Honda is joining the ranks of aerospace and auto manufacturers targeting the advanced air mobility eVTOL market, with its Honda R&D Co. spearheading this project. The company acknowledged the growing eVTOL field but believes it can differentiate with the use of a gas turbine hybrid power unit that will provide a longer range and provide for intercity transportation—up to 249 miles, in fact.
According to Honda, its eVTOL will provide a level of safety equivalent to that of commercial passenger airplanes due to a simple structure and a decentralized propulsive system. It further anticipates a quieter aircraft through the use of small-diameter rotors.
While Honda did not provide details of its new aircraft, depictions show eight small propellers distributed on two booms and two ducted propellers in the rear. A companion video shows a 249-mile range using hybrid-electric power and all-electric range of 62 miles.
Honda plans to leverage its expertise in areas such as combustion, aerodynamics, and control technologies as well as its backgrounds in electrical, hybrid power, certification, and autonomy that it has developed through its various businesses, the company said.
Along with the eVTOL and a hybrid power unit, Honda outlined a vision for a transportation ecosystem that would involve the use of strategically stationed “Honda Mobility Hubs” to serve as base locations connecting various cities.
So many of us in our industry are looking up to view the new heights of preowned business aircraft pricing. Rather than looking straight to the sky, it may be smarter to start at the horizon and look up in incremental stages, much like a step-climb in altitude for aircraft.
I remember the good old days of valuing aircraft. There was the utilization of the near-past-term sales comps, current for-sale comps, and then the evaluation of the equipment and year model from one airplane to the next. Is it ok to just say that was how we did it one month ago, but everything has changed now? Forget the last sale, forget the comp of others on the market, just expect to sell for more than the last one did—in fact, expect to sell for 10 percent to 20 percent more?
My fear is that if we as an industry do not adopt the theory of flight into our inventory segment, we will run out of lift by having too much angle in our climb, thereby not solidly gaining altitude but stalling out. We all need to be very careful how we try to inject steep angle into our climb. If we do this correctly, we will see each other at the top of new solid heights.
Williams Tops in AIN Jet Engine Product Support Survey
Williams International was the sole OEM to hold the first-place slot in the turbofan segment in this year’s AIN Engine Product Support Survey after sharing the top spot with Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce last year. Williams recorded an overall average score of 8.8 (out of a possible 10) from AIN subscribers participating in this year's product support survey. That was up from an 8.2 score last year.
Meanwhile, engine manufacturers GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce tied for second in turbofan support, each earning an 8.5 overall average. That was followed by Honeywell with an 8.2 score. All five OEMs saw their overall average scores in the turbofan segment increase this year by between 0.2 and 0.6 points.
In the turboprop segment of this year’s survey, Honeywell finished first with an overall average of 9.0, up from 8.1 in the 2020 survey. Pratt & Whitney turboprop support received an 8.5 rating, up from 8.0 last year.
And in the turboshaft segment, Pratt & Whitney finished at the top with an overall average of 8.7, which was up from 8.0 last year. Safran Helicopter Engines followed with an 8.0 overall average, a score that was unchanged from 2020. Rolls-Royce came in third, with an overall average of 7.6. The UK-based OEM did not receive enough ratings to be included in the turboshaft segment last year.
Argus International is rolling out a customizable flight risk assessment tool (FRAT) called SafetyLinQ. Part of a full line of safety products that Argus has in the works in preparation for looming safety management system (SMS) mandates, SafetyLinQ can be tailored to fit the needs of fixed-wing, rotor-wing, unmanned, flight school, and other operators.
Considered as a key component of SMS, a FRAT is designed to help operators identify a risk profile as they plan flights and evaluate factors such as type of operation, environment, aircraft, crew training, and overall operating experience. With SafetyLinQ, users can define the categories, questions, and scoring parameters of their own operations. In addition, Safety LinQ provides for dual safety scoring, inter-application communication, role-based access, electronic signature, and third-party integration.
Dual safety scoring enables two levels of scoring and tracking, allowing users to look at a category or an entire report. The electronic-signature feature provides a means for gaining approvals at various FRAT scoring levels before departure. Using a dynamic portal, the tool can interface with scheduling software or flight planning software. It also can tie in weather information.
SafetyLinQ can highlight scores that exceed the user-set parameters and send out emails or text messages to notify chief pilots, top company executives, or whomever the user would like to see that information.
JetEast has opened an MRO at Millville Executive Airport in New Jersey that comprises two of the airport’s “most modern” hangars totaling 70,000 sq ft and that will employ 250 workers when fully operational. The Gama Aviation company is leasing the property from the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) for 10 years, with options to extend the lease for two five-year periods.
