Transcend Air has selected Kaman to build its Vy 400 high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (HSVTOL) aircraft. The $3.5 million fly-by-wire, tilt-wing Vy 400 will be powered by a single 2,500-shp GE CT7-8 turboshaft and is designed to expeditiously connect city centers with a targeted top speed of 356 knots, enabling flight from Manhattan to Boston in 36 minutes. Transcend claims the six-seat Vy 400 will deliver door-to-door prices that are lower than those of current air travel options.
“Because of the Vy’s high speed, we can complete many more passenger trips per aircraft," said Gregory Bruell, Transcend Air co-founder and CEO. “The combination of that with VTOL is key to our revolutionary economics, and Kaman will be key to us scaling up production to meet the significant demand that our mass-market fares are expected to drive.”
Separately, Kaman announced that its Kaman Aerospace Jacksonville (Florida) division expects to receive its FAA Part 145 repair station approval by the end of this year. “We will be the supplier of choice for aging and underserviced aircraft with high metallic structure content, offering manufacturing capabilities to OEMs, as well as a service center and repair source for operators and owners,” said Bruce Dailey, Kaman's executive director of business development and compliance. The facility will focus on nacelles, flight control surfaces, and components.
Constant Bolsters AOG Network as Utilization Increases
Constant Aviation has expanded its AOG network to include Van Nuys, California; Bedford, Massachusetts; and Sugarland, Texas, in light of increased utilization of business aircraft, the Cleveland-based Directional Aviation company announced last week at NBAA-BACE. As a result, the MRO provider now has AOG teams in 27 U.S. cities in 17 states, which represents a 28 percent increase in the size of its network since 2020. The company’s AOG mobile teams support 86 aircraft models from 14 OEMs.
Constant also announced during BACE that it was the first independent MRO to earn SMS Level 4 certification from Wyvern, a rating that is specific to MRO SMS. The certification builds on its functional SMS, which was accepted by the FAA in April. It was the fourth MRO out of more than 4,500 maintenance organizations nationally to receive that designation.
Additionally, Constant noted at BACE that it had renewed its partnership with drone maintenance services marketplace Robotic Skies to support commercial UAS. Constant CEO David Davies said standard repair station capabilities and issued ratings are often not aligned with the expertise required for UAS and eVTOL maintenance. But Constant has “focused a great deal on expanding our composite and electrical troubleshooting and install capabilities to levels rarely found in Part 145 repair stations.”
Million Air has expanded its footprint in Florida with the acquisition of W Aviation, one of four FBOs at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The 4,000-sq-ft terminal will be rebranded at the end of the year, with upgrades to the concierge desk, refreshment area, snooze rooms, flight-planning area, and conference room, along with new Mercedes crew cars.
Million Air will continue to operate from that facility while blueprints are being drawn up for a new two-story terminal, with adjoining office space to replace it. The 8.5-acre leasehold also includes a fuel farm and 70,000 sq ft of hangar space. Million Air plans to add to additional hangar space and enlarge the ramp.
“Our team is excited to put up a flagship location in this community,” said company CEO Roger Woolsey. “The vision is to create a new front door to South Florida visitors, business leaders, government officials, entertainers, and other distinguished guests arriving by private aircraft.”
The chain, which operates at 31 mainly U.S. locations, also has facilities serving Tallahassee and Orlando. This latest move puts it in direct competition with Banyan Air Service, one of the country’s largest independent FBOs.
DPI Labs OLED Displays Certified, Now Available
DPI Labs is offering a newly certified line of Smart Canvas OLED displays. The transparent touchscreen displays, which are already flying aboard commercial-class aircraft, are currently available in 55- and 65-inch sizes and, according to the company, smaller displays from 24 to 40 inches will soon be on the market. California-based DPI Labs expects to receive STCs soon for a variety of business aircraft including the latest ultra-long-range jets.
The 4K HDR displays offer significant benefits over standard LCD monitors. DPI's 65-inch unit, the thickness of a nickel, weighs only 3.5 pounds, while a comparably sized LCD display tips the scales at more than 100 pounds. Aside from this, additional weight savings are realized in the reduced structural supports needed to mount the units, which also eases installation costs.
By their very nature, OLEDs have less energy demand, as each pixel in the display is its own light source. Those pixels that are not engaged at the time do not draw energy, unlike the LCD displays that are constantly backlit.
The OLED screens also have a one-meter bend radius, allowing them to be used in areas such as headliners for custom interiors. They are also fully video-wall tileable with no additional hardware required. Fully transparent, other applications for the Smart Canvas include being mounted over windows to provide in-flight identification of landmarks and offer descriptions.
