FAI Technik Adds Collins Tech To Global Express Refurb

Germany-based MRO FAI Technik’s latest Bombardier Global Express cabin refurbishment project, dubbed Project Pearl, includes Collins Aerospace’s latest version of its Venue cabin management and high-definition entertainment system, the unit of FAI Aviation Group announced. “We are very much looking forward to presenting this unique aircraft to the preowned Global Express market in April,” said FAI Group founder and chairman Siegfried Axtmann.

The five-month project included a complete overhaul of the aircraft’s cabin and additions of Venue and Honeywell’s Ka-band satellite communications technology, as well as 60-, 120-, and 240-month inspections. Its VIP seating for 12 passengers incorporates two-tone leather seats and a pair of three-seat sofas covered in Armani fabric. Other cabin modifications and upgrades encompass new cabinetry, cobalt black metal plating, granite tabletops and the latest appliances such as a wine cooler, coffee maker and oven. The aircraft’s galley and restroom have heated stone floors.

In addition, the refurbished Global Express will have new paint. It is expected to be listed at $10.95 million when it goes on the market next month.

Project Pearl is FAI Technik’s sixth in-house BD700 cabin refurbishment project. 

In Wake of Max Crashes, Congress Steps up FAA Scrutiny

FAA oversight and certification procedures are increasingly coming under scrutiny in the wake of the Boeing 737 Max crashes as Congress holds hearings to delve into those issues. Led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Senate aviation subcommittee this afternoon is looking at federal oversight of commercial aviation with NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt, FAA acting administrator Dan Elwell, and Transportation inspector general Calvin Scovel all slated to testify. This is the first of two hearings the subcommittee is planning on the issue, with another expected shortly that will involve Boeing and other aviation manufacturers, airline pilots, and other stakeholders.

In the House, meanwhile, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Pete DeFazio (D-Oregon) and aviation subcommittee chairman Rick Larsen (D-Washington) sent a letter to Elwell urging the FAA that, as it continues to review the 737 Max, it also engage an independent, third-party review to objectively advise on safety certification of new and novel technology. 

Their letter followed the Transportation Department announcement that it has established a special committee to review the FAA’s procedures involved in the certification of new aircraft, including the 737 Max. The lawmakers further have sought a Transportation Inspector General investigation on the Max certification and the FAA’s evaluation of new features on aircraft and created a whistleblower webpage as a resource for people to share information anonymously.

Reduced Spacing ADS-B Trials To Start in NAT Airspace

Three North Atlantic Track (NAT) air navigation service providers will begin trials tomorrow of new reduced longitudinal separation minima using ADS-B surveillance data. The trials will be available to approved ADS-B-equipped aircraft flying throughout the NAT in the Shanwick, Gander, and Santa Maria Oceanic Control areas.

Called Advanced Surveillance-Enhanced Procedural Separation (ASEPS), the trials will initially apply to longitudinal separation. Specifically, 17-nm longitudinal separation of aircraft operating on the same track or intersecting tracks provided that the relative angle between the tracks is less than 90 degrees and 14 nm provided the relative angle between the tracks is less than 45 degrees.

No special LOA or other approval is needed for ASEPS operations, but participating aircraft must be RVSM/HLA approved and ADS-B Out (1090 MHz) equipped, as well as meet specifications for RNP 4, RCP 240, and RSP 180.

Starting simultaneously with the ASEPS trial will be changes to contingency and weather and weather deviation procedures for NAT operators. Outlined in NATS Bulletin 2018-05, the revised procedures apply when there is an inability to comply with the assigned clearance due to weather; diversion across the prevailing traffic flow; loss of, or significant reduction in, the required navigation capability; or pressurization failure.

The FAA published these procedures as Notams on February 28 and also released more details in an Information for Operators bulletin.

Bombardier Tees Up Mobile Support for Masters Tourney

Bombardier Business Aircraft is bringing a full contingent of support services to Georgia’s Augusta Regional Airport next month for the 83rd edition of the Masters Tournament. The tournament will be held in Augusta from April 11 to 14.

“During the week leading up to the tournament where the airport sees a large spike in private jet traffic, field service representative Bret Jones will be on site to support Bombardier customers,” the Canadian aircraft manufacturer announced today. The company’s Atlanta-based mobile response team truck will also be on site at the city-run FBO, Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Services, from April 12 to 15 to support customers.

In addition, Bombardier said its mobile response team Learjet 45 will be available to provide quick delivery of parts and technical expertise to customers.

“Our mobile response team is looking forward to being on site at the Masters to support our business jet customers who will be in attendance,” said Ray Godon, director of Bombardier Business Aircraft’s mobile response team and customer response center. “The team has expanded to reach more customers, faster, and in more places, now totaling 30 trucks and two airplanes.”

BendixKing Deepens Partnerships with Avionics OEMs

BendixKing has unveiled new autopilots and engine monitors as part of additional partnerships with other avionics manufacturers that will build products branded and supported by BendixKing. The newest products are engine monitors made by JPI Instruments and autopilots manufactured by TruTrak Flight Systems. BendixKing also announced a new partnership with Avidyne, to rebrand Avidyne navigators under the BendixKing brand name and provide sales and product support for those units.

