Gulfstream Starts European Deliveries of G500

Gulfstream Aerospace has begun deliveries of its G500 in Europe, the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer announced yesterday. The milestone aircraft was handed over to an undisclosed Western-Europe-based charter operator during a ceremony at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah.

The long-range, large-cabin twinjet received validation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency last month and is currently in service in North America, Brazil, the Middle East, and Europe, according to Gulfstream.

“We are excited about making G500 deliveries to Europe,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Since the introduction of the jet in 2014, customers around the world remain impressed and enthusiastic about the cabin, technology, including the Symmetry Flight Deck, and high performance, speed, and range capability. As the G500 fleet continues to grow in Europe, and around the world, its technology raises the bar for business aviation.”

FAA Finds Santa Monica in Violation of Grant Agreements

In a decision welcomed by industry, the FAA has found the California city of Santa Monica in violation of grant assurances surrounding economic nondiscrimination and airport revenues. The agency further determined that the city could not establish compliance with a grant assurance covering reasonable rates and fees.

Specifically, the November 8 decision found the city has not adequately documented interest-bearing loans made to the airport, its landing fees and rates do not reflect actual use of the airport, and that it needs to supplement a corrective plan surrounding the below-market rates assessed on Santa Monica College that uses airport property.

The FAA findings come in response to a formal Part 16 complaint that AOPA, NBAA, and local tenants filed against the city in 2016. While the FAA largely agreed with some of the industry’s contentions, the agency did not find the city’s new leases and month-to-month structure in violation, saying that the structure is generally consistent with a 2017 “Settlement Agreement.” Further, that agreement released the city from certain obligations, the agency added.

AOPA said the decision provides local tenants and operators a “morsel of good news.” The industry had faced a series of setbacks both on the administrative front through the FAA and in the courts in the myriad challenges filed in an effort to preserve the airport long-term.

Recent Bills Drawing Opposition from Genav Industry

Six aviation organizations have joined forces to oppose three recently introduced bills that would restrict operations. NBAA, among the organizations that wrote letters, added that the bills would upend the current regulatory model and stifle future innovation.

The organizations collectively wrote House leaders objecting to a bill to ban helicopter operations over New York City. That legislation, the Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019 (H.R.4880), would “undermine the federal preemption,” they said, while “dealing a devastating blow to the many businesses that depend on and support it." The groups further called the bill a dangerous precedent.

Additionally, the groups opposed the Safe and Quiet Skies Act (H.R.4547), which would restrict air tour operations and facilitate the prohibition of specific flight routes, altitudes, and common procedures. It further would establish noise limitations that no currently certified helicopter can meet. 

In a separate letter to Senate leaders, the groups expressed strong opposition to S.2607, the Drone Integration and Zoning Act, saying it “compromises safety in the National Airspace System and jeopardizes the growth and success of commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).” The legislation would enable local governments to impose their own restrictions on commercial UAS operations. “Uniform federal authority is an essential predicate to maintaining safe and efficient transportation in the nation’s airspace,” they added.

AOPA, EAA, GAMA, HAI, and NATA also signed the letters.

Bombardier Takes Its First SAF Shipment in Montreal

Bombardier has taken delivery of its first shipment of sustainable aviation fuel at its Montreal headquarters facilities. The 7,300 gallons of fuel, blended with traditional jet-A and delivered by Avfuel, represents another step in the airframer’s commitment to secure a long-term SAF supply, which has been recognized by the industry as one of the key pillars toward a sustainable future for business aviation.

“Working with leading OEMs like Bombardier is an opportunity for Avfuel and business aviation as a whole to meet sustainability goals,” said Avfuel executive v-p C.R. Sincock. “We are appreciative of the Bombardier team for its willingness to participate in this initiative, for its professionalism in working with Avfuel on the logistics, and for the work it’s doing on green initiatives.”

Since 2017, Bombardier has maintained a supply of renewable jet fuel at its Hartford, Connecticut facility, home to its customer demonstration fleet, which it flies to major airshows and events to raise industry awareness and demonstrate that SAF can become a mainstream drop-in alternative to traditional jet fuel for turbine aircraft.

“We stand behind our commitment to help the increased use of SAF throughout the industry, said Bombardier Aviation president David Coleal. “Today we are proud to offer it for the first time at one of our Canadian facilities, and it’s only the beginning.”

