towing targets on the Learjet 60.
Avcon is particularly bullish on the prospects for the Learjet 60 hardpoints. For many years, the company modified the Learjet 35 with internal hardpoints and underwing hardpoints. “Those aircraft are aging, obviously, and a lot of the customers, operators are looking for that next better airplane,” Avcon president Marcus Abendroth told AIN.
With the addition of the Learjet 60, Caravan, and expanded King Air work, he said the 45-employee company needed more space, which is why Avcon purchased an existing 12,000-sq-ft hangar at Newton City/County Airport.
Garmin has received EASA approval for the installation of its GFC 600H digital autopilot for Airbus AS350 helicopters as a retrofit through authorized Garmin dealers. AS350 variants eligible for the upgrade include the BA, B2, B3, and B3E. Garmin has also implemented additional GFC 600H pilot training and supporting materials to allow for updated pilot licensing as required by the EASA certification.
The GFC 600H features attitude hold with speed stability, hover assist mode, helicopter electronic stability and protection, dedicated return-to-level mode, and overspeed and low-speed protection. It has a console-mounted mode controller with push-button controls and a night vision goggle-compatible display and is available in both two- and three-axis configurations with integrated servos that provide pitch and roll inputs as commanded by the system. The collective sensor and the optional third servo provide yaw-axis-control capability.
Integrated with the G500H TXi flight displays and GTN or GTN Xi navigators, the GFC 600H can use navigation information to automatically fly approaches, en route navigation, search-and-rescue patterns, and fully coupled missed approach procedures, including holds. The attitude-hold mode also provides inputs to help stabilize the helicopter when hand-flying. Additionally, the GFC 600H has cyclic-mounted trim controls for additional modes, including altitude hold, altitude select, vertical speed, indicated airspeed, and heading select.
Battery manufacturer Saft America has named Duncan Aviation as an authorized service center (ASC). The authorization extends to Duncan’s full-service MRO facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska; Battle Creek, Michigan; and Provo, Utah, as well as several of the company’s satellite shops across the U.S.
As a Saft ASC, Duncan has direct access to its tech data, manuals, and parts, and the capability to provide warranty, inspection, repair, overhaul, and AOG services for the Saft NiCad and lithium-ion batteries used on aircraft.
“Many of our in-house customers operate with Saft batteries in their aircraft,” said Duncan Aviation accessories business development manager Tim Fidler. “We have supported them for many years with factory-trained technicians providing the highest quality maintenance and service that meets Saft’s rigorous standards.”
Duncan’s other services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit avionics systems, full paint and interior services, and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions.
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