“Over the past 20 years, the DRBA has invested more than $50 million to enhance the airport’s infrastructure, laying the foundation for…businesses like JetEast to ramp up and take flight here,” said DRBA commission chairman James Hogan. JetEast’s activities at Millville will include heavy scheduled maintenance of business jets with a focus on serving as a Citation center of excellence. In addition to JetEast’s current lease, it has the right of first refusal to lease a former Dallas Airmotive hangar at the airport.
“The collaboration and support we have received from the DRBA, the airport, and the Millville community has been overwhelmingly positive,” said JetEast CEO Stephen Maiden. “We look forward to working together with all community stakeholders as we grow our operation and its capabilities.”
The Millville MRO builds on other JetEast maintenance facilities, including ones in New York, Florida, and Texas. In addition, it opened at a 30,000-sq-ft hangar in July at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.
MedAire Bolsters Middle East Security Operations
MedAire is bolstering its aviation security intelligence-gathering operations for the Middle East region because of growing demand, the International SOS company announced. At its Dubai operations center, it is adding two dedicated aviation security specialists and a security manager. Also, MedAire has enhanced its aviation security content management system and technological capabilities there.
“Global risks are increasing each day,” said MedAire CEO Bill Dolny. “From geopolitical instability to border restrictions due to the impact of Covid-19, the need for a local and regional presence to provide non-biased, timely aviation and maritime-specific advice has never been greater.”
Leading the expansion is Hany Bakr, who has been appointed senior v-p of aviation security and maritime. Bakr also will support MedAire’s product development portfolio with new online tools and capabilities for customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Technology alone can't support an operation during a critical event, which is why MedAire continually invests in people like Hany each year in addition to tech investments,” added Dolny. “Hany brings more than 20 years of experience as an aviation and security professional who has held executive leadership positions in airlines' airport operations, safety, quality, and security divisions in the United Kingdom and the Gulf region.”
Traxxall Unveils MRO Module
Traxxall has launched an MRO module aimed at improving business for MROs through generating and leveraging data for maximum operational efficiency and financial success. It is complementary to the company’s maintenance tracking and inventory management modules.
The module tracks time, tasks, and labor costs, and it integrates with existing automated systems such as those for accounting and flight scheduling. It also provides daily updates on airworthiness directives and service bulletins and features dashboards that provide access to real-time data. Because MRO is subscription- and web-based, it also offers a lower cost of entry, according to Traxxall.
“By providing comprehensive visibility—including the status of ongoing projects, resource allocation, labor costs, and invoice generation—we are enabling our clients to build and run better businesses,” said Traxxall president Mark Steinbeck. “The MRO module is the latest chapter in our evolution from a maintenance tracking company to a provider of sophisticated aviation intelligence.”
Sheltair Tampa Hosts Girls in Aviation Day
With the aim of introducing local girls to the aviation industry, Sheltair Aviation’s FBO at Tampa International Airport hosted an open house last week in conjunction with Women in Aviation International’s annual Girls in Aviation Day. Company president Lisa Holland welcomed more than 100 youths and 40 volunteers to the event, which gave the possible future aviators a glimpse into the world of aviation.
On display were a pair of Cessna 172s, a Cessna 310, an Icon A5, and two helicopters, while the airport’s fire and rescue and police units provided a fire truck, police vehicle, and K-9 team. Members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) “Hurricane Hunters” displayed their storm-tracking technology while discussing aviation’s role in weather forecasting. On the commercial side, a flight crew from Frontier Airlines, as well as retired United Airlines captain Aya Konstantinou, were on hand to field questions about airline careers.
Sheltair and fellow sponsor Jetex provided giveaways, and a craft table allowed attendees to create custom aviation-themed jewelry.
“As a woman in aviation, I’m honored to be in a position where I can help inspire young women in their path of becoming the aviation industry’s future,” said Holland. “It is important that we continue to support upcoming generations in our communities by representing them and providing viable options.”
Photo of the Week
Time travelers. Aviation photographer Doron Talmi recently took this shot of a Aero Letňany A.10 biplane, also known as the “Limousine,” at the Prague-Kbely Aviation Museum. The A.10 was the first commercial aircraft built in Czechoslovakia, in service from 1923 to 1928. While the pilot and navigator sat in an open cockpit, below them there was an acoustically insulated cabin with seats and upholstered folding tables. Thanks for sharing, Doron!
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