Used helicopter inventory is rapidly shrinking, but valuations and deals in the pipeline are also continuing to drop. That’s the latest analysis from consultancy Aero Asset in its third-quarter 2021 Heli Market Trends report.
To date, 98 preowned twin-engine helicopters have been sold to retail buyers for $263 million, on and off-market. This dollar sales volume represents a decline of 26 percent year-over-year that mainly resulted from a significant decrease in heavy helicopter retail sales. However, VIP configured twin-engine rotorcraft saw a nice bounce, with sales volume rising 8 percent, making them the best-performing market segment. North America accounted for one-third of all retail sales during the period.
Medium twins are once again leading the way, with retail sales up 43 percent. Light twins sales are edging higher, with the Airbus EC/H145, Leonardo AW109S/SP, and Sikorsky S76C+/C++ the most popular in class. Sales activity of light twins was up 5 percent for the period compared with the third quarter of 2020. However, sales of heavy helicopters declined “substantially” over the period, according to the report.
Meanwhile, helicopter flight hours have increased significantly year-to-date compared with 2020—up 36 percent in North America, 23 percent in Europe, and 155 percent in South America.
North Dakota FBO Moves Into New Digs
Overland Aviation, the lone service provider at North Dakota’s Williston Basin International Airport (KXWA), has opened its new permanent terminal and U.S. Customs facility. The 51,000-sq-ft complex includes a 17,200-sq-ft, two-story terminal with a pilot lounge, refreshment bar, concierge service, a separate private terminal for large charter flights, and tenant office space. KXWA replaced nearby outmoded Sloulin Field International Airport in 2019, and Overland held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to coincide with the airport’s first airshow.
The airport is on the Great Circle Route between Europe and the Western U.S., and the complex includes an attached 3,800-sq-ft customs facility with a separate entrance and exit. It was designed and built to U.S. CBP specifications, and the company offers quick turns for its international customers. The adjoining 30,000-sq-ft heated hangar can accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Gulfstream G650.
The FBO is positioning itself as not only convenient but economical for customers because they can avoid landing, handling, security, and infrastructure fees. Ramp and international trash disposal fees are waived with any fuel purchase.
“Today’s milestone celebrates the culmination of years of planning and development on our mission to deliver industry-leading tech stops to a global market,” said company founder and president Tanner Overland.
Bombardier Taps Collins for Connectivity Service
Bombardier has selected Collins Aerospace as its preferred service provider for fleetwide cockpit and cabin connectivity, the companies announced. According to Bombardier, the move will provide a streamlined customer experience encompassing connectivity sign-up, training, operations, and troubleshooting.
Subscribers to Collin’s ARINCDirect services can manage their accounts through service digital tools that will now be integrated into Bombardier’s digital platform and obtain service from ARINCDirect representatives at Bombardier facilities. “Having the ARINCDirect support team co-located at our completion, customer response, and service facilities will ensure customers get immediate assistance with their connectivity needs,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Bombardier executive v-p for services and support.
Via “our ability to bring hardware and services, we can create value for Bombardier by simplifying how connectivity solutions are integrated and supported for all their customers,” said Leann Ridgeway, Collins Aerospace's v-p and general manager of information management systems.
What is the effect on an aircraft's landing distance with 10 knots of tailwind?
A. A 21 percent increase in the landing distance.
B. Each knot of tailwind raises landing distance by 1 percent, so a 10-knot tailwind would increase the distance by 10 percent.
C. No effect if the pilot is well trained and pays attention during the landing
D. Marginal effect only, but a higher than 10-knot tailwind is a concern.
Used Aircraft Prices Soar as Do Deals for IADA Brokers
Sales prices of preowned business aircraft have increased between 20 and 30 percent as the market continues to see historically low inventory, according to the International Aircraft Dealers Association’s (IADA) third-quarter 2021 market report. Despite the tight inventory, IADA dealers reported 182 aircraft agreements, compared with 110 in the same period last year.
Further, only seven transactions were made because of lowered prices versus 83 in the third quarter of 2020. Also during the quarter, 40 transactions fell apart, which was 10 fewer than the year-ago quarter. Total deals closed by IADA dealers were 325, up from 283 in last year’s third quarter.
“Clearly, the market for used business aircraft is at an unusual place, with much higher prices and dearth of inventory in the most modern used business aircraft markets,” said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “The third quarter responses from our membership predict the next six months will continue to have increased pricing and demand for all sectors of the market, while inventory deficiencies will continue to drive higher prices.”
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