IS&S Gets FAA Nod for Eclipse SVS/Autothrottle Upgrade

Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) has received FAA approval for its synthetic vision system installation and autothrottle upgrade package for Eclipse 500/550s with software versions 2.7.8 and 2.7.10, the Exton, Pennsylvania-based company announced today. Notably, this installation marks IS&S’s first upgrade made available directly to Eclipse owners and involves “substantial” pre-orders.

The upgrade package allows synthetic vision to be presented on the Eclipse 500/550’s primary flight displays, while the autothrottle is made operational down to approach minimums. Further, the autothrottle upgrade improves the shutoff switch, which is now within the pilot's direct control instead of on the landing gear select switch.

In addition, the package also includes software upgrades that provide improved presentation of performance and situational data displayed on cockpit instruments, as well as on the pilot’s EFB. They include map airspace labeling upgrade, Ethernet initialization upgrade, EFB rendering performance upgrade, fly by/fly over logic upgrade, and 2.7.8 software upgrade to 2.7.10.

“IS&S is excited to support Eclipse owners and operators with this upgrade and greatly appreciates their continued enthusiasm and input,” said IS&S director of autothrottle programs Tom Grunbeck.

Following Sale, Gogo Looks To Focus Solely on Bizav

Wireless connectivity provider Gogo will focus exclusively on business aviation following completion of a deal it announced late yesterday to sell its commercial aviation business to Intelsat for $400 million in cash. Proceeds from the deal will be used to shore up its net debt position and invest in new services in the “attractive and underpenetrated” business aviation market, including Gogo 5G, according to the Broomfield, Colorado-based company.

“This transaction creates a stronger and more focused Gogo, with the singular strategic imperative of serving the business aviation market with the best inflight connectivity and entertainment products in the world,” said Gogo president and CEO Oakleigh Thorne. “The BA market continues its sharp recovery and strong demand growth trajectory, and our BA segment is exceptionally well positioned to drive long-term value creation in that industry.”

Under the definitive agreement, Intelsat plans to finance the transaction with cash on hand and borrowing from its $1 billion debtor-in-possession credit facility. Intelsat, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in May, also has received approval to buy Gogo’s commercial aviation business from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond division.

Gogo’s board of directors has approved the sale. It is expected to close before the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Lufthansa Aviation Training Adds First Helo Sim

Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) has received German civil aviation authority Luftfahrt-Bundesamt approval for its first helicopter full-flight simulator—a level-D trainer for the Airbus H145/135. Now available for training, the simulator joined LAT’s training fleet at its Frankfurt facility and is only one of four full-flight simulators currently in operation for the H145.

Manufactured by Reiser Simulation and Training, the simulator can display numerous realistic landing scenarios with moving objects at different locations such as airports, hospitals, ships, oil platforms, or confined terrain. High resolution of visuals enables the depiction of flight procedures with night vision equipment. It has an interchangeable flight deck to simulate both the H145/135 types and comes with a briefing station. Plans call to add a third crewmember station with virtual reality technology and virtual helicopter hoist operation in early 2021.

The addition of the H145/135 simulator marks an expansion for LAT in the helicopter training segment, a move made in cooperation with H145 HEMS operator DRF Luftrettung. “With its great experience in HEMS missions, the DRF Luftrettung is a strong partner in pilot training and further education,” said Tiziana Heilig, managing director and CFO of LAT. “This is also beneficial for our customers—all procedures that had to be flown in real life in the helicopter so far can now be simulated in the full-flight simulator.”

Surf Air Mobility Lands $200M IPO-linked Funding Boost

Surf Air Mobility, which was formed alongside Surf Air’s acquisition of aviation marketplace BlackBird earlier this year with the aim to accelerate zero-emission flight, today announced a $200 million investment commitment from Luxembourg-based Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM) to take the company public. The $200 million commitment comes with an advance of $50 million, immediately available on the first day of trading; further tranches can then be drawn by the company over a three-year span.

According to Surf Air Mobility, proceeds from the investment will be used to develop and acquire leading technologies in the zero-emission space. Funding from GEM will allow the company to continue adding organic growth, executing strategic new initiatives, and acquiring leading technology players in the space, said Surf Air Mobility CEO Sudhin Shahani.

Fred Reid, former global head of transportation for Airbnb, has also been named Surf Air Mobility’s new chief strategy officer. Previously, Reid guided the launch of Virgin America as founding CEO, served as president and COO for both Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa, and headed fractional provider Flexjet. Before his stint at Airbnb, Reid was the president of eVTOL startup Cora Aircraft (now Wisk).

