GAMA Sees Good Start for Airplanes in 2019

General aviation airplane deliveries got off to a good start in 2019, according to statistics compiled by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). All fixed-wing sectors, including business jet, turboprop, and piston-powered airplanes, showed an increase in deliveries year-over-year for the first three months of the year, while industry billings rose by 10.5 percent, to $4.23 billion. “While our rotorcraft segment experienced some headwinds, our airplane segment remains strong,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “Statements by our member companies point to solid order intakes during the first quarter, laying down a positive marker for later in 2019."

For business jets, the first quarter of 2019 saw 141 deliveries, an increase of nine aircraft from the same period in 2018. Gulfstream led the way, with an additional eight of its large-cabin jets in the first three months of this year. Cessna saw a 22 percent increase in jets year-over-year, with eight more jets delivered, and a total of 31 more deliveries across its product line.

While the overall turboprop segment saw a 7 percent rise year-over-year, the higher-end pressurized models remained flat with 50 deliveries in the first quarter of both years. Textron handed over five additional Beechcraft King Air 250s, as Daher and Pilatus remained steady on their single-engine turboprops, delivering eight and 12 both years, respectively.

On the rotorcraft side, total shipments were down more than 19 percent year-over-year, and billings declined by nearly $100 million.

Cirrus Opening Dallas Area Service and Training Center

Cirrus Aircraft will open a new maintenance and training facility at the McKinney (Texas) National Airport in August and plans to expand it in 2020 to offer flight training, maintenance, and aircraft management. The facility is part of the Cirrus Services group launched in 2018. Cirrus Services also encompasses the company’s Vision Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and provides access to a network of authorized service and training partners worldwide.  

“Our new location in McKinney, Texas, is the latest step in providing factory-direct support to our customers in the south-central area of the U.S.,” said Todd Simmons, Cirrus president, customer experience.

Cirrus said it chose the McKinney site due to the concentration of customers in the region and the locale’s business-friendly environment. Construction on a dedicated new facility there will begin in early 2020 and it will eventually employ approximately 30, the company said. “Our goal is to expand the premium experience our customers expect from our flagship Vision Center campus in Knoxville,” said Cirrus Services senior v-p Ravi Dharnidharka.  

Proposal Would Relax Certain Cabin Partition Standards

An FAA notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) would revise Part 25 standards to allow the failure of certain non-structural partitions. The FAA says this action is necessary because, in some cases, “it is not practical to design partitions in certain airplane compartments to withstand a large decompression event that occurs within that compartment.” Although individual partition failure would be allowed, “continued safe flight and landing would still be required.”

Currently, Part 25 requires bulkheads, floors, partitions, and partition doors to withstand sudden decompression. But for certain smaller compartments, such as lavatories, private suites, and crew rest areas, the agency conceded it may be difficult to achieve compliance because a large decompression hole would result in very high air loads on the partitions. “Strengthening the partitions to sustain such high loads has been shown to be impractical in many cases for these smaller compartments because it could adversely affect the structural integrity of the aircraft.”

Another reason for relaxing the rule is the FAA’s admission of its inconsistent use of certifying numerous airplanes to the current standards based on a finding of an equivalent level of safety (ELOS), the first of which was made in 1989. “The agency…has not consistently applied the ELOS rule and applicants have raised questions about the intent of the rule during recent certification programs.”

The revised standards would apply to new type certificates (TCs) and cabin interior design modifications under TCs or STCs. Comments on the NPRM are due June 15.

Euramec Targets Bizav For Flight Training Devices, Sims

Euramec is expanding into business aviation with a line of flight training devices for business aircraft as a way to lower operators’ costs of initial and recurrent training, the Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of flight training devices (FTD) and simulators announced. To start, it will offer FTDs for Cessna Citations and Beechcraft King Airs.

“Training optimization is a major focus for all operators,” Euramec CEO Bert Buyle said. “Recurrent training costs take up a large portion of the budget for business jet operators, due to limited availabilities of [full] flight simulators. Upcoming changes in EASA regulations allow use of fixed-base training devices for certain recurrent training programs. Our devices will dramatically reduce the cost of this training.”

Later, Euramec expects to add procedures trainers for business aircraft mechanics for specific tasks such as engine startup and shutdown. It already has a foothold in general aviation, noting strong demand for its Diamond DA-40 and DA-42 flight simulators and customized cockpit trainers for other major OEMs. It also recently received a federal grant to develop an Airbus A320 flight simulator, a certifiable device it expects to reach the market in 2020.

