In a historic first, a fully electric-powered Robinson R44 helicopter flew from one airport to another. The 21-nm flight took place on Saturday at 11 a.m. local time from Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, California, to Palm Springs International Airport. The electric R44 flight was flown by OC Helicopters CEO Ric Webb and Martine Rothblatt, CEO of Lung Biotechnology parent company United Therapeutics.
Tier 1 Engineering and Lung Biotechnology are collaborating on the electric R44 project. The plan is to use electric-powered helicopters and eVTOLs for delivery of transplantable organs on short-distance flights from airports to hospitals after the organs are delivered by electric and sustainable-fuel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to airports near hospitals.
This version of the electric R44 is the third-generation design of the R44 electric-propulsion system. It features a quick-swap battery back that can be changed in 15 minutes or charged in one hour. Plans call for FAA certification of the R44 electric-propulsion system and development of “newer energy cells” that will extend range to hundreds of miles, according to Rothblatt.
“Lung Biotechnology is committed to delivering life-saving transplantable organs with a zero-carbon footprint,” she said. “It is fully possible to save patients’ lives while ensuring a livable planet. Today’s historic inter-city electric helicopter flight demonstrates that many organ transport distances are doable with electric aircraft using today’s technology.”
CAE and Clay Lacy Aviation have forged a two-way organizational cross-training and job-sharing agreement. Under the two-year deal, CAE instructors will be trained to company standards enabling them to fly with Clay Lacy, while Clay Lacy senior pilots will be approved to conduct training and check flights for CAE. The companies said the move is “an innovative solution to the increasing pilot demand while enhancing pilot training and overall operational safety.”
The agreement will enable select CAE instructors to fly for Clay Lacy while enjoying the stability of a home-based instructor position as their primary employment, as well as maintain familiarity with everyday operations. In return, select Clay Lacy pilots will conduct training and check flights on behalf of CAE, while maintaining their primary employment at Clay Lacy.
Meanwhile, CAE said it is expanding its network to be closer to where its customers operate their aircraft. It cited the Las Vegas center, which opened two weeks ago with Gulfstream G650 training using a full-flight simulator (FFS). Other training operations ramping up in Las Vegas include FFS training in the G550 in the coming weeks, followed by the Bombardier Global 7500, Embraer ERJ-145, and Phenom 300 by year-end, as well as Gulfstream IV training early next year.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and business aircraft trip-support companies are warning business jet passengers and operators of the need to plan in advance of the FIFA World Cup, which starts in Doha on November 20 and runs to December 18. According to trip-support firm UAS, around 1.2 million fans are expected to travel to Qatar to attend matches throughout the tournament. “Demand for private jets and charter flights is seeing a sharp surge as the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar approaches,” QCAA said.
“The volume of air traffic [will] put enormous pressure on slot availability at Hamad International Airport (OTHH) and Doha International Airport (OTBD), as well as hotel room availability in Doha and the surrounding areas,” said UAS operations director James Collas. “World Cup ticket holders don’t have any time to waste to plan their World Cup experience. There are so many options that include direct operations to Qatar or travel via neighboring Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE.”
Tom Murphy, the head of FBOs and aircraft management specialist for Gama Aviation Sharjah, said private jets will have to pay $5,000 per slot at at OTHH and OTDB, while slot violations will carry penalties of up to $25,000 if turnaround times exceed 45 minutes. But he noted that Sharjah International Airport in nearby UAE is slot-free.
Elite Jets has begun a repainting project on its fleet of five Embraer twinjets, the Naples, Florida-based Part 135 operator announced last week. The new livery will mirror the company’s existing color palette and style, with the primary color of silver and black and yellow striping stretching from the aircraft belly to just below the windows.
In all, five aircraft will receive the new livery, with each of the airplanes—four Phenom 300s and one Legacy 500—taking about a month to complete. Constant Aviation in Sanford, Florida, is doing the painting. Elite Jets noted that it received all five aircraft fresh from the factory when it launched service in 2016.
“Many aircraft owners paint their jets every 10 to 15 years, but we didn’t want to wait that long,” said Elite Jets senior v-p Stephen Myers. “The Elite Jets brand is known for its attention to detail and refined excellence, and that includes the exterior of our jets. The outside matters as much as the inside.”
In addition to its Embraer fleet, Elite Jets manages a Gulfstream G550 and owns a Bell 407 helicopter, neither of which are included in the repainting project.
