Aviation International News
June 2016
PUBLICATIONS Vol. 48 No. 6 $9.00
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Industry embraces Part 23 rewrite; concerns remain by Kerry Lynch
The PC-24, seen here winging its way over Geneva, was one of the more anticipated participants at EBACE, held late last month in the Swiss city. Pilatus expects to earn EASA and FAA type certification for the utility twinjet next year.
In a rarity for an FAA rulemaking, the leaders of nine associations collectively wrote the agency strongly praising its proposed rewrite of small aircraft certification rules, saying the effort will ensure a brighter future for the community. The association leaders also stressed the importance of the agency moving ahead as expeditiously as possible. But not all commenters completely embraced the new direction for Part 23 certification. The NTSB urged caution, saying the FAA must ensure that an adequate level of safety is met. In March the FAA released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would overhaul Part 23 certification standards, making them more performance-based and less prescriptive. The NPRM would enable use of international aviation community consensus standards, rather than solely FAA-driven requirements, and would eliminate current weight and propulsion divisions of Part 23 in favor of a system of levels based Continues on page 46 u
Textron Aviation firms up single-engine turboprop plans by Matt Thurber Textron Aviation recently unveiled the cabin mockup for its single-engine turboprop (SETP) to journalists visiting Wichita and released some more refined specifications and other details. The company revealed last month at EBACE that it has secured orders for the aircraft. Textron has been showing the mockup to potential customers for months and recently released a drawing highlighting the low-wing, T-tail configuration, complete with a large cargo door. At last year’s NBAA Convention, Textron had said that the SETP, which has not yet received an official name, would offer speed of more than 280 knots and range of at least 1,500 nm. Textron also selected GE Aviation’s new advanced turboprop engine, which also has no name yet, to power the SETP. In the Textron Aviation application,
the engine will deliver 1,240 shp, driving a 105-inch diameter, five-blade, composite, fully feathering and reversible propeller made by Textron property McCauley. The avionics will be Garmin’s touchscreencontrolled G3000 suite. Textron Aviation will offer the SETP for an introductory price of $4.5 million (2016 $), and it is taking orders now. The refined performance figures for the all-metal design include range of 1,600 nm and maximum speed of 285 knots. In addition to the cargo door, a forward cabin entry door measuring 24 inches wide by 59 inches tall will provide access on the forward left side of the fuselage. The cargo door measures 59 inches tall by 53 inches wide. “Both of those are larger than any of the existing products in this space today,” said Michael Thacker, senior vice
president of engineering. The competing products include Daher’s TBM series and the Pilatus PC-12. The PC-12’s cargo door is 53 inches tall by 52 inches wide. The SETP measures 48 feet nine inches nose to tail, with wingspan 54 feet three inches and tail height 15 feet two inches. By comparison, the PC-12NG is 47 feet three inches long, has a wingspan of 53 feet four inches and tail height of 14 feet. The TBM 930, the latest model in the TBM series, has a length of 35 feet one inch, wingspan just over 42 feet and height of 14 feet four inches. Other SETP specifications include a maximum altitude of 31,000 feet with a cabin Continues on page 30 u
Bizav Engines Development work continues at both ends of the power spectrum, while OEMs also work to meet constantly changing rules for noise and emissions. Page 20
Charter and Frax Flexjet to operate in Europe The fractional provider will begin offering intra-European flights by year-end, beginning with a fleet of Nextant 400XTi light jets. Larger aircraft will follow at some point. page 4
Rotorcraft Stumbling OGP market takes its toll One offshore operator announced bankrupcty while several others posted losses and indicated that the sagging energy market could necessitate a fleet rationalization. page 53
Safety Bizav not ready for Li-ion Despite their growing popularity in other segments, lithium-ion batteries have not yet gained acceptance among manufacturers of business aircraft. But change could be coming. page 38
Industry Deliveries slide in first quarter There are few bright spots in the GAMA numbers for the first quarter, with the business jet, turboprop and helicopter segments recording fewer deliveries than in the same period last year. page 6