FAA Guidance To Address Ongoing Towing Mishaps

Mishaps involving aircraft towing and tug operations have prompted the FAA to issue a draft revision of Advisory Circular 00-65A. The draft document is an update of the first AC on towing aircraft published nearly 20 years ago. This AC contains generally accepted safety practices and information “which may help prevent injuries to personnel and damage to aircraft and equipment during ground handling and reduce runway incursions.”  

According to the FAA, mishaps include collisions and near-runway/-taxiway incursions. Specifically, so-called “super tugs” (towbarless tugs) have experienced incidents such as jackknifing, uncontrolled movement, and the inability to stop quickly. “There have been several potential ground incursion instances where super tugs were not seen by aircraft crews and ground controllers,” the agency said. “There have also been reported cases where pilots are not cognizant of the ‘right of way passage’ of these tugs, even when they are cleared for movement in the active areas.”

Additionally, controllers have reported that it is very difficult to identify a super tug towing an unpowered aircraft at night because the aircraft being towed is not properly illuminated with any lights, as required by FARs. “Without proper lighting on the aircraft during towing, the aircraft may be nearly invisible to ATC and other pilots in the area.”

The draft circular contains a checklist for tug and towbar operators. Comments are due June 13.

Tulip City Joins the Phillips 66 Fuel Network

Tulip City Air Service, the lone FBO at West Michigan Regional Airport, is the latest to join the Phillips 66 branded dealer network, which tallies more than 800 locations. The full-service facility, which has operated for more than half a century, offers a complete slate of services, including aircraft sales, charter/management, maintenance, and flight training.

The FBO's 7,000-sq-ft glass-sheathed terminal features 20-foot-high vaulted ceilings, a large passenger lounge with refreshment bar, two A/V-equipped conference rooms (seating 20 and 12), pilot lounge with shower facilities, crew car, and onsite car rental. It has 30,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate aircraft up to a Challenger 350 and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with after-hours call-out available.

Located in Holland, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan, the FBO will now provide Phillips 66 contract fuel, a streamlined fueling process requiring no cards or releases. The airport features a 6,000-foot runway and is home to approximately a dozen private jets.

“We’re pleased that Tulip City Air Service has decided to come on board with Phillips 66 Aviation,” said Lindsey Grant, the fuel provider's manager for general aviation. “Their commitment to meeting the needs and safety concerns of their customers is evident."

New Robinson Training Guide To Cover All Pilot Levels

Robinson Helicopter introduced a new flight training guide designed for all levels of training in Robinson helicopters.

Robinson chief instructor Tim Tucker calls the new guide “the most complete and innovative training document I have seen. It addresses all levels of pilot activity, not just from the regulatory standpoint, but also from Robinson’s perspective as to the safest way to train and fly its helicopters.” 

The company says the new guide addresses multiple levels of training, from student helicopter pilots to rated pilots working to transition into Robinsons, and provides students and instructors with a progressive lesson syllabus with written tests for each level of instruction.

Courses included are private pilot ground and flight (for either Part 61 or 141 schools); R22/R44 qualification for rated pilots, ground and flight and that meets all SFAR 73 requirements; R66 qualification for rated pilots; a flight review guide for CFIs conducting reviews in accordance with FAR Part 61.56 and SFAR 73; R22/R44 maneuver guides; and endorsement templates for all SFAR 73 and flight review instructor endorsements.

The guide is available from Robinson on its website.

FAA Implements New Recreational Drone Rules

The FAA is implementing for recreational drone fliers new restrictions prescribed by Congress in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the agency announced. The major change is that recreational fliers now must obtain prior authorization from the FAA, rather than local air traffic control facilities, before flying in controlled airspace around airports and must comply with all airspace restrictions no matter where they are flying.

Under the new procedures, the FAA is granting temporary authorizations to fly in specified fixed sites in controlled airspace nationwide. The sites are listed online, regularly updated, and depicted as blue dots on unmanned aircraft systems facilities maps, which also indicate safe maximum altitudes for each location.

The FAA said that in the future recreational fliers will be able to participate in its Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) currently available to commercial operators under the Part 107 rules.

Recreational fliers must still observe the 400-foot agl ceiling limitation and must display their registration numbers on a visible surface of their aircraft. Eventually, they will be required to pass an aeronautical knowledge test.  

Land, Taxi, Park, Then Rate FBO While You Wait

Don’t wait—AIN’s FBO survey is now open for year-round feedback. It takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel or any other time that is convenient for you. Log on to www.ainonline.com/fbosurvey to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.