A research vehicle designed in the mid-20th century by Frank Piasecki, the father of the tandem-rotor helicopter, could soon see a new light in the emerging eVTOL segment as the PA-890. According to Piasecki Aircraft, the PA-890 is an all-electric, hydrogen-powered, slowed-rotor, and winged compound helicopter designed to fly missions currently provided by conventional Part 27 single-pilot IFR helicopters. FAA certification is expected in 2027.
Design goals for the aircraft are a 50 percent reduction in operating costs compared with those of conventional turbine helicopters, zero emissions, a 200-nm range with IFR reserves, and a very low external noise signature. The design uses a four-blade main rotor; a variable-incidence wing that rotates up to 90 degrees to minimize download for efficient hovering; a swiveling tail rotor that produces anti-torque at hover and slow vehicle speeds and then rotates to maximize forward propulsion efficiency; digital motor controls; and conventional flight controls.
Electric propulsion makes it demonstrably easier to control main rotor speed and achieve noise reduction, said company CEO John Piasecki. He added that the external noise profile of the PA-890 has been predicted to be a relatively quiet 68 to 73 decibels. California-based HyPoint will collaborate on the development of turbo air-cooled, high-temperature hydrogen fuel cell systems for the PA-890, with on-aircraft certification testing anticipated to begin as early as 2024.
AINsight: Good Advice Keeps Good Buyers from Buying
I was talking to an aviation attorney recently and we were lamenting about the difficulty of buying a preowned business aircraft in today’s environment. Forget the pricing that has continually been creeping up, because that is truly a manifestation of high demand and low supply.
The real problems are the processes of the transaction, as sellers are now also demanding a greatly shortened closing time, mostly created by the inability to perform a comprehensive pre-buy inspection or no inspection at all. That leaves good buyers with no option but to consider sitting on the fence, waiting for lower prices and the return of usual and customary processes.
So good buyers are not buying, which is what they really want to do, and sellers are not selling, which of course is their goal. You may think that is not the case, but more and more airplanes are coming to market and the days on market for many are increasing.
Creating a standstill is bad for business. Creating unbalanced transactions is also not only bad for the short term but also for the long-term viability of our industry. More sellers need to heed the future and begin on their own to create healthy pathways to a successful aircraft sales transaction.
Brazilian airframer Embraer is riding the tide of new business jet buyers entering the market. Michael Amalfitano, president of Embraer Executive Jets, further explained at EBACE 2022 that private aviation’s base is expanding.
“New users are coming into the marketplace, and we are very well positioned with our products because those first-time buyers are coming to buy entry-level light jets and medium-category aircraft; whether they do that in a purchase sense or user sense, the numbers are significantly growing,” he said.
“Demand is there,” he told AIN. “These are people who always could afford to buy a jet. In the past, they might not have the justification, but they’re health and safety-conscious” and don’t want to travel on airlines. As well, these new buyers are opting for new aircraft because used aircraft with the same capabilities simply aren’t available. “It’s an exciting time to be in business aviation.”
Following a record sales year last year, the OEM now has a book-to-bill of 2.1:1, according to Amalfitano, who said the backlog among all its aircraft now extends to the third quarter of 2024. For 2022, the company is anticipating deliveries in the 100 to 110 range.
“That span will create a growth forecast between 7 and 18 percent for the year,” he explained.
Kinston, North Carolina-based charter provider flyExclusive is equipping its fleet of Citation Excel midsize twinjets with Garmin G5000 flight decks that are expected to increase efficiency, reliability, and safety. Dallas-based Force Aviation will install the G5000 flight deck in 10 of flyExclusive’s Excels.
The Part 135 charter operator said the new flight deck will not only serve to modernize its Excel fleet but also increase dispatch reliability, which will help optimize its fleet availability, reducing trip cancellations and the need for replacement lift. As well, the G5000 will improve safety by providing crews with increased situational awareness and additional safety measures.
“By upgrading our aircraft with the G5000, we’re elevating our fleet to incorporate the best of the best in avionics technology,” said flyExclusive president Tommy Sowers. “This and other investments we are making in technology will help further our mission of providing the safest, most reliable, and most efficient private jet experiences in the market.”
Brazilian online business aircraft charter broker Flapper has announced it will expand its operations to Europe in the third quarter. The company, which has a proprietary inventory of more than 1,000 general aviation aircraft in Latin America, recently expanded into Mexico.