Surf Air Mobility is also adding two members to the company’s board: Carl Albert, the former owner of Fairchild Dornier, and Edward Mady, the former head of Dorchester Group North America.

Fly Louie Alliance Grows Despite Covid Headwinds

Fly Louie Alliance has signed up more than 140 operators and 1,000 aircraft to the independent charter network in less than a year, it announced today. This is expected to increase the private charter network's purchasing power as it adds more members and services. Unveiled last fall, the alliance has no enrollment fees or fuel purchase minimums.

Under its fuel savings program, total fuel sales continue to grow, despite a slowdown caused by Covid-19. Fuel sales have since recovered, increasing 41 percent in the third quarter compared with the second quarter. A new partnership with Avfuel will expand the fuel savings program with access to the fuel provider’s preferred FBO network. Alliance members pay better-than-contract fuel rates at more than 40 FBOs across the U.S., with an average savings of 40 cents a gallon compared with their next best option.

In June, the alliance announced a crew travel program with Hotel Connections, offering up to 40 percent savings on hotel stays at more than 1.6 million locations. Also in the offing is a fleet scheduling program called Connect that is in early testing.

“We have only just scratched the surface of what’s possible in creating value for our members,” said Fly Louie CEO Julia Takeda. “The scale of the alliance creates opportunities for more efficient fleet scheduling, employee healthcare and benefits management, and pilot recruitment.”

German Company Receives Phenom Training Approval

Bremen, Germany-based aviation company Atlas Air Service is now offering type rating training courses for the Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 light jets. “We are now the only all-around service provider for Embraer Phenom jets, worldwide,” said COO Gregor Bremer. “Our complete offer includes pilot training, aircraft sales, management, charter, maintenance, and repair.”

An approved training organization by German civil aviation authority Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, Atlas is also approved for type training on the Cessna Citation 525 series and the Pilatus PC-6, as well as for differences training, single-pilot to multi-pilot ops, and transitions between the Garmin G1000 and G3000.

“We have been known for decades for the professional training of pilots and as close cooperation partner of Lufthansa Aviation Training in Bremen,” explained Bremer, adding the company, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, operates Embraer Phenoms and Legacys in its own fleet, along with Citations. “The type-rating training course can be completed by experienced pilots in the shortest possible time, either at their home base or here in Bremen.”

Massachusetts Airport Wraps Up Runway Rehab Project

Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF), located in central Massachusetts, has completed a rehabilitation of its secondary runway. Runway 15/33 was last reconstructed back in 1970 and, according to airport manager Chris Willenborg, the nearly $8 million project was planned nearly a decade before funding was secured. FAA AIP grants covered approximately $6.8 million of the cost, with the state DOT and the city-owned airport paying the remainder.

Work began in April on the runway, which was ground down, repaved, grooved, and marked. The 5,000-foot runway was originally 100 feet wide, including paved shoulders, but the completed project saw it narrowed to 75 feet to meet FAA specifications. The work also saw the runway lighting upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs.

“The reconstruction of Runway 15-33 was an important airport infrastructure improvement project at Westfield-Barnes Regional that was completed with the collaboration of the FAA, MassDOT, and city of Westfield,” Willenborg told AIN. “Not only is BAF an essential transportation asset to the region but it is an economic engine with over 2,100 direct/indirect jobs with an economic output of over $236 million per year.”

The project was completed as the airport was experiencing a strong upswing in operations following the Covid-induced decline in March and April. For July, Willenborg said the Springfield-area gateway saw a 43 percent increase in tempo over the previous year.

MD530F Helicopter Gets Gross Weight Increase

MD Helicopters (MDHI) has received FAA approval to increase the MD530F’s mtow from 3,100 to 3,350 pounds. This increase affects only internal weight of the light turbine single helicopter; mtow with external loads remains at 3,750 pounds.

The mtow upgrade kit from MDHI includes new rotorcraft flight manual supplement assigned to the aircraft serial number and a “VNE IAS” placard reflecting the increased mtow for display in the aircraft.

MDHI submitted certification paperwork for the increase to the FAA in January 2020 after flight testing concluded that the aircraft met all performance and handling, acoustic, flight load, and height velocity tests, which were performed at different pressure altitudes, temperatures, and wind conditions.

“When our customers asked for more versatility in this workhorse, we listened,” said Nick Nenadovic, the manufacturer's v-p of aftermarket and customer support. “The MD530F is a favorite among law enforcement agencies and utility operators around the world thanks to its unrivaled maneuverability and hot-high capabilities.”