Avidyne is moving further into the avionics market for larger aircraft with the introduction of a new flight management system (FMS) called Atlas, it announced today. The new Dzus-mounted FMS is aimed at turbine aircraft, as well as helicopters, and promises to add more life to airframes equipped with older avionics, in addition to modern capabilities for newer aircraft.
With a retail price starting at $44,999, the first Atlas STC is due next year. Atlas will interface directly with Collins Pro Line 21 and Honeywell Primus avionics by adding vertical guidance during approaches. The FMS will meet TSO-C146c for full SBAS/LPV approach guidance, according to Avidyne.
The Atlas pilot interface includes flight planning with one-touch departure, airway, and arrival navigation, GeoFill waypoint nomination, Qwerty keyboard, and touchscreen. For installation approvals, Avidyne designed Atlas to interface with a variety of EFISs, PFDs, CDIs, HSIs, remote sensors, and autopilots, as well as transponders, for which Atlas is also an approved ADS-B position source. Even in older aircraft with EFISs that were certified before the advent of LPV instrument approaches, the Atlas FMS can enable “coupled approach guidance on these and other SBAS approaches,” Avidyne said.
Other Atlas features include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; integration with ForeFlight and other EFB apps; optional 16-Watt VHF com, VOR, localizer, and glideslope receiver; optional BendixKing radar display; and optional TAWS-B.
Bombardier Adds EASA to Global 5500/6500 Approvals
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted approval for Bombardier’s newest members of the Global family—the Global 5500 and 6500—clearing the way for the ultra-long-range models to be registered in an EU country. European validation follows Transport Canada certification last month and entry-into-service of the first Global 6500 on September 30. That first aircraft was leased back to Bombardier, which will display it next week during NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas.
“Obtaining type certification from [EASA] marks one of the final chapters in our very successful development program, and this achievement is a direct result of the commitment to excellence of the highly-skilled employees who worked on the program and our solid collaboration with our suppliers,” said Michel Ouellette, senior v-p of program management and engineering for Bombardier Aviation.
EASA previously had certified the Global’s Pearl 15 powerplants—the first in a new engine family at Rolls-Royce—and Transport Canada followed with similar approval last month, right before granting a type certificate for the aircraft. U.S. FAA validation is also anticipated in the coming weeks.
Unveiled during EBACE 2018 as derivatives of the Global 5000 and 6000, the new twinjets offer improved performance with the new engines and a reprofiled wing, new interior finishes that borrow from the company’s flagship Global 7500, and upgraded avionics that will eventually include a true combined vision system.
Directional Aviation Launches New Air Charter Platform
Directional Aviation today launched an open technology platform for the business aviation industry—dubbed Tuvoli, Italian for “you fly”—that allows air charter brokers and operators to make aircraft available to the market, source aircraft, provide quotes, confirm and amend trips, arrange support services, and facilitate instant payment between parties. Any qualified Part 135 operator or aircraft broker can use the web-based Tuvoli platform, which charges “nominal fees” on transactions.
“The entire industry is being held back by a lack of direct connectivity to each other, including the ability to pay or be paid, any time, at rates that make sense; that was the driving force behind Tuvoli,” said Directional Aviation principal Kenn Ricci. “Tuvoli pairs technology, modern methods of payment processing, and charter industry intelligence on one platform to unlock growth potential for private aviation companies.”
Tuvoli president and chief technology officer Greg Johnson said the platform has been beta-tested for 12 months and successfully processed $25 million worth of charter flights to date. Under Tuvoli’s guaranteed payment system, the broker (buyer) authorizes the movement of funds into a holding account once an operator (seller) has been selected and terms have been confirmed. The operator can then see that the funds are guaranteed for the trip and, upon completion of the trip, can request immediate fund transfer for payment. These funds are FDIC-insured, it added.
For World Fuel Services, NBAA-BACE next week in Las Vegas is an ideal opportunity for it to showcase its growing sustainability initiatives. The Miami-based company, which earlier this year participated in two major demonstrations of the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—at Los Angeles-area Van Nuys Airport in January and the UK's Farnborough Airport in May ahead of EBACE—will be supplying Las Vegas-area Henderson Executive Airport, host of the NBAA-BACE 2019 static display, with a shipment of SAF.
The company expects approximately 150,000 gallons of the fuel will be consumed in relation to the NBAA show. Since 2015, World has delivered more than 13.6 million gallons of SAF to the commercial and business aviation customers.
“We’ve been at the forefront of sustainability and alternative fuels for the aviation industry,” said Mike Szczechowski, World’s senior v-p of business and general aviation. “It all started with the supply of SAF.”
As an exhibitor, the company is also ensuring that its energy requirements at the Las Vegas Convention Center, transportation, and hotel accommodations for its staff will come from either sustainable sources or be covered by the purchase of carbon offset credits through its Kinect Energy Group division.
Showgoers can also learn more about SAF and lower-carbon energy sourcing at AIN’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels luncheon next Wednesday at the convention center.
