Gulfstream Aerospace once again was recognized by the Business Intelligence Group (BIG) with a Sustainability Leadership Award. BIG presents its Sustainability Awards annually to organizations that have made sustainability an integral part of their business practices. The awards recognize both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, as well as individuals, to help organizations gain exposure and reward their sustainability practices, according to BIG.
“For some ‘sustainability’ is an initiative, and for some, a mission,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer for BIG, as the awards were announced on Tuesday. “We are so proud to reward and recognize all of our winners and finalists who have made it their mission to help protect our environment.”
Gulfstream returned to the list this year after being honored in 2019. The Savannah, Georgia airframer has outlined numerous initiatives on the sustainability front—from using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its daily operations since 2016, including with the G700 flight-test program, to becoming the first business jet manufacturer to offer SAF to its customer base in 2019. It also launched a carbon-offset program that year and has invested in new green technologies and facilities.
Dassault Aviation has received a supplemental type certificate for Universal Avionics’ InSight flight deck upgrade on the Falcon 900B trijet. With the upgrade, 900B operators will have an increased level of situational awareness through InSight’s 3D synthetic vision system and 2D interactive digital maps.
The new system also offers higher brightness, large-format displays, and intuitive interfaces. Additionally, it increases available payload by more than 200 pounds, replacing the business jet’s higher-weight, original five cathode-ray-tube flight deck that had limited brightness and color rendering. The upgrade is compatible with the FANS 1/A+, CPDLC, and ATN B1 solutions provided by Dassault.
“The InSight Display System continues to gain significant momentum in the market, with nine STCs available or in advanced development, demonstrating the scalability of the system for business aviation,” said Universal Avionics CEO Dror Yahav. “Upcoming upgrades for enhanced flight vision systems and flight deck connectivity will bring the updated airplane into the front line of business jets.”
The business aviation community paid tribute to the passing of veteran business aviation marketing, communications, and publishing executive Gilbert Wolin. Called a “stalwart” and a “luminary” by his peers in the industry, Wolin died on Monday.
“Gil’s passing comes as a great loss for the business aviation community,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “He set an example as a friend, mentor, and industry champion. Through his words and actions, he made us better.”
NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna further called Wolin, who was a past board member of the organization, a “catalyst for change,” helping to amplify the industry’s voice on a range of priority issues.
The middle of three generations of aviation professionals, Wolin’s business aviation career spanned some 50 years and involved roles with numerous companies, from leading sales and marketing at NetJets predecessor Executive Jet Aviation to serving as v-p of marketing at the Combs Gates/AMR Combs FBO chain and president of Denver-based charter/management company Mayo Aviation.
His career then led him to a publisher’s role at Business & Commercial Aviation, A/C Flyer, and Show News magazines before he joined TAG Aviation USA as v-p of corporate communications. Wolin ultimately founded his own consultancy in 2009 and launched Business Aviation Advisor.
Along with NATA, he served on the Corporate Angel Network and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Association presidential advisory boards.
AviationManuals has developed an updated version of its aircraft minimum equipment list (MEL) guide. Revisions to the free guide are based on the analysis of hundreds of MELs that have been submitted to aviation authorities from around the globe.
The revised guide offers answers to common questions regarding MELs such as regulatory requirements, key elements of MELs, revisions, and the difference between a master MEL and a MEL.
“By working closely with operators and regulatory authorities we are able to discover common trends and pitfalls when it comes to MELs,” said AviationManuals CEO Mark Baier. “We have shared some of the key findings in this latest update.”
These trends and pitfalls are encompassed in a new section developed for the revised guide. They include proper referencing of other manuals and documents within a MEL, as well as demonstrating the importance of ensuring the equipment noted in the MEL is accurate.
SmartSky demonstrates the power of its nationwide network to customers, network density and patented technology shine
July 28, SmartSky announced its network is live nationwide. Coast- to-coast availability of its enhanced air-to-ground solution for the entire aircraft makes connecting to what’s most important as effortless at 35,000 ft in the air as it is on the ground. Read more to see what enables SmartSky's unprecedented performance in the sky.
With the private jet industry in Europe hearing the rumblings of possible government regulation, including increased taxation or even outright bans, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) argues that such measures could have a deleterious effect on aviation’s growing sustainability efforts.
In a newly-released statement, the organization noted that business aviation has always been in the vanguard of adopting innovative, more efficient technologies. Further, it has been committed to reducing the environmental impact of its aircraft and operations since 2009.
