FlightSafety Offers EASA-qualified G500 Training

FlightSafety International has begun offering European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-qualified initial and recurrent training on the Gulfstream G500 at its Savannah, Georgia learning center, the New York-based training provider announced yesterday. “We are committed to providing Gulfstream G500 operators around the world with comprehensive training programs that meet their specific regulatory requirements,” FlightSafety senior v-p of operations Dann Runik said.

Equipment used to provide the training includes two FlightSafety FS1000 full-motion simulators, three new advanced graphical flight-deck simulators that have been qualified by EASA as Level 1 flight training devices (FTD), and classrooms that feature an interactive Matrix cockpit. The FTDs include a visual system, HUD/EVS, and sidestick controller for enhanced scenario-based training.

For more than 40 years, FlightSafety has been the factory-authorized training organization for Gulfstream Aerospace, with nearly 30 full-flight Gulfstream simulators and other training devices and equipment. In addition to Savannah, Gulfstream training is offered at FlightSafety's learning centers in Dallas; Long Beach, California; Wilmington, Delaware; Hong Kong; and London Farnborough Airport.

In Face of Growing Autonomy, Pilots Remain Key

Despite rapidly changing technology, pilots remain the most important factor in the flying environment and they must continue to strive to improve and adapt, safety expert Chris Lutat of Convergent Performance said yesterday at the 23rd annual Bombardier Safety Standdown. He acknowledged the advances that have occurred in the flight deck over the past few years have fundamentally changed how aircraft are operated, particularly at lower altitudes, and required him to adapt to those changes.

Younger pilots have a better command of the increase in technology, he added. But, arguably, “what has gone down is the connection of that to the big picture of operating a large aircraft in a constantly changing [environment].”

Considerable attention has been given to autonomous transportation, but he said this technology is not yet ready. “The science is elusive and progress is less present than we thought it might be,” Lutat said. And, despite the thousands of hours of research that has gone into AI, he added, “The human brain is the best organized, most capable, most flexible, and most adaptable three pounds of matter.” While there are limited applications of automation technology, “we still are the most important component in this whole equation.”

As such, he challenged the audience that they must look at a better “future self,” continuously learn, and adapt to evolving technology.

FAA Chief Calls for Holistic Approach to Certification

Key themes have emerged surrounding the FAA’s certification process as a result of the reviews surrounding the Boeing 737 Max, FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson told the Aero Club of Washington yesterday. The recently appointed administrator said in his prepared remarks that “willingness to accept critique is a sign of humility and transparency. It is also a strength…We welcome scrutiny and feedback on how we can improve our processes.”

In meeting with his global regulatory counterparts, he added, “They appreciate and value U.S. leadership. They understand that by working together, we will all be better and raise the bar on global aviation safety.”

As far as the themes that have emerged, Dickson cited a more holistic approach rather than a transactional, item-by-item approach to aircraft certification; the integration of human factors consideration more effectively through the design process; and coordination and flexibility of information flow during the oversight process.

He stressed that a return-to-service decision for the Max will be based solely on the FAA's assessment of Boeing’s proposed software updates and the availability of appropriate pilot training. “We are not delegating anything,” he said. “When we finally make the decision to return this aircraft to service, it will be the most scrutinized aircraft in history. It will also be one of the safest machines to ever take to the sky.”

Air Bear Expands Boston-area Mx Footprint

Massachusetts-based FAA Part 145 aircraft maintenance provider Air Bear Aviation has established its third repair facility, at Beverly Regional Airport, 14 nm north of Boston Logan International, which recently announced that business aircraft will require prior permission to use the airport and limited to a maximum of four hours on the ramp. Those changes, which will be in effect over the next year at least, are a result of the airport's Terminal E modernization program, which will encroach upon half of the FBO ramp space.

“We are excited to have an additional maintenance base to supplement our current maintenance teams at Boston Logan International and Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford,” said company CEO Thomas Bear. “Beverly Regional Airport will be one of several airports that will offload business aviation traffic from Boston Logan as that airport undergoes a major expansion program.”

Air Bear expects those procedural changes will affect its clients' operations, possibly requiring them to overnight at either Bedford or Beverly, both of which are now covered by its MRO capabilities. The company also provides AOG support at more than 80 airports throughout the Northeast.

