Atlantic Aviation—the NBAA-BACE 2022 aircraft static display host at Orlando Executive Airport (KORL)—is partnering with industry sustainability solutions provider 4Air to offer a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) book-and-claim program for all jet-A purchased at its KORL or Orlando International Airport (KMCO) locations during the show.
Book-and-claim allows operators to purchase and receive sustainability credit for the use of SAF in locations where the fuel is not physically present. The actual fuel is then dispensed to another aircraft in an area where SAF is available, whose operator would not be able to claim the credit for its use.
According to Atlantic, it will cover the premium charged for the SAF fuel credits, which will be verified by 4Air. Through a SAF delivery receipt program developed in conjunction with NATA, customers will receive emissions reduction receipts as fuel is dispensed during the event.
“When we considered trucking SAF the roughly 2,800 miles from West Coast refineries to Orlando for the show, we realized doing so could be considered somewhat disingenuous, as any environmental benefit from the SAF received would be negatively offset by diesel emissions from the trucks that brought it,” said Brian Corbett, Atlantic’s chief commercial and sustainability officer. “Partnering with 4Air on this unique book-and-claim program provides a much more intelligent and effective solution.”
Former Dassault Falcon Jet (DFJ) CEO Jean “John" Rosanvallon was selected as the latest recipient of the NBAA John P. “Jack” Doswell Award in recognition of his “exceptional record of service to the industry,” the association announced today. One of the association’s highest honors, the Doswell Award will be presented to Rosanvallon during NBAA-BACE 2022, to be held October 18 to 20 in Orlando, Florida.
“Throughout his 47 years in business aviation, John Rosanvallon has exemplified the finest attributes of leadership and a passionate commitment to making our industry stronger and safer,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said in announcing the award.
NBAA noted Rosanvallon has had numerous contributions to the industry through roles as a member of NBAA’s Advisory Council, as well as on the boards for GAMA, Corporate Angel Network, French-American Chamber of Commerce, Wings Club of New York, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Rosanvallon’s career with Dassault Aviation began in France in 1975. Four years later, he first moved to Teterboro, New Jersey, as assistant to the president at DFJ. In the subsequent decades, he would hold positions of increasing responsibility in the U.S. and France. Ultimately becoming CEO of DFJ, he retired in 2019 and remains a senior advisor to the chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Lirio Liu, the executive director of the FAA’s aircraft certification service, lauded the potential benefits of fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control technology in future Part 27 rotorcraft at the Vertical Aviation Safety Team global conference in Hurst, Texas, on Tuesday. Liu called the future installation of FBW in light rotorcraft “a major advancement” that would enable safety-enhancing features, including flight envelope protection with implications to mitigate the leading causes of rotorcraft accidents including loss of control and inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions. “We have an effort underway to have fly-by-wire installations in Part 27 normal-category rotorcraft,” she said.
According to Liu, FAA policy going forward would recognize the increased certification of single-engine IFR rotorcraft, low-cost autopilots, and helicopter terrain avoidance and warning systems as the agency moves toward a “safety continuum concept” in certification approval.
Liu called on the industry to adopt more rotorcraft safety enhancements on a voluntary basis and praised the work of the industry in helping to reduce the fatal accident rates for air ambulance and utility helicopter operations since 2019. However, she said the climbing fatal accident rates for personal helicopter and firefighting flights remain a “concern.”
She also expressed confidence that the U.S. fatal helicopter rate, which has “remained stubbornly steady,” would see mitigation with the adoption of new technology and the increased use of safety management systems. “But it takes time,” Liu said.
The Queensland Police Service has awarded Textron Aviation a contract for five Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprops that will be delivered through 2023. To be based in Brisbane, Australia, the King Airs will be equipped with heavy-weight cargo doors and extended-range options to support the service’s law-enforcement missions. They also will have gravel landing protection kits and be configured in a high-density seat transport configuration, according to the Wichita-based airframer.
“We’re honored the Queensland Police Service has chosen the Beechcraft King Air to support their law-enforcement mission,” said Textron Aviation v-p of special-missions sales Bob Gibbs. “The King Air continues to be selected for a wide range of special-mission roles around the world due to the aircraft’s capabilities and reliability.”
Since 1964, more than 7,700 King Airs have been delivered to customers around the world, with the fleet surpassing 62 million flight hours. The King Air 360 is the latest variant of the turboprop twin.
Robinson Helicopter has received FAA certification for its night-vision-goggle (NVG) compatible configuration on the R66 Police helicopter. The Florida Polk County Sheriff Office’s (PCSO) second R66 Police helicopter is fully NVG compatible and served as the test bed for certification. That aircraft was delivered to the PCSO on September 30, and a third NVG-compatible R66 Police helicopter is slotted for delivery to the department in January.
