Nashville John C. Tune Airport (JWN), the largest dedicated general aviation gateway in Tennessee, was extensively damaged last night by a powerful tornado that cut a swath of destruction across four counties in the center of the state and claimed the lives of nearly two dozen people.
According to aerial photos and video of the scene, at least four hangars were completely devastated, including one showing five jets amidst the ruins, along with several smaller aircraft. More single-engine aircraft were shown strewn across the tarmac. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which owns and manages JWN, told AIN this morning that the airport is closed as crews continue to assess the damage, but confirmed there was damage to the Contour FBO, the lone service provider on the field.
Attempts to reach the Contour FBO were unsuccessful, and calls to the company’s corporate headquarters were not returned before press time.
EASA Certifies ClearVision with Head-wearable Display
Universal Avionics Systems has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification for its ClearVision enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) with SkyLens head-wearable display, the first time that a head-wearable display has been certified for civil aviation. This approval will allow operators to use the “visual advantage” available with the ClearVision EFVS to initiate instrument approaches or take off in lower flight visibility, which will help operators meet schedules and avoid having to divert to alternate airports.
The ClearVision EFVS works with traditional head-up displays (HUD), head-down (instrument-panel-mounted) displays, and Universal’s SkyLens head-wearable display. ClearVision can display enhanced vision and synthetic vision system imagery, and it can combine those images in a combined vision format. An advantage of the SkyLens head-wearable display is that its field of view is not limited as is the case with a traditional HUD or head-down displays. The SkyLens field of view (or “field of regard,” as Universal describes it) is basically unlimited and depends on where the pilot is looking.
“The certification of our EFVS with SkyLens is a breakthrough in commercial aviation,” said Universal CEO Dror Yahav. “Aircraft operators can now take advantage of major enhanced flight vision capabilities and safety improvements with our proven ClearVision solution. This marks the first civil certification of a [head-wearable display] and the first EFVS to land solution for line-fit passenger aircraft.”
ACSF Safety Symposium Puts Focus on Leadership
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) kicked off its 2020 Air Charter Safety Symposium this morning with more than 130 registrants and a theme of “Promoting the Highest Levels of Aviation Safety.” Held at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia, the event opened a day after the Safety Board held a panel discussion about improving Part 135 safety, one of the agency’s “Most Wanted” safety improvements. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt will follow that meeting with a discussion tomorrow during the ACSF 2020, which will also review safety leadership, lessons learned, efforts to combat illegal charter, and flight-data monitoring, among others.
Jim Spigener, chief client officer with Dekra, opened today's session stressing "world-class safety" comes from leadership that has a passion for people, focuses on exposure rather than outcome, the ability for resource systems alignment, and a culture of embracing change. He cited his research with NASA, discovering that early in the space shuttle program, some 300 reports were filed expressing concerns about space vehicle foam. Those reports ebbed over time as nothing happened and change resisted, but 26 years later the Columbia disaster occurred.
Executive coach Bill Koch, former CEO of AMR Combs, highlighted the need for emotional intelligence, saying it is a difference-maker in executive leadership, which is important in safety management.
IADA Website Records 615 Aircraft Sales in First Year
More than $5.4 billion in preowned aircraft sales were handled through the International Aircraft Dealers Association’s (IADA) Aircraft Exchange website in its first year of operation, the aircraft brokers' group announced yesterday. Since the site’s launch on Feb. 1, 2019, sales of 615 aircraft—an average of about 1.7 aircraft per day—listed on the site have been recorded.
“The sales of previously owned aircraft have exceeded our expectations for a startup website, and the momentum is building,” said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “In just the past five months, nearly 400 aircraft worth $3.8 billion listed on our site changed hands.”
On average, more than 500 aircraft—jets, turboprops, pistons, and helicopters—are listed for sale on the website. Only IADA-accredited dealers are permitted to list an aircraft on the site. Aircraft data presented on the website is overseen for accuracy through a contract with aviation industry researcher Diane Levine-Wilson.
JetSolution Looks for Opportunities Amid Outbreak
The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has brought unexpected outcomes for Hong Kong’s JetSolution. The business aviation consultant and charter company was able to react quickly and minimize impact to operations. Founder and president Jackie Wu said business is as usual but has seen interesting developments in the field.
Sensing a potential epidemic and not willing to expose any of its staff and potential passengers to the virus, the company repositioned its owned charter aircraft, an Embraer Legacy 600, from Hong Kong to California on January 2.
