Gulfstream’s G280 Adds To City-pair Records

Gulfstream Aerospace’s G280 set another city-pair speed record while demonstrating steep approach capability on a mission from Burlington (Vermont) International Airport to the UK's London City Airport. The February 16 transatlantic trip spanned 2,735 nm in 6 hours and 10 minutes, averaging a speed of Mach 0.83. Aircraft, as well as crews, flying into London City must be certified for the airport's steep approach procedures required by the short runway and noise-abatement rules.

The city-pair record is among 75 that the G280 has collected. In another record nod this year, the super-midsize business jet completed a 2,515-nm flight from Hawaii's Kahului Airport to Phoenix in 4 hours and 57 minutes. The G280 also averaged a cruise speed of Mach 0.83 on that January 5 mission.

“These latest city-pair speed records are further proof of the aircraft’s superior performance capabilities bolstered by its advanced wing, robust airframe, and powerful engines,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

The twinjet, which Gulfstream said is the only one in its category to be certified for EFVS-to-land operations, can fly four passengers 3,600 nm at Mach 0.80 or 3,000 nm at Mach 0.84. Some 200 G280s are in service worldwide.

Aviation Groups Balk at Hiked CBP Airport Services Fees

A coalition of aviation groups including NBAA has urged acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Mark Morgan to consider alternatives to fee increases at several U.S. airports to address possible budget shortfalls.

Last week, many airports that support international operations with CBP inspection facilities funded by the user-fee program received notice of a significant fee increase—from 29 percent up to 54 percent—with nearly immediate effect. In some cases, said NBAA, the CBP asked airports to either accept the new fee or suspend future CBP service. The CBP’s user-fee program funds inspection services at some 60 airports, most of which support a significant number of general aviation operations.

“We have great concern regarding CBP’s approach to this increase and we are requesting that the agency consider alternative pathways to address these issues,” said NBAA v-p of international and regulatory affairs Doug Carr. “Affected airports are already facing significant decreases in international traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic, severely impacting airport revenue.”

The associations urged Morgan to postpone the May 17 deadline for airport responses to allow time for the CBP to solicit and consider feedback from airports and users and for consideration of budgetary adjustments. They also raised their concerns with leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees’ subcommittees on homeland security.

DOT Sets Membership for Women Aviation Advisory Board

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao selected 30 industry and academic leaders to serve as members of the newly formed Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB). Congress called for the creation of the board in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to develop strategies and recommendations to bring more women and girls into aviation. The board will look at education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment efforts.

Former U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson was selected as chair of WIAAB. An instrument-rated private pilot and aircraft owner, Wilson currently is president of The University of Texas at El Paso and was a former U.S. Congress member representing New Mexico.

“Women are underrepresented in aviation and I look forward to working with Secretary Chao, the FAA, and the advisory board to develop strategies that will encourage more women to consider careers in the aviation industry,” Wilson said.

Board members represent a range of aviation and aerospace organizations. They include Kriya Shortt, senior v-p of parts and programs for Textron Aviation; Allison McKay, president and CEO for Women in Aviation International;  Lauren Lacey Haertlein, general counsel and director of safety and regulatory affairs for GAMA; Kathryn Fraser, head of safety for Joby Aviation and NBAA board member; and Rene Banglesdorf, CEO and co-founder of Charlie Bravo Aviation.

Covid-19 Exacerbating Maintenance Technician Shortage

The Covid-19 crisis is exacerbating the shortage of new aviation maintenance technicians, according to Crystal McGuire, executive director of the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC). During a Helicopter Association International (HAI) webinar on May 14, McGuire warned that of the 181 FAA-certified Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools, half expected graduations to decrease in 2020 by 25 percent and fully 60 percent said enrollment would drop by 28 percent.

Already, a quarter of Part 147 schools in the U.S. have suspended operations entirely. McGuire illustrated the gravity of the situation by pointing to the fact that 615 A&P candidates had taken the FAA written exam in the first two weeks of March; for the first two weeks of April that number had plunged to 84. 

McGuire said online learning had increased dramatically in the schools remaining open. Before the Covid-19 emergency, there were little more than half a dozen online programs but now around 75 percent of schools have some sort of hybrid or online learning programs, with some including virtual reality.

Nevertheless, lab work remains the greatest challenge, with schools delaying graduations until students can complete in-person assignments. Some local aircraft owners are partnering with area schools to provide “real world” experience outside the classroom and satisfy the requirements of FAR 147.31, McGuire said.

