Heli XP Wraps with Booming Market

The three-day Heli XP show that ends today in São Paulo, Brazil, is riding a booming local market. Due to tight preowned inventory, reseller Gualter Pizzi was able to bring only four helicopters to show and sold an Agusta Power on the first day, while TAM Aviação Executiva sold a Bell that same day. “I brought 11 to Heli XP 2019, but I just don’t have enough machines,” Pizzi explained.

Trading firms—which not only handle importation paperwork but reduce taxes from 18 to 4 percent in Brazil—reported a booming trade. “We’ve done almost as much volume in the past year as in the previous 10,” Marcos Almeida of Razac Trading told AIN. Luciano Sapata, v-p of Sertrading, added, “We’re doing the same volume, but more expensive aircraft—fixed-wing above $10 million and rotary above $7 million.”

Timbro Trading’s aircraft volume grew from R$4.3 billion ($770.9 million) last year to R$7 billion this year, according to its head of aviation, Philipe Figueiredo. Gledson Castro of fair organizer G2C Events said that he’d sold out the 7,000-sq-m hangar at Heli XP host facility Helipark without difficulty, and the fair had received 1,600 visitors by the end of the first day. Exhibitors include major local firms such as Bell representative TAM AE and Lider, as well as Leonardo.

AINsight: FAA Should Get Serious about Alaska Safety

A newly released FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (FAASI) report about flying safety in Alaska addresses some important issues. But there isn’t much in the report that Alaskan aviators don’t already know, and it’s likely that nothing will change unless some leadership backed by money takes on this monumental challenge.

Weather is the biggest factor directly affecting aviation safety in Alaska and, as the FAASI report points out, there is a dearth of weather-reporting stations that would allow more pilots to file and fly under IFR.

We don’t need to spend more money on studies like the FAASI, as well-intentioned as it is. We already know what the problem is. What we need is a willingness to address the problem and funding to make the needed changes.

Money needs to be spent first on putting in automated weather reporting stations on every regularly-used airport. This might mean some pretty remote places—including dirt and gravel airstrips and many lakes and rivers. Also, aircraft operators and the FAA both need to get serious about safety in Alaska. Charter operators need to figure out how to accomplish their important missions within the strictures of FAA regulations, while the FAA must hire more inspectors in Alaska and take its job as the safety authority there as seriously as it does in the rest of the U.S.

Bell’s Helo Deliveries Slip in Third Quarter

Third-quarter revenue and profit at rotorcraft manufacturer Bell slipped mainly because of fewer military sales. The Fort Worth-based Textron subsidiary delivered 33 commercial helicopters during the three-month period that ended September 30, a decline from 41 in the same quarter last year. Despite fewer commercial helicopter deliveries in the quarter, Bell’s deliveries for the first nine months totaled 97 units, up from 83 in the same period last year.

Revenues in the quarter came in at $769 million, a $24 million decrease from a year ago, while segment profit edged $14 million lower, to $105 million. Year-to-date revenues of $2.50 billion climbed from $2.43 billion in the same period a year ago. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $4.13 billion, lower than the $4.8 billion at the end of the second quarter.

In an earnings call with analysts yesterday, Scott Donnelly, CEO of parent company Textron, noted that Bell has submitted its proposal for the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, the award for which is expected in the second quarter of next year. He added that Bell is about 60 percent of the way through its build of the 360 Invictus prototype for the FARA competition and remains on schedule.

House Panel Advances Bill To Protect FAA from Shutdowns

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) this week approved bipartisan legislation to shield the FAA’s staff and operations from potential federal government shutdowns. Passed by the committee on Wednesday alongside an array of other transportation measures, the legislation (H.R.4042) was reintroduced in June by the T&I committee leadership and has the endorsement of dozens of associations covering a broad section of the industry along with more than 40 House co-sponsors.

H.R.4042, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, would enable the FAA to continue to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) and maintain operations for up to 30 days should the federal government shut down from a funding lapse.

Initially introduced in February 2019, the legislation is designed to protect FAA programs and personnel from a situation like the one resulting from the 2018/2019 funding lapse that led to the furlough of about 17,000 agency employees during what became the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. The 2019 bill had attracted 303 co-sponsors.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) praised the T&I action. “The legislation would protect NATCA members and ensure that FAA could continue to meet its mission by maintaining the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System during a lapse in appropriations,” NATCA president Rich Santa said.

Five More Jet Aviation Locations Join Air Elite Network

Air Elite, the World Fuel Services-sponsored global network of upscale FBOs, has welcomed five new Jet Aviation locations. They include Amsterdam Schiphol and Rotterdam airports in the Netherlands; Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh; and Vienna International Airport.

For the General Dynamics subsidiary, the additions bring its total FBOs in the network to 24, with each certified under the International Standard for Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH).