Wu said the virus will affect the Chinese economy severely and, based on her experience during the 2008 financial crisis, expects owners there to dispose of aircraft and find ways to liquidate and transact them as soon as possible. She believes there could be a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in preowned aircraft from Greater China available for sale in 2020, which could be absorbed by markets such as the U.S.
Wu added that the workload for the company has increased as it has to provide more documentation and evidence of CIQ agencies that the passengers have self quarantined outside China. She said Chinese-registered aircraft would usually raise more questions from CIQ personnel, who are now likely to also request more about the aircraft’s itinerary and movement on top of passenger details.
FlightSafety Adds PC-24 Training at Paris Le Bourget
With a level-D simulator qualified by the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, FlightSafety International has begun offering training for the Pilatus PC-24 twinjet at its Paris Le Bourget Learning Center, the training company announced yesterday. PC-24 training is also offered at its Dallas training center.
“FlightSafety and Pilatus worked to ensure that our customers based in the European Union who operate under EASA regulations can benefit from level-D qualified simulator training,” said FlightSafety senior v-p of sales and marketing Steve Gross. “Our qualified and experienced instructors provide pilots who operate and support the PC-24 aircraft with a wide variety of initial, recurrent, advanced, and specialty courses.”
The new PC-24 simulator is equipped with the Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite incorporating the SmartView synthetic vision system. It also features FlightSafety’s latest technology, including its CrewView collimated glass mirror display and Vital 1150 visual system.
New Blades Certified for Air Crane
Erickson has received FAA certification approval for its new composite main rotor blades for the S-64E Air Crane. Approvals for the blades on the S-64F, CH-54A, and CH-54B are expected in the coming months. The new blades also are an integral component of the recently announced S-64F+, which also will feature new avionics and engines.
The new blades are expected to increase hover and hot-and-high performance while reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs. They bolt onto existing attachments on the S-64F/CH-54B, while requiring minor rotor head modification for the S-64E/CH-54A.
Erickson began investigating a composite blade replacement for the Air Crane’s all-metal blades, which it also manufactures, in 2008 and began collaborating with CH-54 operator Helicopter Transport Services (HTS) on the program in 2010. The design was finalized in 2013. In 2015, Erickson built its own 12,000-sq-ft composite blade manufacturing facility in Medford, Oregon. The blades made their first flight in 2016 and have been vetted “after thousands of hours of design, testing, and analysis,” according to Erickson.
NBAA Offers COVID-19 Flight-planning Guidance
NBAA has published guidance and a list of resources for business aircraft operators when planning flights to and from countries affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). The guidance offers considerations for operators during flight planning, as well as resources for them to tap before, during, and after a mission. “Sometimes, emergency departures, diversions, and extractions are required to keep passengers, crewmembers, and aircraft safe,” the guidance notes.
Recommendations of the guidance include conducting a risk profile of the intended destination—an exercise that should continue to be conducted throughout the trip, not just before. It also suggests travelers should make their travel plans known to the U.S. embassy in their destination country through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Other recommendations include fueling an aircraft immediately after arrival to the destination in case a quick departure is required.
The guidance extends to hotel accommodations at the destination, recommending crew and passengers stay in the same hotel in the event they need to rendezvous for a quick departure.
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People in Aviation
Peter Hokanson joined Cutter Aviation as CFO, managing the company’s accounting, human resources, and information technology organizations. Hokanson has more than 30 years of senior management experience with companies such as Honeywell, Garrett Aviation, General Electric, MD Helicopters, AZmark Aero Systems, and Jormac Aerospace.
Avinode Group has created a new customer experience team, naming Alex MacRae to lead the group, in addition to serving as head of marketing. MacRae, who leads 12 marketing and customer experience specialists at Avinode, has served with the company for nearly three years and before that spent more than a decade in marketing, digital strategy, account managing, and brand advising.
Guardian Jet named Gabriel Bastos v-p. Bastos, who formerly was with Embraer Executive Jets, is Guardian Jet’s first executive representative in South America, Central America, Mexico, and Southern Florida.
Duncan Aviation appointed Dennis Kruse as avionics install sales representative for its Provo, Utah facility. Kruse has spent seven years with the Duncan avionics sales team in Lincoln, Nebraska, and before that served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Elliott Jets hired Eric Hammer as executive sales director. Before joining Elliott Jets, Hammer served as a regional sales director for Embraer Executive Jets and has also led sales efforts for Atlantic Aero and Cessna Aircraft.
West Star appointed Jeffrey Sneden quality assurance manager at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility. Sneden brings more than 37 years of aviation experience to his new role, previously serving with Miller Aviation, Flight Options, and Embraer.
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