FAA Completes Runway Warning System at 20 Airports

The FAA’s Runway Status Lights (RWSL) system is now operational at all 20 major U.S. airports slated to have the new technology. According to the agency, this is the first system designed to automatically provide a direct warning to pilots and vehicle operators about potential runway conflicts.

The technology alerts pilots and vehicle operators to stop when runways and taxiways are not safe to enter, cross, or begin takeoff. Red lights embedded in the pavement illuminate when the presence of other traffic creates a potential conflict. RWSL uses the airport’s surface surveillance system to determine the location of aircraft and vehicles. The lights are fully automated, requiring no input from air traffic controllers.

Runway Entrance Lights (REL) are deployed at taxiway and runway crossings and illuminate if it is unsafe to enter or cross a runway. Takeoff Hold Lights (THL) are deployed in the runway by the departure hold zone and illuminate when there is an aircraft in position for departure and the runway is occupied by another aircraft or vehicle and is unsafe for takeoff.

A report on the effectiveness of RWSL at the 15 airports where it was operational in 2017 found an overall 52 percent reduction in the average runway incursion rate, with 15,484 potential saves by the technology.

Illegal Charters Prompt Return Of NATA Summit

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) will revive its annual Air Charter Summit for Part 135 operators as concerns about illegal charter operations grow. It will be held from June 16 to 20, 2020, in Washington, D.C., alongside the group’s Aviation Business Conference.

“At our core, NATA pays attention to the needs of its members and the industry climate,” said NATA COO Tim Obitts. “After talking with our membership, we believe that 2020 is a great time to bring back the Air Charter Summit, particularly now as the world focuses on the issue of combatting illegal charter operations and sham dry leases, whereby the lessee does not have operational control of the aircraft.”

NATA has seen a “dramatic uptick” in the number of filings on its illegal charter hotline and online portal in the past few months. In its Illegal Charter Survey, about 90 percent of survey respondents said they had knowledge of illegal operations but only 50 percent reported them because they didn’t think their reports were being acted upon. The group’s Illegal Charter Task Force continues to work with government agencies and Flight Standards District Offices on outreach and improving the reporting process, NATA said.

London-area FBO Joins Avfuel Network

Stobart Jet Centre, the lone FBO at London Southend Airport, has joined the Avfuel branded network. The facility, which opened early last year, offers 24/7 service, with transfer from airplane to automobile in less than a minute thanks to ramp access for vehicles. Located less than 40 miles from the heart of London, with train and helicopter transfers available, the location offers on-site immigration and customs service with pre-clearance availability.

“We are delighted to welcome Avfuel to London Southend Airport, the UK’s fastest-growing airport,” said Fiona Langton, the facility’s managing director. “Our customers enjoy award-winning customer service and great travel connections right into the heart of London, one of the world’s financial and entertainment capitals.”

Stobart, in addition to fueling the airport’s commercial traffic, also provides private aviation with jet-A and avgas, and as a branded FBO, will now offer Avfuel contract fuel and Avtrip points. The facility operates a fleet of six jet-A tankers and one 100LL avgas truck to service its fuel farm, which will now be supplied by Avfuel.

“We’re thrilled to offer our loyal customers a branded fueling location in the London region,” noted Joel Hurst, vice president of sales for the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company. “This partnership will allow us to better serve international operators with service in the UK’s epicenter of business and travel.”

ASRS Pilot Reports Relay ADS-B Pros and Cons

With more aircraft equipped with ADS-B, NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is starting to receive more pilot comments on specific instances where ADS-B In played a role in collision avoidance.

For example, ADS-B provided situational awareness to a Cessna 172 pilot at a non-towered airport. The pilots estimated the other aircraft, which was not talking on frequency, passed nearly overhead and about 200 feet above them. “Had we not seen him [on ADS-B], I believe he would have hit us,” the pilot wrote in the ASRS report.

A Cessna 182 pilot in IMC observed a conflicting aircraft on the onboard traffic advisory and alert system. Although ATC said the threat aircraft (a Cessna CitationJet) was going to pass well clear, the pilot said the ADS-B display indicated “maneuvering was required.” Upon landing, downloaded ADS-B data from both aircraft showed that although the Citation began a descent, it “briefly leveled off at 10,000 feet (our altitude). This happened just as they were passing our location.”

However, too many ADS-B targets displayed while one pilot transitioned Class C airspace in VMC made it harder to discern threats. “ADS-B wasn’t too helpful there, because I was right over the airport and there were a lot of targets on the ground and in the air, so it was hard to make any sense of the traffic scope.”