According to BendixKing president Gregg Cohen, the benefit of the partnerships is that smaller avionics manufacturers can reach a larger international market served by BendixKing, which also provides a global product support network to support the products.

The TruTrak-manufactured products include two autopilots, the XCruze 100 for the experimental aircraft market and the AeroCruze 100 for certified aircraft. Both include two servos, wiring harness, and the installation kit. Both feature GPS nav and steering, altitude hold, VS select, altitude select and preselect, automatic pitch trim, and more.

The new engine monitors are manufactured by JPI Instruments and include the xPoint 100 for experimental aircraft and the AeroPoint 200 and 300 for certified single- and twin-engine aircraft, respectively. All three fit in a standard 3.125-inch instrument panel cutout. 

BendixKing’s new partnership with Avidyne was on display this week at the AEA show, with the Avidyne IFD440, 540, and 550 rebranded as the AeroNav 800, 900, and 910.

Jet MS Completes 7,800 Landings Inspection on CL604

Vilnius, Lithuania-based Jet Maintenance Solutions (Jet MS) has become one of the first third-party business aircraft MROs worldwide to complete the 7,800 landings inspection on a Bombardier Challenger 604, it announced today. According to the Avia Solutions Group subsidiary, “7,800 landings inspection for this aircraft type is quite rare in the market, as most 604s have not yet reached that milestone. This particular aircraft was used very intensively in short-haul flights; it has made from 30 percent to 90 percent more landings than the average 604.”

To perform this inspection, Jet MS engineers had to remove the engines, inner and backside fuel tanks, stabilizer, and many other major components, which were inspected via non-destructive tests (NDT), including x-ray, ultrasonic, eddy current, and magnetic. “NDTs usually make up to 3 percent of all base maintenance works scope, but in this particular inspection they made up almost 30 percent,” Jet MS noted.

“The experience and professionalism of Jet MS team and close coordination with the aircraft producer enabled us to complete this challenging project successfully,” said Jet MS CEO Darius Saluga. “This is a major achievement for our company and proof of our ability to solve complex and non-standard cases effectively.”

House Panel OKs Bill To Protect FAA in Shutdowns

A bill to shield the FAA from future government shutdowns took a step forward with today’s voice vote passage by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee. T&I chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) and aviation subcommittee head Rick Larsen (D-Washington) introduced the bill, H.R.1108, in early February in the wake of the recent historic 35-day shutdown.

That bill has received strong support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle—including T&I ranking Republican Sam Graves (Missouri)—and 138 House members have signed on as co-sponsors. In addition, 40 aviation organizations have signed a letter of support. Both DeFazio and Graves spoke in support of the legislation before today's vote. The T&I leaders also jointly supported an amendment that was approved to the bill that would boost airport funding by $650 million a year to $4 billion.

Also today, the committee agreed by voice vote to H.R.1775, which calls for the creation of a task force on Notam improvements. The NTSB was sharply critical of the Notam system following the investigation of the July 7, 2017, incident at San Francisco International Airport in which an Air Canada Airbus A320 nearly landed on a crowded taxiway. The crew mistook the taxiway as their cleared runway—28R—because Runway 28L was closed. The pilots failed to catch that note on page eight of the 27-page Notam.

Elliott Gets PMA Nod for Prizm Lighting, Shades

Elliott Aviation was granted U.S. FAA parts manufacturing approval (PMA) for its Prizm brand LED cabin lighting and electronically dimmable Smart Vision Shades brand electronic window shades, clearing the way to sell both products to other Part 145 repair stations. To be sold under the Elliott Technologies brand, both the lighting and shades received supplemental type certification in a Citation Excel late last year.

Prizm provides full color spectrum mood lighting that can be controlled through either a mobile app or existing cabin lighting controls. The lighting is scalable to fit in most turbine-powered aircraft and can be used for upwash, downwash, lower accent, galley, lavatory, and cupholders with preset configurations available, Elliott said. The Smart Vision Shades, which are dimmable inner window panes, also can be controlled via app or built-in controls and are 99 percent UV blocking.

“Our engineering team has created both the Prizm cabin lighting systems and Smart Vision Shades based on market demand,” said Mark Wilken, v-p of avionics programs and operational logistics for Elliott Aviation. “We understand the unique challenges that exist not only bringing new products to the market but also installing and maintaining those products. These products are created by an MRO for an MRO."

AIN’s Tales from the Flight Deck: Flight Deck Automation after Indonesia and Ethiopia

After the Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, the question is whether cockpit automation is working for pilots or pilots are working for the automation. We talk with the pilot of Qantas Flight 72, An Airbus A330 that pitched down without control input and without warning a decade ago. The pilot of that aircraft says of the Max 8 accidents, “The road is different, but the destination is the same.” Our roundtable of pilots and aviation journalists looks at the growing complexity of flight deck automation, our increasing dependence on it, and the lack of training available to pilots for cases in which the automation fails.