With the House of Representatives yesterday releasing the text of its Infrastructure package bill, “The Moving Forward Act," NATA is applauding the inclusion of language to further the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel. The bill calls for the allocation of $30 million a year through 2025 for the study and development of renewable aviation fuels.
Part of the measure also authorizes an additional $5 million a year over the same period, to be appropriated from the Treasury general fund, to the Center for Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment. To be overseen by the FAA, the funds will be used for “programs to assess and reduce the environmental impacts of aviation, and to improve the health and quality of life of individuals living in and around airport communities.”
“The aviation business community is at the forefront of the transition to sustainable fuels and is taking proactive measures towards building a sustainable future,” said NATA president and CEO Timothy Obitts. “We believe that provisions like these that affirm and assist our collective efforts will help foster the impactful breakthroughs and long-term progress our industry is working to contribute through innovation, collaboration, and education.”
Argus Sees U.S. Bizav Flying at 83% of Normal in July
According to a new white paper from Argus International, U.S. business aviation flying is expected to return to 73 percent of normal this month and then 83 percent of normal in July and August. “If the August forecast holds then we will see approximately 225,000 business aviation flights in North America for the month. That is off from the 2019 monthly average of 260,000 but it would represent a 300 percent increase from our April low of 74,771,” its analysts said.
However, they warned that business aviation entered this environment in a global pandemic and will likely emerge in a recession, so “all bets are off on exactly what our recovery will look like.” For business aviation, a recession would be “heavily tied” to Wall Street, Argus’s analysts said. “If the short term trends are any indication, we will probably return to 15 to 20 percent of normal in July and August, with activity showing a closer correlation to the ease of quarantine and stay at home orders.”
If the financial damage is on the milder side, Argus’s analysts believe the industry could make up the remaining losses over the next 12 to 18 months. But if the financial impact turns out to be deeper, then it will take longer, they said.
“Either way, we live in a global, connected world and business aviation will be vital to our recovery,” they concluded.
FAA Pilot Record Database Proposal Draws Fire from NBAA
NBAA is voicing objections to an FAA proposal to require electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD) reporting, saying the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) raises a range of privacy and other concerns.
Open for comment through June 29, the NPRM specifies that the PRD is designed to facilitate sharing of pilot records among air carriers and other operators. Under the NPRM, air carriers, public aircraft operators, air tours, fractional providers, and corporate flight departments would be required to enter pilot data into the PRD and would also have access to data contained within the PRD. The NPRM further would require air carriers, fractional providers, and certain other operators to evaluate available data in the PRD before hiring a pilot candidate.
NBAA has called on its members to weigh in on the proposal, warning it would have a “substantial impact” on a large contingent of the business aviation community. Specifically, the association is concerned over a requirement in the proposal to include check pilot comments from training events in PDR records, as well as “overly burdensome and inconsistent” reporting requirements that encompass historical records dating back nearly a decade.
Of particular concern is an attempt to define a corporate flight department. “Business aviation organizations are not homogenous, cookie-cutter entities. Each flight department is structured differently, maintains different records, and has unique hiring and employment policies,” NBAA maintained.
XOJet Implements Full-scale Virus Countermeasures
As business for XOJet Aviation has continued throughout the pandemic, the operator has implemented a layered, comprehensive approach to ensure the health and safety of both its passengers and crew. Many of the operator’s measures were put in place in the early days of the pandemic, according to XOJet Aviation president and COO Kevin Thomas. He explained that as scheduled airlines cut operations, “We filled that void and still needed to provide lift. We decided we need to react sooner in the process."
Among the procedures is the application of the ClearCabin 90-day disinfectant and antimicrobial barrier. The treatment forms an “invisible bio-barrier coating” to protect against bacteria, mold, and fungi. While a nearly three-month treatment, the operator is reapplying it every 45 days. In addition, all aircraft undergo a disinfectant treatment every 10 days, he added. Aircraft are stocked with anti-bacterial hand wipes and cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment such as masks are available.
For the crew, masks are required when customer interaction is involved. Coupled with that, pilots undergo temperature checks twice a day and passengers must fill out health questionnaires. Thomas sees some of these measures remaining as part of the operator’s regular practices. “What’s come to light is a lot of these measures are good practices to have in place,” he said, specifically noting the cabin treatments.
With the Bahamas slated to reopen to international travel and tourism on July 1, the country has issued new health protocols for visitors. To protect the safety of travelers and residents alike amid the recent rise in coronavirus cases in the U.S., the Bahamian government has mandated that in addition to temperature screening on arrival, all visitors must present a Covid-19 RT-PCR negative swab test, with the results no more than 10 days old.
Exemptions will include children under two years old, private pilots who do not deplane, and Bahamian citizens, residents, and homeowners returning from English-speaking CARICOM countries.
All travelers will be required to file an electronic health visa, and masks and social distancing will be enforced. No quarantine will be required upon arrival, but any travelers showing symptoms of Covid-19 could be transferred away from other passengers for further testing and evaluation.