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has confirmed the latest appointments to its governing board of executive directors during a recent board meeting in Orlando, Florida. Ali Alnaqbi, founder and chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association, will serve as chairman of the IBAC governing board for a second term; Juergen Wiese, chairman of the European Business Aviation Association, will serve for a second term as vice chairman; and Cynthia De Oliveira, managing operations director at Lider Aviação and member of the Brazilian Association of General Aviation, will assume the role as treasurer from Sudhir Nayak of the Business Aircraft Operators Association of India.
“We continue IBAC governance with board executives that represent the global business aviation industry,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “I appreciate Ali Alnaqbi and Juergen Wiese for continuing their leadership roles on the governing board. Many thanks to Sudhir Nayak for his contributions over the last several years and his dedication to business aviation. IBAC welcomes Cynthia De Oliveira as the incoming treasurer and looks forward to working with her and the entire board over the next three-year term to meet the needs of a vibrant and growing industry.”
IBAC was established in 1981 and serves as an international voice for the business aviation community. Its governing board includes representatives from each of its 15 member associations across the globe.
Italy’s Carabinieri—the police branch of the military—has signed a deal with Leonardo Helicopters to acquire 20 AW119Kxs between 2023 and 2026. The single-engine helicopters will be assembled at Leonardo’s Vergiate facility near Milan.
These helicopters are part of its Air Services fleet modernization program and will be used for a variety of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, environmental monitoring and protection, disaster relief, and firefighting missions from 18 bases across the country. They will be equipped with a Garmin G1000H cockpit featuring wide color screens, synthetic vision, helicopter terrain awareness warning systems, and satellite navigation/moving maps.
Additional features will include HD cameras and electro-optical systems, cargo hook, mission console with datalink, hyperspectral system for environment monitoring, wire cutter, searchlight, and a Bambi Bucket. Provisions for a floating system and life raft and snow kit are also included.
“The introduction of the AW119Kx in the Carabinieri Air Service’s fleet ideally integrates the capabilities the operator already has chosen thanks to the AW139s and AW169s. The helicopters respond to the wide spectrum of the Air Service’s requirements,” said Leonardo Helicopters managing director Gian Piero Cutillo.
The AW119Kx’s primary assembly line is in Philadelphia. The helicopter can be equipped with both VFR and IFR avionics packages and features a cabin with seating for up to six passengers. More than 490 AW119s have been sold to date.
Honeywell has introduced a new and improved version of its Forge Flight Efficiency cloud-based platform. Renamed Honeywell Flight Efficiency, the system will allow users to make better decisions regarding their fuel efficiency by analyzing and simplifying streams of data coming from a wide range of sources.
Among its improvements are a new user interface, more scalable architecture, and advanced data analysis to help develop, implement, and measure programs that will help them reduce aircraft operating costs. In a single interface, the system offers in-air and on-ground solutions for flight operations, fuel managers, and maintenance personnel, alerting them to savings opportunities and improving workflow.
“This platform is aligned with the practical and immediate needs of our customers,” said Karen Miller, Honeywell Aerospace’s general manager for services and connectivity. “The aviation industry is facing unprecedented increases in fuel and other operating costs. It is imperative for everyone in the ecosystem to work together to reduce operating costs while also creating a more sustainable future for aviation.”
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
If an aircraft’s approach during the final approach segment becomes unstable below 1,000 feet above field elevation in IMC or below 500 feet above field elevation in VMC, it is recommended that:
A. The pilot flying adjusts the flight path to regain stabilization before reaching the threshold.
B. The crew executes an immediate go-around.
C. The pilot monitoring calls the deviation and, if needed, takes control to make the approach stable.
NATA has named former FAA senior official Alan Stephens v-p of regulatory affairs. He steps into the role held by John McGraw, who will continue as a senior advisor for the association with a focus on collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration.
“John McGraw’s achievements as NATA v-p of regulatory affairs over the past 10 years are impressive,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna, citing his work to ensure equitable access at airports, safeguard continued operations throughout the pandemic, and foster consensus charter training standards. “NATA’s staff and membership are grateful for John’s expertise, guidance, and continued efforts to produce progress through partnership.”
Stephens brings more than 40 years of aviation experience to his new role with NATA. Most recently, he was acting deputy director of the Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance in the FAA’s Flight Standards branch. In that role, he oversaw three divisions providing oversight for 33 Part 121 certificates.
He joined the agency in 2001 as an aviation safety inspector focused on avionics and subsequently held several inspector and management roles. A graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, Stephens holds a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and also served in enlisted and officer roles in the Tennessee Air National Guard from 1981 to his retirement in 2015.
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