“The relationship between Jet Aviation and Air Elite has been a mutually beneficial one,” noted Joao Martins, Air Elite’s v-p of regional FBO operations and general manager of its Zurich and Dusseldorf locations. “[We] value the network relationships, the program benefits, service culture training, and industry leadership, which is designed to support the members and the network at large.”

As Air Elite members, those locations will now participate in the World Fuel customer rewards program and as part of their status receive a bonus pool of award points each year.

NFPA Removes Bizav Hangar Foam Requirement

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has removed the requirement for foam fire systems in Group 2 hangars under its just-published 409 Standard on Aircraft Hangars—a change long anticipated by the business aviation industry. Group 2 hangars include those with door heights of 28 feet or less and a single hangar bay less than 40,000 sq ft.

This measure had been championed by hangar-keepers and NATA, which pointed out the inefficacy of the systems. Despite their propensity for costly accidental discharges, the systems virtually never encountered the types of situations they were originally designed to safeguard against.

Under the new standard, FBOs and other aviation businesses with Group 2 hangars would not require the pricey foam systems and could rely on other firefighting equipment such as sprinklers if hazardous activities such as fuel transfer, welding, torch cutting, soldering, fuel tank repairs, and spray finishing are not conducted. While NFPA has no rulemaking authority on its own, its guidance is generally accepted as an industry standard and referenced by state and local governments when approving hangar construction.

“The new standard includes a performance-based design process and a risk-analysis process that provides alternative methods for FBOs and other aviation businesses…to protect against fire," said Michael France, NATA’s managing director of safety and training. “[The standard] then empowers the local fire marshal or municipality—whoever has authority—to be able to approve those [changes].”

Texas Airport Joins the Avfuel Network

City Terminal Flight Services, the lone FBO at New Braunfels National Airport (KBAZ), is the latest service provider to join the Avfuel-branded dealer network. Located midway between San Antonio and Austin, KBAZ recently had its designation changed from a regional to national airport, denoting its level of traffic from outside the region.

Its FBO on the southwest side of the field has been operated by the airport since 2015. It features a 5,000-sq-ft terminal with a lobby that doubles as a 40-seat conference room, kitchenette, pilot lounge, flight-planning area, and rental and crew cars.

The city-owned airport has 70,000 sq ft of hangar space, which is fully occupied, along with another 80,000 sq ft of privately-owned hangars that can offer transient shelter for aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650. As an Avfuel location, it now participates in the fuel company’s Avtrip customer loyalty program and contract fuel program. The facility offers both full and self-serve fueling options for jet-A and avgas, with its tank farm holding 27,000 gallons of jet fuel and half that amount of aviation gasoline.

“With the city’s growing population driving increased demand at the airport, we look forward to partnering with Avfuel to not only increase our business, but also facilitate some upcoming changes to the face of the airport and FBO,” said airport director Dr. Robert Lee.

Low-lead Avgas Approved for Cessna Piston Singles

Cessna’s piston singles—172 SkyHawk, 182 Skylane, and 206 Turbo Stationair HD—have been approved to use unleaded and/or low-lead avgas, Textron Aviation announced this week. Approved fuels for the 172 and 182 include 91-octane unleaded (91UL), 94UL, and 100VLL (very low lead), while the 206 is approved to run 100VLL.

Sister company Lycoming, whose engines power the three models, recently approved the use of the more environmentally friendly avgas formulas following the completion of a series of tests. It said the fuels are compatible with both new-production and legacy Cessna piston airplanes.

Use of the alternative fuels can begin once operators are compliant with Service Bulletin SEB-28-04 or MEB-28-01.

“Textron Aviation is committed to sustainability, and this announcement is an excellent opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to minimize their carbon footprint while continuing to enjoy the journey of flight,” said Textron Aviation v-p of piston and utility sales Chris Crow. “We have produced more than 75,000 of these three piston aircraft models, and this gives owners and operators around the world a chance to take action in reducing emissions.”

AIN Webinar: Proactive Decision-making with Datalink

Learn how to get the most out of your datalink—including PBCS monitoring, propulsion reporting, APU run-time data—and how next-gen notifications can drive proactive decisions and unmatched situational awareness, even when the aircraft is flying. Join us on November 30 at 1:30 p.m. ET for a webinar moderated by AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber that delves into these datalink topics with John Peterson, Adam Sheppard, and Sarah Weinhardt at Honeywell Aerospace’s offering management office, and Britton Wanick, v-p of marketing and partnerships at SmartSky Networks. Sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace.

Photo of the Week

Next stop: Hawaii. Pilot Mal Bowly snapped this sunset photo while flying his company’s Bombardier Challenger 350 from Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NFFN) to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (KPHNL). We love the sunset as much as we do your tropical travel locations, Mal. Thanks for sharing!

If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.