Fourth Bell 525 In Flight Test, More On Production Line

Bell’s 525 Relentless super-medium twin helicopter continues its march toward FAA certification, now likely sometime next year. Currently, four test ships are flying with a fifth slated to soon join the program, according to the company. The test fleet has accumulated 1,300 flight hours through mid-September, and approximately six production aircraft are now on the line at Bell’s Amarillo, Texas assembly facility.

525 program flight test manager Josh O’Neil told AIN that load level survey testing was completed in the first half. “We’re looking toward the finish line and getting the FAA in here to fly the data with us and then beginning the report generation required for certification.” He estimates another 700 flight test hours will need to be logged before certification.

The 525 has a projected mtow of 20,500 pounds, maximum range of 580 nm (no reserve), and passenger seating for 16 to 19. It is powered by two 1,800-shp GE CT7-2F1 engines, which were certified earlier this year, driving an all-composite five-blade main rotor system and a four-blade tail rotor. The aircraft will incorporate a triple-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system along with Garmin G5000H touchscreen integrated avionics suite with four main displays and Telligence voice-command capabilities. Bell has not officially disclosed the number of orders or the price of the helicopter. 

ZenithJet Global Jet Business Surpasses 150

ZenithJet, which specializes in technical and sales support for purchasers of Bombardier business jets, recently topped its 150th Global transaction. The Montreal-based firm had reached 152 Globals as of October 1, a total reached in less than 11 years since ZenithJet’s founding.

The Global 6000 accounted for 54 of those transactions, more than any of the other Globals, followed by 39 Global 5000s, 29 Global Express XRSs, and 27 Global Expresses. In addition, the transactions have involved two of Bombardier’s new Global 7500 flagship and the first Global 6500, ZenithJet said.

ZenithJet provides expertise throughout various processes, from manufacturing, sales, completions, refurbishment, operations, registration, and residual value assessment. It has developed a program specifically for Global acquisitions—called GAINS, for Global Acquisition In-Service—that covers market assessment, aircraft identification, letter of intent and purchase agreement negotiation, oversight of pre-purchase inspection, closing, refurbishment (if required), and entry-into-service.

The ZenithJet team has specifically focused on Globals and built up expertise on that aircraft family, said ZenithJet president and founder Nick Houseman. “We worked on the first Global 7500 and, most recently, the first Global 6500 to enter service. Our team possesses exceptional knowledge of Globals.” 

While working on 152 Global transactions and counting, Houseman sees continued potential for the market. “Today, there are about 850 Globals in operation worldwide, so the opportunities are very clear,” he said.

NBAA Sees Benefits with East Coast Airspace Redesign

The FAA’s airspace optimization initiative on the U.S. East Coast is expected to bring incremental relief to constraints in business aviation travel beginning with changes taking place this month, according to NBAA. Under the FAA’s Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) initiative, “operators will see significant changes ahead of the project’s targeted November 2020 completion date,” the association said.

According to NBAA, the first event takes place this week as some high altitude “J-routes” are replaced with “Y-routes” optimized for performance-based navigation. Plans call for similarly replacing low-altitude routes next month and for all J-routes to be replaced by Jan. 30, 2020.

The NEC ACR is targeting increased use of offshore routes, particularly as an effort to avoid severe weather. Other goals include better segregation of overflight traffic from the arrival and departure corridors in the New York and Washington areas, and reducing offshore vectoring and holds.

“The FAA hopes to improve routing and decrease operational complexity through the nation’s busiest airspace,” said Ernie Stellings, senior manager at NBAA Air Traffic Services. “This may be the biggest route change in 50 years; the eastern seaboard is the most congested airspace in the country, and it’s all being redone.”

Assent Adds Bizcraft Brokerage Advisory Services

Assent Aeronautics yesterday launched an aircraft transaction advisory business unit to deliver data-driven aircraft brokerage and transaction advisory services to the business aviation sector. Aircraft sales and acquisition veteran Jake Banglesdorf will lead the business unit, along with Samson Whitfield as a principal broker.

The parent company is “investing heavily” in the new business unit and plans to hire eight to 10 principal brokers and several support staff over the next year. With this addition, Assent Aeronautics said it now offers a full suite of services, including aircraft management, outsourced director of aircraft maintenance services, and full-service aircraft brokerage and transaction advisory support.

Its new advisory service will draw upon Assent’s 15 years of proprietary aircraft operations and aircraft maintenance data for research and analytics. The company intends to leverage this data trove to deliver predictive analytics for its clients in the areas of aircraft valuation, operating costs, and asset management to mitigate risk for clients before a transaction is conducted.

“Assent Aeronautics’ approach will demystify the overall aircraft ownership experience, specifically in the sales and acquisitions process,” it said.