House Bill To Permit Govt. Promotion of Aviation Jobs

The U.S. Congress is continuing to focus on workforce concerns with a new bipartisan bill that is designed to promote transportation careers, including aviation. Introduced recently by House aviation subcommittee chair Rick Larsen (D-Washington), along with fellow subcommittee members Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Angie Craig (D-Minnesota), the Promoting Service in Transportation Act (H.R.5118) authorizes the Department of Transportation to develop broadcast, digital, and print campaigns to promote job opportunities and improve diversity in the transportation sectors.

“It is important all Americans are aware of the career opportunities available in the transportation sector to grow the next generation workforce,” Larsen said. “Our aviation industry is essential to Alaska’s economic health, and we must continue to be able to meet the demands of this critical sector,” added Young.

NBAA is giving strong support to the bill, noting significant workforce challenges confronting the industry. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen called H.R.5118 “important bipartisan legislation that will help attract the next generation of transportation professionals at a time when they are most needed.”

The bill is the latest in a serious of measures aimed at workforce issues. Congress added an entire title on the subject in last year’s FAA Reauthorization Act that included nearly a dozen measures to study, develop recommendations, facilitate opportunities, address training, and attract more, as well as more diverse, workers.

AOPA Warns of Spikes in Aircraft Insurance Rates

Seeing aircraft insurance premiums increasing well in the double-digits year-over-year, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has been working with insurance industry executives and underwriters on strategies for pilots to help buffer the sharp rate hikes. “We’ve been spending quite a bit of time to understand what’s been happening in the insurance space and come up with strategies to help educate pilots about what they can do to help mitigate the increases,” said AOPA president and CEO Mark Baker.

Rates are going up “pretty dramatically,” particularly in the owner-flown turbine market, said Tom Haines, senior v-p of media and outreach for AOPA, adding some are seeing increases in the 15 percent to 25 percent range and “some way more than that.” Baker added that some potential buyers are now walking away from new aircraft sales once they learn the insurance costs that are coming with it. 

AOPA has worked with NBAA and insurance executives on various strategies. Among them include sharing training protocols and other efforts to enhance safety, Haines said, stressing that exceeding minimum safety standards is key in an insurance underwriter’s consideration of rates. Baker cautioned against being too anxious to switch insurers. It helps when the underwriter “knows your story,” he said. This is especially critical if an owner is stepping into a turbine from a piston.

Aspen E5 Granted EASA Approval

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the Aspen Avionics Evolution E5 Electronic Flight Instrument (EFI), which is available for installation in a variety of general aviation aircraft. The E5 EFI contains the attitude indicator and directional gyro and course deviation indicator all in one display with its own backup battery.

The E5, like all Aspen Evolution indicators, fits into standard panel cutouts, replacing the original attitude indicator/directional gyro without requiring any panel modification. When installed in an aircraft with a panel-mounted GPS, the E5 EFI can be used for IFR flying. Price of the E5 starts at $4,995 and includes GPS steering and air data computer and attitude heading reference system.

Buyers of the non-TSO'd E5 EFI can convert it later to an Evolution Pro Max configuration and then add advanced features such as synthetic vision and angle-of-attack indicator. A key benefit of installing the Aspen display is that the vacuum system that drives the removed attitude indicator and directional gyro can also be eliminated, saving weight and improving reliability.

Metrojet Renews IS-BAO Stage III Certification

Hong Kong-based business aviation service provider Metrojet has received International Standard for Business Aviation Operators (IS-BAO) Stage III certification renewal for three years to 2022. The company that provides aircraft management, maintenance, and aviation consultancy initially received the certification awarded by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) in 2016.

“Since then, we have fully revamped our safety management system [SMS] manual, overhauled our emergency response to be efficient in dealing with various crisis situations; enhanced our flight data monitoring; and launched a new, comprehensive fatigue risk management system,” said Metrojet head of safety and quality Kent Wong. “We are very grateful that our efforts to attain world-class safety standards are recognized.”

IS-BAO is a voluntary program of industry best practices that embrace the SMS culture and certification of which is awarded following successfully passing an audit by IBAC.

“Metrojet has developed our own [SMS] and become the first business aviation organization gaining SMS certification in Asia in 2009,” Metrojet CEO Gary Dolski said. “With a strong safety and quality team, we are proud to have progressed our safety culture and continuously improved our SMS over the years.”

Pilatus Refreshes the PC-12 Family of Aircraft with the New PC-12 NGX Model

Pilatus is refreshing its strong-selling PC-12 family of business and utility aircraft, with the launch of the new PC-12 NGX model. The new version of the highly versatile single-engine aircraft offers a newly designed cabin, a new avionics suite, and a higher-performance, more cost-effective engine.