The first conversion of a Legacy 450 to a Praetor 500 has been completed for an unnamed customer by Embraer Services & Support at the Embraer Executive Jets Service Center at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. It extends the fly-by-wire twinjet’s range from 2,900 nm to 3,340 nm with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves.
Included in the conversion was replacing the level-sensing wiring in the fuel tanks, moving the over-wing gravity fuel ports, relocating the fuel measurement system, and reinforcing the wing ribs. Also included were updates to the flight control systems such as a new avionics load for the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck, as well as installation of Praetor 500 winglets, placards, and logos.
Besides Bradley, the conversions can also be performed at the Brazilian airframer’s owned service centers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Paris Le Bourget.
Embraer announced the Praetor 500 and its larger cousin, the Praetor 600, as redesigns of the Legacy 450 and 500 at NBAA-BACE 2018. Both Praetor models received type certification from regulators in Brazil, the U.S., and Europe last year. Along with the new variants, Embraer announced Legacy upgrade kits for conversion to the Praetor series.
AINsight: Flight Deck No Place for Political Debates
Political conversations, fueled by social media and a 24-hour news cycle, have spilled into every area of our lives, from our homes to the workplace—and for pilots that includes the flight deck. As the 2020 election nears, the political chatter and debates among friends and coworkers will only increase.
In the workplace setting, if not kept in check, these political discussions are ripe to become emotionally charged debates harming both personal and professional relationships. Beyond hurt feelings, not to mention the obvious distractions and safety implications, these discussions are often unprofessional and unproductive. And when these conversations cross the line, the behavior of the employee could be construed as bullying, harassment, or discriminatory, and the employer is on the legal hook for creating a “hostile” work environment.
To ameliorate this potential for legal jeopardy, employers must have a carefully crafted policy to set expectations and rules around political talk and politically motivated activities. The goal of these policies is to create a culture of civility.
If you are in a leadership role—director, manager, supervisor, or captain—lead by example and establish what is acceptable or not acceptable. When you are out flying the line, have a strategy to change-up the conversation. There is usually some common ground such as past aircraft, operators, former colleagues, vacation destinations, or whatever.
The FAA yesterday released an extension to a special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) to provide up to three months on certain deadlines surrounding medical, training, and testing requirements. SFAR 118 originally was issued on April 29 at the requests of industry groups concerned that airmen would be unable to meet deadlines amid the constraints surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
To be published in the Federal Register on Monday, the amended document grants an additional three months for medical certifications that were set to expire from April through September and provides other extensions for requirements surrounding certain flight reviews and crew requirements, among others.
“Without the relief in this SFAR, beginning July 1, 2020, and with each month thereafter, a new group of pilots will become unavailable to perform critical operations due to an inability to comply with regulatory requirements,” the agency said.
Aviation groups, which have continued to work with the FAA as the previous relief was set to expire, praised the extension. “We are pleased the FAA recognized the unprecedented situation that general aviation pilots and operators continue to face during this crisis,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.
“During this complicated time, it comes as a relief for many general aviation pilots affected by the ever-changing situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic,” agreed AOPA president and CEO Mark Baker.
NTSB Cites Crew, Inop Brakes in Fatal Falcon 50 Overrun
An NTSB final report on the fatal overrun crash of a Falcon 50 on Sept. 27, 2018, in Greenville, South Carolina cites the fact that the airplane was flown by unqualified pilots and with unresolved discrepancies in the probable cause. But the NTSB did not highlight the fact that the flight was an illegal charter. Both pilots were killed in the accident and the two paying passengers were seriously injured.
The flight departed from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida with two pilots and two passengers for the flight to Greenville Downtown Airport. Although the NTSB final report indicates the flight was conducted as a Part 135 charter, the maintenance factual report from the accident docket and the preliminary report both say it was conducted as a personal flight under Part 91. For some unknown reason, the NTSB does not address the issue of the flight being an illegal charter, despite the renewed focus on such activity.
The copilot was the owner of Air America Flight Services and held only a private pilot certificate. The captain held “a type rating for the Dassault Falcon 50 with a limitation for second-in-command privileges only,” according to the NTSB.
In addition, there was a known problem with the Falcon 50’s brakes. The airplane was overdue for a mandatory landing gear overhaul, and the anti-skid system was inoperative.