Robinson Offers Tougher Windshields for Helicopters

Robinson is offering new impact-resistant windshields as optional equipment for its R22, R44, and R66 helicopters. The new windshields were designed to FAA Part 29 transport category standards and have been shown to resist the strike of a 2.2-pound (1-kg) bird at 90 knots (R22) and at 100 knots (R44 and R66) in testing conducted by the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

The test weight is the same used by the FAA to validate Part 29 windshields. Currently, impact resistance standards do not exist for Part 27 rotorcraft windshields.

Robinson’s new windshields are constructed of energy-absorbing polycarbonate, as opposed to standard acrylic, and installed with distinctive retention hardware. A special hard coating provides protection from scratching and weather degradation. No special maintenance or inspections are required, although a cabin cover is recommended for prolonged outdoor exposure. Prices for the new windshields are $6,600 for the R22 and $6,800 for the R44 and R66. Robinson said the stronger windshields “will be particularly beneficial to pilots flying at low altitudes or in other environments where the risk of a bird strike is greater.”

Kansas Lawmakers Urge General Aviation Fuel Tax Relief

The U.S. congressional delegation from Kansas last week appealed to House and Senate leaders to provide the general aviation community temporary relief from aviation fuel taxes. Congress previously suspended aviation excise taxes, including both the ticket and fuel taxes, for commercial aviation through the end of the year under the CARES Act, but fuel taxes remained in place for private aviation.

In a May 12 letter, though, both Senators and all four House members representing Kansas urged leaders from both chambers on Capitol Hill to extend the tax suspension to private aviation as they weigh a fourth Covid-19 relief bill.

“Business aircraft operations are down more than 70 percent from early March and continuing to decline,” they said, citing FlightAware data. “This has drastically reduced business at the 138 public-use airports in Kansas, resulting in layoffs and closures.” They further estimated that some 10,000 aviation-manufacturing workers have been furloughed in Kansas as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Relief from the non-commercial fuel taxes would incentivize operators to preserve jobs and resume flying once we begin to emerge from this crisis,” they said. “This relief would also help small community general aviation airports in Kansas and across the nation that will be instrumental in incentivizing aviation activity as we begin to recover.”

AOPA Issues New Covid-era Operation Guides

As some U.S. states begin to relax and modify their social distancing restrictions amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, AOPA has issued a pair of advisory documents to help operators and pilots return to operations as normally and safely as possible.

The Covid-19 Flight Operations Guide is aimed at helping flight schools, flying clubs, FBOs, and other operators move from risk avoidance to risk management, offering advice on the factors to consider when deciding to reopen, as well as suggestions on what to monitor in terms of operational wellness. While some states have eased their safety regulations, the guide suggests following the latest CDC advice in terms of the local levels of infection and mortality, and on cleaning and sanitizing facilities and aircraft before, and after, opening, as well as continuous monitoring.

“AOPA recognizes operators have some difficult choices to make under unprecedented circumstances,” said Richard McSpadden, executive director of the organization’s Air Safety Institute. “The Covid-19 guide offers them a framework for how to assess their situation and then some suggestions on steps they can take to resume and sustain operations.”

For those pilots who have been inactive due to situations such as grounding from local quarantine orders, AOPA, in cooperation with Hartzell Propeller, has also issued the Return to Flight Proficiency Plan, a step-by-step approach to refreshing aeronautical knowledge and sharpening skills.

AsBAA Chairman Wu Zhendong Takes Leadership Role at ASG

Hong Kong business aviation consultancy Asian Sky Group (ASG) brought Wu Zhendong on board as chairman, working alongside managing director Jeffrey Lowe to manage all of ASG and Asian Sky Media’s businesses.

Wu brings 35 years of general aviation experience, including providing advisory and consulting services for clients in Hong Kong, mainland China, and the U.S. He founded and is chairman of aviation service provider Avion Pacific Group, which represents Sikorsky and Textron Aviation products. He additionally owns AOC company Kings Aviation, which supports and manages aircraft in China and provides ab initio training. Additionally, Wu is chairman of the Asian Business Aviation Association.

“His extensive experience in general and business aviation, combined with his strong leadership and eagerness to promote our industry throughout the world, will not only have a positive impact on the team but also on the brand,” Lowe said.

Pointing to ASG’s wide range of brokerage, charter sales, and consulting services, Wu added, “I look forward to building on the company’s previous success, as well as developing and supporting it even further.”

Honeywell Maps Long-term Vision for Making Aviation Safer

Improved situational awareness, safety, connectivity, and efficiency are the four pillars for Honeywell Aerospace’s plans to bring value-adding new products to the business aviation industry. AIN spoke with Stevan Slijepcevic, president of the group’s electronic solutions division, to find out about technological advances such as making better use of data, simplifying flight for single-pilot and autonomous operations, and reducing risks like runway incursions. He sees the 2020s as a decade that will bring significant, across-the-board changes to the industry.