Garmin, SD Top AIN’s Avionics Product Support Survey
Garmin held the lead in the 2019 AIN Avionics Product Support Survey’s Flight Deck Avionics segment, logging an overall average rating of 8.5 (out of a possible 10), up 0.1 from the company's first-place finish last year. AIN readers gave Garmin top scores in six of the seven individual categories rated: parts availability (8.8), cost of parts (7.8), AOG response (8.4), technical manuals (8.3), technical reps (8.4), and overall product reliability (8.9). It scored 8.5 for warranty fulfillment, just below the 8.6 earned in this category by BendixKing, Collins, and Universal Avionics.
In a tie for second place were Honeywell’s BendixKing division, Collins Aerospace, and Universal Avionics with an overall score of 7.9, followed by Honeywell at 7.8. BendixKing received a large bump in its overall average rating for 2019, up 0.4 from last year, while Universal maintained parity and Collins and Honeywell each slid by 0.1.
In the cabin electronics segment, Satcom Direct maintained its first-place position from last year with an 8.4 overall rating, followed closely by Gogo Business Aviation at 8.3. Gulfstream’s Cabin Management product line took third place at 7.9, with Collins Aerospace and Honeywell tied for fourth at 7.8, followed by Lufthansa Technik at 7.4.
After Hurricane Dorian pummeled the Bahamas and as it threatens the East Coast of the U.S., NBAA has activated its Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) program. It consists of a database of business aircraft operators who are part of disaster-response mobilization efforts, ready to assist with the transport of emergency supplies and other needs as the storm passes.
Basic information from the database is provided to the organizations that are coordinating relief efforts, as business aircraft are uniquely suited to providing a first response to natural disasters and other emergencies, due to their innate ability to operate on short notice, into outlying airports with small runways, and sometimes unpaved airstrips or even onto roads, reaching places that airliners and at times even land vehicles can’t. Some charter operators that operate regularly to the Bahamas are already waiting for clearance to take off with loads of humanitarian supplies.
For aircraft operators in the region looking to relocate ahead of the storm, Provo Jet Center on Turks and Caicos announced it has waived its parking fees for up to five nights with no minimum fuel uplift until the all-clear is given in Florida and other affected states. It has also partnered with a local hotel to offer special accommodation rates.
Russian Helicopters demonstrated three versions of the Mi-38, including baseline for 30 passengers, military for 20 armed soldiers, and VIP for eight travelers (up to 11 optionally), at the recent MAKS airshow in Moscow. The manufacturer characterizes the latter as “the first serial example with higher comfort cabin.” MAKS 2019 represented the first public demonstration of the VIP model, called the Saloon.
The Mi-38 won type certification in December 2015, according to which this helicopter with a 15.6-tonne gross weight can carry a five-tonne cargo over a distance of up to 1,300 km. Two years later, the helicopter won a supplement permitting passenger transportation.
At MAKS 2019, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency “Rosaviatsiya” awarded the manufacturer a document approving “major change to the type certificate” for the VIP version. The civil aviation authority also issued approval for installation of reworked air conditioning system for the passenger and cargo cabin.
Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Boginsky said that the helicopter would go to a Russian buyer soon after the show, adding, "We also expect foreign customers to turn up.”
With a “No Deal” Brexit looming and the UK’s chances of backing out of the European Union (EU) at the end of October higher than ever, Martin Fiddler Aviation has urged business aircraft owners to ensure they have planned for possible value added tax (VAT) issues relating to aircraft operating into the EU.
“The approval of a suspension of Parliament by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on August 28 will be seen by many as the final step for the UK to leave the European Union on October 31 without a deal in place for future trade and customs relations,” said the UK/Isle of Man-based business aircraft import specialist.
Under “possible outcomes,” Martin Fiddler’s analysis—released in summary form to the industry last week—states: “At the time of writing there is no agreement in place to determine what the status of goods (including business aircraft) imported into the EU before October 31, 2019, will be."
“If the aircraft regularly flies within the territories of the UK and EU (i.e. point-to-point within each territory), it is highly likely that the aircraft will need to be imported into each area,” according to the company. However, if a grandfathering arrangement is agreed, then dual importation will become an issue for imports only after October 31.
Volocopter and its ground infrastructure partner SkyPorts next month will open what they claim is the world’s first vertiport for eVTOLs. Germany-based eVTOL developer Volocopter said the so-called Voloport will open in Singapore on October 21. Hardware for the vertiport is being manufactured in China and will be shipped to Singapore at the end of this month for final assembly at the downtown Marina Bay site.
The vertiport will be used for live flight trials for planned on-demand air-taxi services with Volocopter’s 2X prototype aircraft. The partners are hoping to launch commercial services in Singapore from 2022. The opening of the new facility coincides with the 2019 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress, which is being hosted by Singapore.