Other island authorities are adopting similar or even more stringent requirements for international arrivals. As Bermuda reopens on July 1, it will require proof of a negative Covid test taken no later than 72 hours before departure, and upon arrival on the island, every passenger must undergo testing and remain under quarantine in their accommodations until the results are received within 24 hours. Business aviation crews are encouraged to drop and go and will not be permitted to leave the FBO.
Textron Aviation Details Job Cuts: 250 Affected
About 250 jobs will be eliminated at Textron Aviation, the Wichita-based company announced today, as part of a larger restructuring initiated by parent company Textron. In addition, Textron Aviation said in a statement to AIN that it will implement periodic furloughs in some functional areas of the company for the remainder of the year.
Citing its adjustment “to the evolving global economic uncertainty and existing market conditions,” the job cuts will affect salaried and hourly employees, but not those who are working under a collective bargaining agreement, according to the statement.
In a related development, employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will vote on Tuesday on a request by Textron Aviation to open contract talks early on a new bargaining agreement. The current six-year agreement with the machinists union expires on September 20.
Last week, Textron announced a restructuring that called for eliminating 1,950 jobs across three businesses, including Textron Aviation, but didn’t specify the number of job cuts at each of the businesses. With nearly 10,000 workers in Kansas and 12,500 companywide, Textron Aviation initiated rolling furloughs in March, as well as shortened work weeks, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its most recent layoff occurred in December, affecting primarily 875 engineers and business support workers.
Daher Expands TBM App Safety Features
Pilots who use the Me & My TBM app to record flights in their TBM turboprop singles now have access to more information to help improve performance and safety with the release of Version 4. The most useful new feature is the ability to download a full report of the flight, allowing pilots to assess their performance compared to specific criteria and other pilots' experiences.
After the flight’s information is sent to Daher’s servers from the TBM’s Pratt & Whitney Fast flight data retrieval and transfer system, the app shows detailed information about the flight. “We are making it graphical with the approach profile,” said Daher aircraft division senior v-p Nicolas Chabbert. “We’re also trying to give hints and a way you can self-critique your energy management and on-speed [skills]. Day-to-day, it’s good that we all try to improve ourselves.”
With V4, a full flight report—including analysis of approaches and landings in comparison to stabilized approach criteria—can now be emailed from the app. The criteria include airspeed and pitch at 500 feet, 50 feet, and touchdown; engine torque; and vertical speed.
Pilots can compare their skills with other TBM pilots using the app’s “Aviator Challenge” feature, which scores flights against key references and compares them to the participating fleet. Scores are now provided in percentages, as well as points.
Leonardo has sold more than 70 of its AW109 Trekker skid gear light twins, including a new sale to a French helicopter EMS service in Normandy, France, the company announced this week. SAF Hélicoptères will use the new helicopter to support operations from Rouen Hospital. Thus, its Trekker will be fitted with a customized EMS interior and delivered from Leonardo’s plant in Vergiate, Italy, later this year. An EMS-configured Trekker can accommodate one stretcher with three to four medical attendants or two stretchers and two medical attendants.
Groupe SAF operate 65 helicopters, providing medical transports, heavy-lift, mountain rescue aerial work, VIP transport, air tourism, maintenance, and training from bases in Cote d’Azur, the Alps, Paris, and Réunion Island. It is also the only private helicopter operator in France with night vision goggle operations.
Approved by EASA in 2017 and the FAA in 2019, the Trekker is the latest and lowest-cost variant in Leonardo’s AW109 series, of which more than 1,500 have been delivered. The helicopter—which can be flown VFR or IFR, single or dual pilot—shares the airframe and Pratt & Whitney PW207C engines of the AW109 Grand but substitutes fixed landing skids for retractable gear and the Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit for standard avionics. It features a crash-resistant fuel system, Category A/Class 1 performance, and a 30-minute run-dry main gearbox.
People in Aviation
Aero Asset appointed Philip Louis Amadeus its sales director based in London. Amadeus—a pilot who has amassed more than 10,000 flight hours, including with a number of helicopter models—previously launched and operated his own charter business.
Western Aircraft named Tonya Wood interiors manager. Wood joins Western Aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace, where she held varying positions, including principal designer and senior pricing analyst. She also previously served as the director of interior architectural design for J. Banks Design Group.
Twin Commander Aircraft hired Andrew Wilson as a technical service manager. Wilson previously served as maintenance controller and flight operations support for Dynamic Aviation and before that ran his own aircraft inspection and maintenance operation.
FreeFlight Systems promoted Ashley Ring to v-p of sales and marketing. Previously director of sales, Ring has served with FreeFlight Systems for nine years.
Leviate Air Group appointed Chad Beaulieu managing partner of aircraft sales and Eric Dufay v-p of fleet sales, both based at the company’s headquarters in Dallas. Beaulieu has 20 years of aircraft sales experience with Bombardier and Gulfstream Aerospace, as well as in aircraft brokerage and consulting. Dufay has 10 years of aircraft charter experience, including providing lift for professional and collegiate sports teams, aircraft management, and running charter sales and business development teams.
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