Legacy Universal FMS Options Topic of C&L Webinars
MRO provider C&L Aviation Group is partnering with Universal Avionics (UA) to present a pair of free webinars on upgrades to UA’s legacy flight management systems (FMS) that have reached their capacity for navigation databases, as well as those units that the avionics manufacturer will no longer repair. The webinars, “Support Issues and Solutions for Your Universal Legacy FMS: Answers for Current System Obsolescence and Navigation Database Restrictions,” will be held at 10:30 a.m. ET on July 8 and 3:30 p.m. ET on July 14.
UA announced it would cease repair on UNS 1C, 1C+, 1Csp, 1Csp+, 1D, 1D+, 1K, and 1K+ FMS because of parts obsolescence. Issues related to those systems and available upgrade solutions for them will be the focus of the webinars, which will feature presentations by C&L avionics sales manager Charlie Carroll and UA field service engineer Robert Brownell.
“Not all operators are aware of the support for these systems being phased out,” explained Carroll. “I spent many years working at Universal and am excited to partner with them on this webinar series to help provide answers to those needing to make the switch to WAAS-enabled LPV systems.”
NYC-area States Impose Covid Travel Regulations
With Covid-19 transmission rates in the Northeast declining compared to other regional hotspots in the U.S. where the disease is still on the rise, the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have issued a joint incoming travel advisory. The notice orders all individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of Covid-19 to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.
The quarantine, which began at midnight on Wednesday, applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average. Impacted states currently include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North and South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
Pilots, who are considered essential workers, are subject to certain exemptions. Those traveling to the area for less than 12 hours should limit personal exposure as much as possible, remain near their aircraft, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distance, and clean and disinfect workspaces. Stays of less than 36 hours require the above and are advised to avoid extended periods in public. Beyond 36 hours, diagnostic testing within 24 hours of arrival is required. Individuals failing to adhere to the quarantine regulations could be fined up to $10,000.
Honeywell has developed a new air-conditioning system for urban air mobility (UAM) and electric aircraft. The first to be equipped with the new oil-free Micro Vapor Cycle System (MicroVCS) will be Eviation’s in-development Alice electric commuter airplane.
MicroVCS saves on weight by eliminating oil used for lubrication, which Honeywell said will also reduce maintenance costs. The vapor-cycle system’s refrigerant is Honeywell’s Solstice R1233zd, a low-pressure, non-flammable, “environmentally-conscious” hydrofluoroolefin. Cooling capacity is about 1,130 BTU/min (20 kW) at typical hot-day ground conditions, according to Honeywell. System weight, including a structural frame, is about 140 pounds for an aircraft of Alice’s size.
To dissipate heat generated by the MicroVCS condenser, ram air is used to move heated air overboard. “There is no significant heat addition to the local environment on the aircraft,” Honeywell told AIN. While the condenser circuit is air-cooled, Honeywell said it could be replaced with a liquid-cooled condenser, “which would be a relatively minor modification.”
MicroVCS has been under development since 2018. The first installation in an Alice airframe is expected later this year, with full qualification scheduled for the second half of 2021. For a UAM or electric aircraft application, MicroVCS not only can cool the cabin but also can provide liquid cooling of batteries and electronic components.
FAI Technik has wrapped up what it said was a multi-million euro refurbishment project on a Bombardier Global Express and one of the largest such projects on the type. Dubbed “Project Pearl," the cabin refurbishment and exterior paint project designed by Tim Callies took about 10,000 man-hours to complete and included 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240-month inspections, the Nuremberg, Germany-based MRO said.
Inside, the Global Express technicians installed a Collins Aerospace Venue cabin management and entertainment system along with Honeywell’s Ka-band satcom technology. Featured in the 12-passenger cabin refurbishment is two-tone gray leather seating, including a pair of three-seat sofas covered in anthracite Armani fabric. Heated, gray/white marble flooring and countertops were also installed in the galley—which now includes a wine cooler, coffee maker, and oven—and matches the surfaces found in the updated lavatory.
Meanwhile, the exterior was refreshed with a customized paint scheme of black stripes laid out in a unique pattern on a white background. “FAI is proud to present this unique Global Express to the preowned charter market,” said FAI Group chairman Siegfried Axtmann. “Ultimately, we believe it would appeal to a buyer looking for a striking preowned aircraft.”
Photo of the Week
Like flawless landings, nailing the perfect sunset photo takes great skill. But professional pilot and photographer Richard Depinay certainly managed to grease the landing with this breathtaking sunset shot of a Cessna Citation Latitude at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. Thanks for sharing, Richard!
If you'd like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.
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