Broker Aerocor Unveils Annual Premier I/IA Fleet Update
Light turbine aircraft broker Aerocor has produced what it said is the first update on the Beechcraft Premier I/IA fleet, revealing in part the kinds of upgrades the light twinjet has received as a percentage of the active fleet. In addition to types of upgrades to the fleet, the report includes information about aircraft utilization and program status based on a survey conducted between last October and November involving responses representing 28 percent of the active fleet of 273 aircraft—118 Premier Is and 155 Premier IAs.
According to the report, the entire fleet has a low utilization rate, with the majority of Premier I/IAs averaging less than 150 hours a year. Also, about 89 percent of the fleet has been upgraded to comply with ADS-B.
Drilling down to the two variants, the report notes that more than three-quarters of Premier Is have been outfitted with TCAS II and enhanced ground proximity warning systems while only 22 percent are equipped with e-charts and 33 percent XM weather. On the Premier IA, 59 percent of surveyed aircraft have been upgraded to localizer performance with vertical guidance while only 14 percent have synthetic vision and 29 percent dual FMS, according to the report.
Garmin’s G5000 flight deck upgrade for the Cessna Citation Excel and XLS has newly certified capabilities, including support for future air navigation system (FANS) 1/A+ and aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS). These features meet requirements for flying in North Atlantic Track System (NATS) airspace and also participation in the FAA’s Data Comm program.
The upgrade uses Garmin’s GSR 56 Iridium satcom for over-ocean communications and the GDR 66 radio for VHF datalink communications. The Data Comm service in the U.S. gives pilots access to CPDLC departure clearances (DCL) at more than 60 airports. With DCL, clearances are sent directly to the aircraft and then automatically loaded into the G5000. Some Data Comm services are also becoming available for en route communications. With ACARS capability, pilots can send and receive datalink messages via an ACARS host and access weather information and digital ATIS, where available.
With three landscape-oriented displays, the G5000 upgrade features two touchscreen controllers, ADS-B Out, PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capability, and a digital automatic flight control system with emergency descent mode. Options include underspeed protection and fully coupled go-arounds, synthetic vision, SurfaceWatch airport and runway safety advisor, datalink weather via Iridium, Doppler weather radar, and Flightstream 510 wireless gateway.
AOPA Unites Orgs in Push for Standard Airport Diagrams
AOPA has brought together some 300 pilot and aviation organizations in a push to standardize airport diagram parking labels. The groups are supporting defining FBO ramp as “an apron where itinerant general aviation [GA] operators can park their aircraft and expect to have access to traditional FBO services subject to terms and conditions;” GA transient ramp as “an apron where itinerant general aviation operators can park their aircraft without FBO services and subject to terms and conditions;” and GA tenant ramp as “an area designated for parking of based general aviation aircraft, i.e. tiedown area.”
AOPA noted that in the absence of a standard set of diagrams, the references vary widely. In fact, it found up to 30 different parking terms for the same type of ramp in Southern California alone.
While many airports have available transient GA parking areas, those ramps are either not labeled or not labeled clearly. AOPA said standardizing terms will eliminate confusion and enable pilots to better identify parking options. Further, the association noted an effort to standardize terms will become even more important as the FAA is expected to expand the number of airports required to furnish an airport diagram from the current 700 to about 3,000.
Hundreds of thousands of flights have already taken off fueled by Sustainable Aviation Fuels, and we think they could cut carbon emissions by around 80%, compared to conventional fossil-based jet fuels. Alternative fuels will play an important role in ensuring we can keep enjoying the benefits of aviation, while achieving a net zero carbon future.
Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics’ MD302 Standby Attitude Module (SAM) is now STC'd for installation on Dassault Falcon 900A/B/C/EX-series trijets that are FAA, EASA, or Mexican Civil Aviation Federal Agency (AFAC) registered. At two inches wide in a vertical installation, the unit replaces the standby attitude horizon, altimeter, and Mach airspeed indicator found on these Falcons.
The TSO-certified SAM comes with an adapter plate and has a single-knob interface for menu control. It displays attitude, altitude, airspeed, slip, vertical trend, and heading during normal or standby operation in the event of primary instrument failure. List price for the STC, equipment, and installation is $22,000. Olivier Langeard, Dassault Falcon Jet director of aftermarket programs and business development, said Mid-Continent’s SAM serves to modify the Falcon 900 cockpit as well as improve safety and reliability.
“To date, SAM is STC approved on more than 500 aircraft models,” said Mid-Continent v-p of sales David Copeland. “It’s an ideal replacement for aging standby units and requires minimal modification. SAM fits in less panel space than the instruments it is designed to replace, and its high-definition display provides a seamless transition from the primary flight displays to the standby in the cockpit.”
New Hotel To Land at London Biggin Hill Airport
London’s Biggin Hill Airport broke ground today on The Landing, a new on-site luxury boutique hotel. Much like the Aviator Hotel at nearby Farnborough Airport, it is expected to primarily serve crews that frequently fly in and out of the airport, as well as customers and employees of the numerous resident aerospace businesses based at Biggin Hill. With its completion slated for next year, it will offer 56 rooms with a bar, restaurant, lounge area, and gym.