Groups Urge Increased ADS-B Coverage in Alaska

Concerned about gaps in ADS-B coverage in Alaska, four aviation groups jointly urged the FAA to establish a minimum operational network for ADS-B in Alaska. In a joint letter, NBAA, AOPA, the Alaska Airmen Association, and Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation acknowledged that a few areas of Alaska were used for operational demonstrations as part of the Capstone Program.

“While the two areas used to prototype this technology are covered, and additional stations have been added for some portions of Alaska, we continue to experience large gaps in coverage in areas of the state that have significant air travel,” they said. The organizations cited a need for 23 more ADS-B ground stations to cover major sections of low-altitude routes used by general aviation and commercial operators. “We would like to see actual sites selected to optimize the coverage along these routes…as opposed to providing coverage just at the airport,” the organizations added.

They offered to work with the FAA on a statewide evaluation of ADS-B coverage to keep costs down while filling major gaps. “Filling these gaps should also encourage more aviation businesses and aircraft owners who fly in Alaska to equip, as they will obtain the benefits in the areas they operate,” they added.

Lack of ADS-B coverage was among many issues highlighted during NTSB’s forum last month on Part 135 safety in Alaska.

Safran Arrius Engine Tops 10 Million Flight Hours

Safran's Arrius family of helicopter engines, which span the 450-shp to 750-shp range, has logged 10 million flight hours since its introduction in 1996, with more than 3,800 units delivered to 430 customers in 60 countries, the company announced this morning. First installed in the Airbus Helicopters EC135, the latest Arrius 2B2Plus variant entered service on the Airbus H135 in 2014.

In 2016, the Arrius 2R became operational on the single-engine Bell 505. That engine features dual-channel Fadec and is assembled at Safran’s Grand Prairie Plant in Texas. More than 200 of those units are now in service. Another variant, the Arrius 2G1, powers the Russian Helicopters Ka-226T. 

“Featuring a simple and robust design, the Arrius has a reputation for low operating costs and simple maintenance. For operators conducting demanding missions like EMS, search and rescue, or military training, or flying in challenging environments like mountains or ‘hot and high,’ the Arrius’s performance and reliability enhance crew confidence. We are committed to capitalizing on its strengths to develop new, even better variants,” said Safran Helicopter Engines v-p Fabrice Condamine.

Safran is currently testing Add+, a technology demonstration engine based on the Arrius with 30 percent of its parts made from 3D printing, which reduces weight, increases performance, and cuts production time.

First Europe-based Praetor 600 Lands in Germany

Munich, Germany-based aircraft management and charter provider MHS Aviation has taken delivery of Europe’s first Embraer Praetor 600. It joins the company’s fleet of 18 private aircraft that includes Bombardier Globals, Challengers, and a Learjet 45; a Dassault Falcon 2000LX; a Cessna Citation CJ2+; a Dornier 328; and a Leonardo AW109 helicopter.

The Praetor 600, which offers some of the lowest fuel burn rates in its class, has a nonstop range of more than 4,000 miles, connecting New York and London or London and Dubai, and can operate from runways as short as 3,000 feet.

“[The aircraft] can perform a wide range of missions for our customers,” said MHS CEO Steffen Fries, adding that the company’s familiarity with the delivery process, along with its tailored offerings and boutique service, weighed heavily in the Praetor owner's decision for MHS to operate the super-midsize twinjet. “We are extremely proud to become the first German airline to operate this new aircraft.”

Flight Training Resources Targets Market Expansion

Hong Kong’s Flight Training Resources (FTR) is looking to expand its third-party safety training to more business aviation operators as it enters its second year in operation.

Since opening in February 2018, FTR has been providing training to its launch customer TAG Aviation Asia. It offers safety emergency procedure training, smoke and fire training, aviation first aid, crew resource management, and aviation security training. TAG has more than 300 staff including 150 aircrew for whom FTR is providing initial and recurrent training. 

FTR conducts aircraft door and over-wing exit training in its Airbus A320 over-wing exit door trainer, which is approved for most medium-sized jet operations. Its training instructors are certified by both Hong Kong and San Marino regulators. Fanessa Lee, manager of training and development, said FTR hopes to further promote the safety culture in this region.

The company shares the same ownership of Flight Training Adelaide and Flight Training Queensland in Australia. Flight Training Adelaide also provides ab-initio training for commercial airlines, including TAG Asia’s own cadet program.

Count on AIN for Full Coverage of NBAA-BACE

As ever, you can count on AIN for full coverage of NBAA-BACE 2019. Our team will publish three of our award-winning daily NBAA Convention News editions at the show on October 22, 23, and 24. We will also have comprehensive real-time reporting of all the top news at AINonline.com and in our daily e-newsletters. If you are an exhibiting company that wants to share news or propose pre-show interviews and briefings please contact show editor Chad Trautvetter.