King, Thurmond Partnership Aims For More ISR Work

MRO provider King Aerospace and aviation and software engineering specialist the Thurmond Group have formed a strategic partnership to grow their business in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and related aircraft modifications, the two companies announced yesterday. “Combining our joint resources provides a total aircraft maintenance and modifications solution, resulting in lower overhead, reduced turnaround time and overall program cost savings,” King Aerospace president Jarid King said.

Pennsylvania-based Thurmond’s specialty in ISR includes integration services of sensors, networking, operation systems, and the Federal Risk Management Framework. Under the partnership, Dallas-based King will perform the maintenance, engineering, and FAA-certified modifications at its 200,000 sq ft of facilities in Ardmore, Oklahoma. There, King said it can accommodate the most common turboprops and jets for ISR applications including the Boeing 737, Beechcraft King Air, Gulfstream, and Bombardier Challenger aircraft.

“We both have strong, experienced teams of aviation professionals and stellar reputations for on-time, on-budget services,” Thurmond Group co-owner William Thurmond said. “We expect good things to result, not just for us, but also for our customers.”

West Star’s Perryville Shop Earns Its Part 145

West Star Aviation’s aircraft maintenance facility at Missouri’s Perryville Regional Airport has earned its FAA Part 145 maintenance repair station certification. The authorization process took 18 months to complete the FAA requirements.

“It is with great honor that we received this certification and take pride in offering our continued experience and quality workmanship that our customers expect,” said Kyle French, the location’s general manager.

The Perryville location is the last of West Star’s large service centers to earn its FAA authorization, joining its facilities in East Alton, Illinois; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Starting tomorrow at East Alton, in honor of National Apprenticeship Week, the company will partner with the Madison County Career and Technical Education Office and Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) to host a two-day event that will allow students to visit the facility, learn about aviation maintenance careers, and inquire about the company’s new AMT apprenticeship program, conducted in conjunction with a two-year aviation maintenance technology course at SWIC.

The event will include lunch, a tour of the complex, and a presentation from current West Star employees and management. College representatives will be on hand to provide information about college life and cost.

“We are always looking for ways to expand our hiring programs while exposing potential graduates to the corporate aviation industry,” said Katie Johnson, West Star’s vice president of human resources.

FAA Sees Trust Growing with Compliance Program

As the FAA’s compliance program enters its fifth year, a senior FAA official said the agency and industry are seeing evidence of growing trust, transparency, and effective use of safety management systems (SMS). Tim Miller, director of FAA’s Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, told attendees at Bombardier’s 23rd annual Safety Standdown yesterday, “I am happy to report we are making progress.”

The compliance program relies on voluntary reporting and corrective actions such as training and improved procedures to address deviations or safety issues. Enforcement instead is reserved for “the reckless, inappropriate risk-taking, or those that are unwilling or unable to comply,” Miller said. “Compliance means a lot more than just following the rules. Far more important is proactive risk management.” This requires communication, cooperation, and collaboration, he added. 

Evidence of this collaboration has been a jump in submissions to the various voluntary reporting programs, Miller said. In the last full fiscal year the FAA has data on the Aviation Safety Reporting System, submissions had grown to more than 96,000 reports. Submissions to the Aviation Safety Action Program in the last 12 months grew to 131,000 reports, a 26 percent increase over 2016. And submissions to the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting program had reached 2,200. “These numbers are phenomenal. That’s how we’re developing standards,” he said.

EASA To Add Human Factors to Rotor Certification

An EASA notice of proposed amendment (NPA) adds provisions into small and large rotorcraft certification specifications to ensure that human factors are systematically taken into account during the design and approval processes of rotorcraft flight decks. Comments on the NPA are due on January 8.

Additionally, new generations of rotorcraft are characterized by having a high level of integration of avionics, displays, controls, and automation. “It is also likely that future rotorcraft projects, embodying, for instance, fly-by-wire technology flight controls that include enhanced piloting control laws, will pose new and additional challenges from a human factors perspective,” said EASA.

Regarding those accidents or incidents for which human factor shortfalls in the design of rotorcraft were considered to be the root cause, EASA said it is “expected that the proposed new certification specifications will help to significantly reduce the probability of such accidents occurring.”

For other accidents or incidents in which human factor shortfalls in the design of rotorcraft have been identified as a contributing factor, it is “expected that there will be a significant positive impact on safety. In fact, an improved crew workstation design that is optimized for human factors will contribute to reducing the crew’s workload and increasing the crew’s situational awareness.” EASA estimated that these benefits could reduce the number of incidents and accidents by between 10 and 20 percent.

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