The sector goes through a continuous cycle of airframe and engine improvements, driven by research and development. Over the past 15 years, the level of emissions produced by business aircraft has decreased on average by 36 percent, EBAA stated. In terms of financial impact, business aviation in Europe—through operations, support, and manufacturing—employs approximately 400,000 people and contributes nearly €90 billion to the EU economy annually.
With their long heritage, European aviation businesses are advancing sustainability goals through emerging technologies such as sustainable aviation fuel, electric and hydrogen propulsion, and power-to-liquid—vital research that EBAA said could be hampered if the sector was burdened.
Lastly, EBAA urged the EU and its member states to introduce and accept the Single European Sky (SES) platform, which has been stalled for two decades. Such a measure would be expected to reduce all aviation emissions in Europe by 10 percent.
West Star Aviation is now one of only three source locations in the U.S. to complete the Williams International service bulletin for the repair of the intermediate pressure compressor rotor. The MRO is offering this repair at its St. Louis Regional Airport (KALN) facility in East Alton, Illinois.
According to West Star, induced cracking and blade displacement can occur on the FJ44-4A engine, which powers the Cessna Citation CJ4, as the rotor ages because of a machining issue during manufacturing. That’s based on the occurrence of this issue on a “small number” of the engines. Loss of blades in this manner can cause noise, vibration, or changes to the operating parameters of the engine.
West Star said it has received in-depth training and acquired specialized equipment to offer this service to Citation operators. The repair takes about five days depending on vibration tests and other scheduled maintenance.
“We were approached by Williams International through a joint venture and are pleased to be able to offer this special service to our valued customers that are looking for a facility to complete the repair,” said Pat Welch, West Star's program manager at KALN.
Headset manufacturer Lightspeed today announced its newest headset, the Delta Zulu, which is the first of the Oregon company’s new line of “safety wearables.” Not just an active noise-canceling (ANR) headset, Delta Zulu adds new safety sensor capability and audio equalization to improve cockpit audio for pilots with hearing loss. Delta Zulu is priced at $1,099 and will begin shipping later this month.
The first sensor incorporated into the headset is Lightspeed’s Kanari “smart alert technology” for measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) levels. The headset’s audible alerts warn when it detects CO above caution and critical levels (10 to 50 and 50 to 100 ppm, respectively).
With the HearingEQity audio equalization system, pilots can use the Delta Zulu headset and app on the ground to run through an automated 12-frequency hearing test. Once completed, the audio equalization system sets the hearing level in each ear cup “to create your individual hearing profile to compensate for any hearing variations between ears,” according to Lightspeed.
The new headset is available with plugs in dual general aviation, Lemo panel power, and U-174 configurations. It also comes with a universal accessory connector plug with connections for USB-A and -C, 3.5mm, and Apple Lightning.
The included lithium-ion battery lasts about 30 hours on a charge. AA batteries can also run the Delta Zulu headset for 15 to 20 hours.
Airbus Helicopters has contracted with operator HeliDax to support its fleet of 36 H120 light singles via the OEM’s new HCare Classics by-the-hour product support program for out-of-production helicopters. HCare Classics can be tailored to customer-specific needs, including obsolescence monitoring and management, spare parts support, and maintenance planning.
Airbus shut down H120 production in 2017 after approximately 700 were built. Today there are more than 2,000 legacy Airbus helicopters in service at approximately 750 operators worldwide. Besides the H120, this list also includes the Dauphin, Puma, and Gazelle and account for 15 percent of the flight hours generated by the Airbus Helicopters fleet.
HeliDax is based within the French Army Aviation’s school in Dax, France, and is a subsidiary of DCI Group. Since 2008, HeliDax has used the helicopter to provide basic and advanced training to the French and Belgian armed forces and the French Gendarmerie and has maintained an H120 availability level of 100 percent, accumulating 246,000 hours of flight time and as many as 22,000 flight hours per year.
Requires revising the existing airplane flight manual to provide procedures for failed extension of inboard slats and flight crew indication during landing. Prompted by a report of a failed extension of inboard slats during the landing phase that was not indicated to the flight crew by the crew alerting system.
Supersedes but retains requirements of AD 2022-05-13, which mandated temporary revisions into the airplane flight manual and quick reference handbook that modify procedures for windshield heat operation until the affected windshield assemblies are replaced on certain HondaJets. Updated AD was prompted by typographical errors found in certain document numbers specified in the preamble and in certain paragraphs of regulatory information in AD 2022-05-13.
Requires amending the existing airplane flight manual, installing improved air data computers and a detachable configuration module, and revising the existing instructions for continued airworthiness. Prompted by findings of altimetry system errors in the air data computers and standby instrument systems.
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