FAA Releases Go/No-Go Medications List

As part of the ongoing industry/FAA campaign to stem loss-of-control inflight (LOC-I) accidents, the FAA recently released a go/no-go list and safety briefing to help pilots determine the safe use of over-the-counter medications while flying. In releasing this long-awaited information, the FAA noted that a 2011 study from the FAA’s CAMI Toxicology Lab found that 42 percent of 1,353 pilots tested after fatal accidents were found with at least one of the drugs from the list in their system. Of those, 90 percent were flying under Part 91.

The FAA list—What Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications can I take and still be safe to fly?—provides a checklist for pilots to determine whether they are fit for flight, along with which medicines are and are not suitable to use while flying. Pilots are advised to wait five times the dosing interval of a “no-go” medication before flying. 

These efforts stemmed from “safety enhancements” that the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GA-JSC) issued earlier this decade to address LOC-I. Richard McSpadden, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute and co-chair of the GA-JSC, welcomed the release of the list, saying the industry has pushed for it for years. “It’s not as extensive as we’d like it to be, but at least it’s a start where pilots can go."

Philippines Hangar Reaches Construction Checkpoint

Hong Kong-based aviation services provider Metrojet reached a construction milestone last week in the development of its new aircraft hangar and maintenance facility in the Philippines, with the completion of the stressed arch roof framework of the 75,347-sq-ft hangar. The technology employed in the roof’s structure has been designed to meet the highest international standards for typhoon and seismic loadings. Known for its stiffness, durability, and cost efficiencies, the stressed arch design has been used in more than 100 hangars around the world.

When completed, the building with its 360-foot clear span opening and 70-foot-high apex will have the capacity to simultaneously accommodate up to 10 ultra-long-range business jets, including Airbus ACJs and Boeing BBJs. It will be equipped with an NFPA 409-compliant fire-suppression system to meet the world’s most stringent safety standards.

Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2020, the complex at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (née Clark International Airport) will include nearly three acres of ramp space in front of the hangar, a dedicated taxiway, and an adjoining 27,000-sq-ft, two-story FBO terminal.

Ignenio, Dassault Team on PED Solutions for Falcons

Aircraft cabin and flight deck solutions company Ingenio Aerospace has teamed with Dassault Falcon to develop “plug and play” personal electronic device (PED) receptacles for Falcon 2000, 900, and 7X cabins. The products also integrate with the in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems in these aircraft to provide users with USB-driven solutions for PEDs.

According to Ingenio, the cabin receptacles have been developed to accommodate the company’s products, including its cabin tablet arms, in all Falcon cabin interiors. “Together, receptacles and arms offer passengers convenient, comfortable, and stylish access to PEDs, and significant enhancements to existing IFE systems,” Ingenio said.

In addition, Ingenio’s Falcon cockpit tablet electronic flight bag (EFB) has been approved for in-service Falcon 900s and 2000s with EASy avionics. The company said this is a “versatile and easy-to-use tablet mount engineered to meet the latest certification standards, including flammability.”

Olivier Langeard, Dassault Falcon's director of aftermarket programs and business development, said these Ingenio products, which are now available via the Falcon service center network, increase the ease of use of handheld devices in both the cabin and flight deck.

Aviation Communicator Pat Luebke Dies

Patricia Luebke—whose aviation marketing and writing career spanned more than five decades with organizations including Women In Aviation (WAI), Aircraft Electronics Association, and Flying Magazine—died on November 22 following a brief illness. Over the past 20 years, Luebke has been a freelance writer, editor, and marketing consultant for a number of publications and organizations such as Avionics News, Sporty’s, AOPA, Lightspeed Aviation, and Aspen Avionics, among others. At WAI she contributed to Aviation for Women and Aviation for Girls magazines and is credited for being a creative force behind many programs and events including Take Your Daughter to Conference, which became Girls in Aviation Day, and the Honor The WASP event on Memorial Day weekend.

She joined Flying in 1974 as an advertising assistant and her first general aviation airplane ride involved a trip to the former Reading Air Show. Luebke rose up to become vice president for the Flying publishing company before embarking on her own career as a freelance writer and consultant in 2002.

WAI highlighted her ability to lead a team “with her quick wit and creative inspiration” and said Luebke was particularly proud of her work to develop future leaders in aviation and to encourage women to be confident in their fields.

Tales from the Flight Deck: When Pilots Break the Rules

Breaking the rules is an all-too-human tendency, borne from our natural desire to find quicker solutions, not only on the flight deck but also in our daily lives. It's also something all pilots are likely guilty of, especially if you have thousands of hours as pilot-in-command. Today we explore why pilots choose to break the rules and what can be done to overcome the natural desire to look for shortcuts, even when we fly.