Its platform allows real-time charter quotes and the sale of individual seats on flights upon owner approval. Over the past year, it noted it had increased its business two-and-a-half times, attracting 300,000 users to its mobile application.
Flapper will be initially operating out of Lisbon, Portugal, and has been testing its model there since January. So far, it has booked more than 100 charter flights and empty-leg deals with local operators. It plans to extend its footprint on the continent by establishing additional offices in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland and will continue to register local operators of business jets and helicopters. High-season flights to Mallorca and Algarve will likely be offered on a per-seat basis, including frequent departures from London.
“We see Southern Europe as a natural extension of our business expansion, especially considering our Brazilian roots,” said senior partner Manoel Assuncão. “We have recurring clients from Latin America and our research demonstrated less competition in the region compared to other parts of the continent.”
As it works to secure and modernize international travel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has completed the introduction of biometric facial comparison technology at all international airports across the country. Simplified Arrival is an enhanced arrival process designed to fulfill a Congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens.
Through the system, foreign travelers who have previously traveled to the U.S. may no longer need to provide fingerprints. Instead their identity will be confirmed through the touchless facial biometric process, which while under development before Covid was ramped up to meet the demand for touchless identification during the pandemic.
When a traveler arrives at a U.S. international airport, they will pause for a photo at the primary inspection point. A CBP officer will review the travel document and retrieve the traveler’s passport or visa photo from government holdings and compare it to the photo.
“I am very proud that CBP accomplished this critical milestone to deploy facial biometrics at entry at all U.S. airports and continues to play a significant role in the travel recovery efforts,” said Diane Sabatino, CBP’s deputy executive assistant commissioner in the office of field operations. “The use of facial biometrics for identity verification brings travelers one step closer to a truly touchless process that is secure and streamlines travel while protecting their privacy.”
The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is offering $300,000 in aviation scholarships this year, doubling last year’s amount. The scholarships are funded through industry partners and membership donations. Industry partners offering scholarships through NGPA in the 2022 program include Alaska Air Group, American Airlines, American Flight Schools, Coradine, Delta Air Lines, Envoy, Epic Flight Academy, FedEx, Flex Air, Netflix, Piedmont, PSA, Republic Airways, Solairus Aviation, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
“NGPA is starting off Pride Month by opening our scholarship program. Over $200,000 of this year’s scholarship offerings are extended to students participating in the United Aviate Academy through our partnership with United Airlines. We’ve helped many young people achieve their aviation goals, and we are excited to continue doing that through like partnerships,” says NGPA v-p Troy Merritt.
The scholarships are available for all levels of flight training and other aviation-related higher educational training. They are awarded regardless of an individual’s gender identity, expression, or orientation, but all applicants are asked to provide evidence of their contributions to the LGBTQ community. All applicants must be members of the organization; membership can be purchased or renewed at NGPA's website. The application window is open through July 31, 2022.
The National Institute for Aviation Research’s (NIAR) Werx MRO program has reached an agreement on Airbus and Boeing passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions for Precision Aircraft Solutions and conversions and maintenance for its sister company, Erickson Aero Tanker. Based on those agreements and its previously announced 777-300ERCF P2F conversion program, the Werx program expects to add nearly 1,500 more jobs over the next five years at its primary Kansas facilities in Wichita, as well as at sites in Topeka and Salina.
The organization’s Wichita site, housed in several former Boeing Wichita hangars, employs 425 program managers, engineers, contractors, technicians, and paid applied-learning students. Under the new agreement with Precision, Wichita State University’s NIAR Werx will take delivery of two new aircraft for P2F conversions, with the expectation of eventually performing 12 to 24 of these conversions each year.
“The unprecedented demand for the Airbus and Boeing products is a testament to the investment and teamwork needed to create industry-leading products for our community and our customers,” said Precision president Gary Warner. “Precision works with facilities around the globe to satisfy this demand, and NIAR Werx represents a truly unique addition to the team. Through their applied research and technology, NIAR Werx has the people and facilities needed for the required production levels, a purpose-driven team, and the state-level support needed to realize their overall vision.”
Photo of the Week
Celebration in the skies. Aviation is playing an oversize role in the jubilee celebrations this weekend for Queen Elizabeth in Britain. UK Defence photographer Abigail Drewett snapped this image of the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows demonstration team from the number 10 team airplane while they were flying over Buckingham Palace with their signature smoke on. Thanks to the UK Ministry of Defence and the Red Arrows team for allowing us to use this stunning bird’s eye image of the celebration.
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