S7 Group, which runs one of Russia’s biggest airlines, aims to revive the former Epic Aircraft Victory single-engine jet program in a bid to produce Russia’s first serial business jet, the group told AIN late last week. S7 previously bought rights for production of the personal jet, which made its first flight in 2007, after Epic filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Plans call for S7 to build a new production facility in Moscow’s Stupino area as part of a $220 million investment agreement inked between the company and the Moscow city government at the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. S7 expects to initially produce 20 to 25 Victory jets per year from that plant.
Since the five-seat jet is an all-composite design, S7 Group is establishing its own composite laboratory to supply carbon fiber and other related materials for the Victory production facility. The company estimates a $3 million price tag for the jet, which is projected to have a 2,271-kg/5,007-pound mtow, 2,200-km/1,188-nm range, and 325-knot cruise speed.
UK Airports, Air Operators Plan For Drone Disruption
UK aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic management providers are planning for possible widespread disruption to flights caused by deliberate drone incursions conducted by political protest groups. The anticipated threats include the worldwide demonstrations by the Extinction Rebellion environmental action network, which this week included an activist gluing himself to an airliner parked at London City Airport.
Speaking today at the Drone Disruption Summit, EasyJet operations manager Douglas Moule explained that the UK’s Industry Resilience Group is considering how to respond to a situation in which activists deliberately fly drones around multiple airports. The UK Industry Resilience Group is working to standardize the responses to drone threats by pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport personnel. The group met with the UK Civil Aviation Authority yesterday to develop plans for an airline risk-assessment model that would include color-coded “red-green-amber” alerts to give pilots a clearer indication of real-time threats and response methods.
Moule said that in response to the Extinction Rebellion protests, airline pilots have begun carrying additional fuel for possible diversions. Extinction Rebellion has previously threatened to use drones to disrupt flights at London Heathrow Airport.
The Drone Disruption Summit hosted aviation leaders from around the world, including officials from Hong Kong, where long-running political protests have caused severe disruption at the main airport.
Industry insurance provider Global Aerospace's SM4 Aviation Safety Program in 2020 will focus on business aviation's talent shortage, it announced today. Since 2010, the company has committed more than $5 million in support of the program to help its clients achieve higher levels of safety in their operations. The 2020 edition will help address the challenges in attracting, mentoring, and retaining professionals who can safely manage, maintain, service, and fly business aircraft.
To be launched in January, the program will include an online safety learning management system, which will be provided free to the company’s U.S.-based general aviation policyholders. It will include customized training courses to help support future talent by improving their understanding of safety management and professional performance, and by promoting their continuous improvement.
“The addition of customized online training courses developed in cooperation with our SM4 partners will provide a training roadmap to advance personal and professional development for new and existing employees,” said Marilena Sharpell, the company’s senior v-p for underwriting and operations executive.
For Global’s Elite-level clients, the 2020 SM4 program will provide an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to their flight operations to establish their greatest areas of need. Once needs are determined, customers will be presented customized service offerings from one or more of the SM4 partners.
Terra Develops UAV/AI Solution for Powerline Patrols
Terra Drone has developed a power distribution inspection solution that combines beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAV flights with artificial intelligence algorithms that is accurate up to 92.5 percent, the company said.
The algorithm was developed via identifying anomalies in a training data set of approximately 1,500 images. Terra Drone said the algorithm need only be completed once for a particular type of asset and can be implemented easily at different locations on similar assets. The system identifies anomalies such as rust on bolts and loosening and missing tower parts and then generates a report that highlights the areas that require action.
Clients can define security protocols and store data either in the cloud or on-premise. Terra Drone said the system provides for significant cost savings and risk reduction as opposed to traditional inspection methods of powerlines, towers, and substations such as low-flying helicopters or on-the-ground patrols.
The company said it developed its UAV/AI solution for the power industry after conducting more than 46,500 nm worth of BVLOS powerline inspection flights worldwide.
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People in Aviation
Gerry Block, founder and CEO of Sandel Avionics, stepped down from his post. Block established Sandel in 1998 to bring high-performance color graphics avionics to unserved general aviation customers and is credited with being the creative force behind the company’s complete product line, including the original SN3308 ColorMap HSI, 4ATI primary instruments, Commuter Airline TAWS, HeliTaws, and the Avilon King Air Cockpit. No reason was given for the move nor were future plans announced.
Gulfstream Aerospace named Peter Vasconcelos regional senior v-p of sales for the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. Vasconcelos, who will be based at Gulfstream’s Manhattan sales and design center, brings 20 years of sales experience to his new role.
Elevate Jet hired Scott LaForge to lead the aircraft management and consultancy firm. LaForge brings 40 years of experience to his new role, previously holding leadership positions with Keystone Aviation, XOJet, M&N Aviation, Island Airlines, and Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines.
Piper Aircraft added former NASA astronaut and aeronautical engineer Winston Scott to its board of directors. A retired U.S. Navy captain and aviator, Scott served as a pilot of the SH-2F helicopter and F-14 Tomcat, in addition to his NASA career.
Garrett Ondrus joined Skandia as regional sales manager, representing the company’s line of aviation products in the western U.S. and all of Canada. Ondrus brings a background in aviation operational management and business development, previously holding roles with Crane Aerospace and Electronics, along with Transdigm units AvtechTyee and Aero Fluids.
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