“This development will play an important role within the airport’s ecosystem and is a fantastic addition to the many facilities and services we already offer,” said Robert Walters, the airport’s commercial director. ”Moreover, the hotel will support the community by providing further employment and training opportunities, as well as attracting new business investment to the region.”
Meanwhile, on-the-field construction work is continuing to build Bombardier’s new 250,000-sq-ft service center. When it opens in the first quarter of 2022, it will be able to accommodate up to 14 of the Canadian manufacturer’s large-cabin Global 7500s. According to Biggin Hill Airport head of marketing Andy Patsalides, the building’s core structural steelwork and cantilever roof are now complete.
A designated UK port of entry, the dedicated general aviation airport is the only such facility in the UK capital, located 12 miles from the city center.
Treasury Outlines Steps for PSP3 Funding
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued guidelines for air carriers and contractors to receive funding for the third extension of the Payroll Support Plan (PSP3) approved as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, according to the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). Approved this month, the American Rescue Plan set aside another $14 billion for air carriers and $1 billion for their contractors in PSP funding. It also extended the program, which was set to expire on March 31, until the end of September.
NATA advised that the Treasury Department can only provide PSP3 to air carriers and contractors that receive assistance under PSP2, provide air transportation or contractor functions as of March 31, and do not layoff, furlough, or reduce the pay of covered employees during the contracted period of PSP3. Recipients will not need to apply this time for the third round—Treasury is to contact PSP2 recipients to complete the necessary documentation and will provide the financial assistance in the same form and on the same terms and conditions as it did under PSP2.
NATA, working with Vedder Price’s David Hernandez, has developed a video to guide aviation businesses through the process.
Leonardo Delivers First Trekker in Indonesia
Leonardo has delivered its first AW109 Trekker light twin to Indonesia. Customer FlyKomala will use the aircraft there to carry out a range of missions including passenger transport, utility transport, disaster relief, and emergency support duties. FlyKomala has been offering helicopter and aircraft charter services since 2010 across a variety of operations, including VIP transport, aerial survey, fire waterbombing, geomagnetic surveys, and external cargo transport.
The delivery expands Leonardo’s civil helicopter fleet in Indonesia to almost 20 aircraft. Based on the AW109S “Grand” airframe with its Fadec Pratt & Whitney PW207C engines, the Trekker was unveiled in 2014 and is equipped with skid gear and the latest generation Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit.
EASA certified the aircraft in 2017, followed by FAA validation in 2019. The helicopter can be configured for a variety of missions from single-pilot VFR to dual pilot IFR operations and features a crash-resistant fuel system, Category A/Class 1 performance, and a 30-minute run-dry main gearbox. Optional equipment includes a cargo hook, external rescue hoist, searchlight, external loudspeakers, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), video downlink, snow skis, emergency floats, and a wide variety of interior layouts. More than 70 Trekkers have been sold to customers worldwide, adding to approximately 1,500 AW109 series helicopters sold globally since 1976.
Another UK FBO To Offer Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Pula Aviation Services Limited (PASL) subsidiary Centreline Aviation, the lone FBO at the UK’s Bristol Airport, has inked a deal with Air BP to become the country’s first independent, non-network retailer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The drop-in fuel provided is blended with conventional fuel and requires no difference in its ground handling or usage.
Air BP has thus far delivered SAF to 18 locations on three continents and, as in the case with its Bristol deliveries, the fuel’s lifecycle carbon emissions savings are calculated to include its journey to its delivery at on airport storage facilities. SAF became available last year at Signature Flight Support’s facility at London Luton; like the world’s largest FBO chain, PASL views renewable fuel as a key part in furthering its carbon-neutral goals.
“Our partnership with Air BP is a sustainable step for the PASL group as we remain committed to playing our part in reducing the impact aviation has on global carbon emissions,” said PASL COO and Centreline accountability manager Gus Paterson. “By offering our charter clients a SAF option, we are making progress in being carbon negative in air operations by 2025, as well as providing our FBO clients with the opportunity to make sustainable choices when refueling in Bristol."
AIN Webinar: Mitigating 5G Avionics Interference
According to a recent RTCA report, terrestrial 5G telecom systems could cause interference issues with certain existing avionics. This can cause serious safety concerns for aircraft equipped with legacy radar altimeters and other vulnerable products. Solutions to this problem exist, and we will be highlighting these during an educational webinar on 5G interference concerns in the NextGen airspace presented by subject matter experts in avionics manufacturing, installation, and regulatory perspectives.
Please join us on April 28 as AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber moderates this webinar with Nathan Hernandez, business development sales manager at Southeast Aerospace; Dr. David Redman, director of Aerospace Vehicles Systems Institute and an RTCA committee member; and Ashley Ring, v-p of sales and marketing at FreeFlight Systems. Sponsored by Freeflight Systems.
Pandemic Help Available for U.S. Aviation Companies
The Biden administration’s new $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan includes $26 billion in funds to keep workers employed throughout the aviation sector at a time when Covid still threatens the industry’s viability. Multiple pots of money are now available, including new support for aircraft manufacturers, but also for aircraft operators, airports, and support companies.
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