Today at the Global Urban Air Summit at Farnborough in the UK, SkyPorts managing director Duncan Walker said the support of Singapore’s civil aviation authority, transport ministry, and economic development board has been critical in expediting the approval process for building the vertiport. He explained that his UK-based company is working to develop eVTOL ground infrastructure with several aircraft manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Last month, Volocopter announced the launch of its first series production eVTOL aircraft under the name VoloCity.
StandardAero Completes Viasat Satcom STC on Globals
MRO provider StandardAero secured supplemental type certification (STC) for installation of Viasat Ku, Ka, or Ku/Ka satcom equipment aboard Bombardier Global models. StandardAero’s organization delegation authorization team in Springfield, Illinois, completed the STC.
Global communications provider Viasat in October 2018 named StandardAero the exclusive distributor of its high-speed connectivity package, including Ka-band and dual-band Ka-/Ku-band equipment for all Bombardier Global Express, XRS, 5000, and 6000 aircraft. The agreement covered the Viasat shipset, radome, and supplemental type certificate.
“We believe this new system will give aircraft owners a competitive option for installation and service costs for their satcom needs,” said Jerry Sanders, director of avionics program management and business development for StandardAero Business Aviation. “This also represents another first of type, custom STC that StandardAero is known for providing to the market.”
AEA Revamps Online Jobs Board
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has launched a revamped online jobs board for its members in an effort to attract and retain avionics technicians, as well as related and complementary positions. “The need for technical talent continues to be an issue for AEA member repair stations and manufacturers,” AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson said. “The primary purpose of the new jobs board is to make it easier for AEA members to find their next avionics technician, quality manager, inspector, sales representative, or engineer.”
Searchable by keyword, company name, geographic location, and type of position, the jobs board allows AEA member companies to post open positions free of charge for 30 days. For positions that remain unfilled following the first 30 days, member companies are allowed to re-post the position, also at no cost.
“I strongly believe that avionics is the most exciting field in aviation, as it combines high-tech with modern airframes, advanced propulsion systems, and NextGen communication, navigation, and connectivity solutions,” Adamson added. “But with workforce retirements, competition from other high-tech industries, and a growing fleet, our industry is faced with the important challenge of recruiting and retaining the next generation of qualified aviation professionals.”
AeroMobil Set To Unveil 6.0 eVTOL Aircraft Design
Flying car developer AeroMobil is working on a new eVTOL aircraft design that would be the Slovakian company’s first flight-mode-only vehicle. Today at the Global Urban Air Summit in the UK, company executives told AIN they expect to unveil a scaled model of the new AeroMobil 6.0 within a few months.
In December, AeroMobil started the type certification process for its 4.0 flying car under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s CS-23 regulations, and it aims to achieve a first flight with this design before year-end. It is also working on designs for a larger 5.0 model and aims to have a full-scale prototype built by 2025.
The company is now looking to accelerate development of the 6.0 model, perhaps in partnership with other companies. As it defines the aircraft design, it is considering the optimum range and payload capability among three possible performance bands: 30 km (one to two passengers); 30 to 70 km (two passengers); or 70 km (four passengers).
AeroMobil is working with an unidentified leading car manufacturer to develop cabin interiors for both its flying cars and the planned eVTOL aircraft. It believes that customer acceptance of both modes of transportation will not be high if cabin comfort is no better than that available in existing light general aviation aircraft.
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People in Aviation
Global communications provider OneWeb appointed Ben Griffin v-p for commercial aviation, focusing on in-flight connectivity solutions through a network that uses low-earth orbit satellites. Griffin previously spent eight years with Inmarsat and has 20 years of aviation experience overall.
FlightSafety International named Daniel Greenhill director of sales for unmanned systems training. Most recently director of sales for Gulfstream training programs, Greenhill has served with FlightSafety since 2004 in a number of roles, overseeing various aspects of marketing, training, center management, business development, and recruiting.
The Av8 Group added Jeff Favati to its sales team as sales manager. Favati has more than 25 years of aviation industry experience, including MRO and part sales, operations and component repairs management, along with airline operations.
Millennium International Avionics hired Doug Miller as a senior software engineer, responsible for product innovation with a focus on market growth initiatives. Miller previously was a senior engineer for IntelliFarms and has 15 years of technology industry experience.
Kadex Aero Supply brought Colin Mann on board as regional sales manager (West) in Calgary. Mann has 20 years of experience in aviation sales, marketing, aviation management, aviation maintenance, training and development, and parts distribution, and most recently was director of maintenance for Avmax Aviation services.
Aircraft acquisitions and brokerage specialist Soljets added Michael Parker to its sales team as executive sales director. Parker brings more than two decades of experience to his new role, formerly holding roles with Cessna Aircraft, HondaJet Northwest, and Keystone Aviation, as well as serving as a charter pilot of both turboprop and jet aircraft.
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