PCSO air support flies on average 1,100 hours each year. Centrally located between Orlando and Tampa, the department provides air support for every law enforcement agency in its 2,000-sq-mi county, as well as surrounding counties. Much of the terrain consists of lakes and flatlands with little to no illumination at night.
For compatibility, the turbine helicopter’s interior and exterior lighting along with the aircraft’s instruments and avionics were evaluated to certify the helicopter for operation day or night, with or without the use of NVGs. PSCO’s R66s are also equipped with a Wescam MX-10 EO/IR imaging system and an HD infrared sensor, Spectrolab’s SX-7 Starsun searchlight system, Aerocomputer’s UC-6000 digital mapping system, and Garmin G500H 1060 TXi display with synthetic vision technology.
The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University unveiled its Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (Atlas) and Solvay joint manufacturing innovation center at a grand opening ceremony yesterday at NIAR’s south campus facility at Air Capital Flight Line in Wichita.
At the joint center, companies can fabricate aircraft structures such as wings and fuselages at a low cost using new technologies. Companies can test ideas and innovative structures in real-time at the center with the assistance of Solvay and NIAR engineers. The center’s aim is to increase the adoption of composites in aerospace while enabling companies to increase their performance and efficiency.
“Our partnership with NIAR through this joint manufacturing innovation center is an important milestone in Solvay’s ambition to help key customers across the United States advance the future of aerospace and defense,” said Carmelo Lo Faro, president of Solvay’s materials segment. “Here, we can explore the advantages of new composite material forms with the latest manufacturing technologies to create a lighter, safer, and more sustainable aircraft of the future.”
Atlas was established by NIAR in 2019 and has grown to employ more than 100 research engineers and student technicians working from more than 150,000 sq ft of facilities.
The decision of the European Union’s Clean Aviation Program to award more than €700 million in research funding comes as welcome news to manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce and its partners. Following the evaluations of the first call for proposals and a successful grant process, Rolls-Royce expects to be able to move forward on several programs, including three in which it will be the lead coordinator.
The Hydrogen Engine Architecture Virtually Engineered Novelly (Heaven) project will look to develop the company’s UltraFan design for future civil aviation opportunities and provide a platform to integrate hydrogen and hybrid-electric powered propulsion. A similar program, Hybrid Electric Propulsion System for Regional Aircraft (He-Art) from a consortium of companies based in 10 EU countries, will focus on demonstrating technologies to ground test a hybrid-electric thermal turboprop on the path to creating an optimized hybrid propulsion system for future regional aircraft.
The final program, Cavendish—for Consortium for the Advent of Aero-engine Demonstration and Aircraft Integration Strategy With Hydrogen—will involve partners from Brazil and six European countries to integrate liquid hydrogen systems into a modern engine for ground testing.
Alan Newby, the engine maker’s director of aerospace technology and future programs noted, “Rolls-Royce is focused on advancing sustainable power and propulsion systems, and this will build on our existing expertise to help accelerate the technological breakthroughs that could help deliver net-zero carbon by 2050.”
Sustainability Question of the Week
Sponsored by
Besides purchasing sustainable aviation fuel, what are some other methods to reduce aviation activities’ carbon footprint?
A. Purchasing carbon offsets
B. Making operational improvements or infrastructure upgrades
C. Replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient models
Citing industry data, Airbus Corporate Jets sees the U.S. as a target-rich market for its ACJ TwoTwenty, the bizliner version of the Airbus A220 regional jet. According to Airbus’s analysis of JetNet data, the U.S. holds 59.4 percent market share—5,482 out of 9,223 globally—of heavy business jets, meaning large-cabin and long-range aircraft.
“The U.S. dominates the global heavy private jet market, and we expect this market to enjoy strong growth as the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the country grows and large corporations increase their use of business aviation,” said Airbus Corporate Jets v-p of commercial for North America Sean McGeough. “With our ACJ TwoTwenty, which offers unbeatable comfort with the strongest economics in the market, we are well positioned to capitalize on this growth.”
The first completed TwoTwenty, which the company bills as an “extra-large business jet,” is expected to enter service later this year. Airbus Corporate Jets claims that the TwoTwenty offers better economics and reliability at the same price as current-production ultra-long-range business jets. Further, it said the bizliner “occupies the same parking space as competing business jets and can take off from the same airports, but its operating costs are one-third less.”
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
AINalerts is a publication of AIN Media Group, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
.png){kind=small}
