NBAA Convention News 11-19-15 by Aviation International News

NOV. 19, 2015

THURSDAY

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LAS VEGAS

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NOV. 19, 2015

THURSDAY

AINONLINE.COM The static display will soon dissipate, as the NBAA circus folds its tent for another year. See you back in the sunshine in Orlando for 2016’s event, November 1-3.

LAS VEGAS

Eclipse 550 achieves European certification by James Wynbrandt One Aviation received EASA certification for its Eclipse 550 yesterday, clearing the way for sales of the light twinjet in the European Union and its use for air-taxi service there. The company (Booth C13216) has deposits from half a dozen European customers awaiting delivery pending certification. “Europe has a need for this kind of vehicle, with its range, low noise profile and cost of operation,” One Aviation CEO Alan Klapmeier told AIN. “If Europe didn’t exist, we’d have to create Europe so we’d have the perfect market for it.”

Deliveries will begin in January, according to Cary Winter, One Aviation’s executive vice president. The only changes required from U.S. production models are to “paint a couple of switches red and change the connector on the door switch,” he said. Aeris Aviation in the UK and Jet Lounge in the Netherlands are the current European distributors for the jet. Priced at $2.995 million, the six-place aircraft has a range of 1,125 nm, a 41,000-ft maximum

Continued on page 77 u

EMBRAER HOLDS THE RIGHT CARDS WITH MGM

BARRY AMBROSE

Embraer came up a winner at the new aircraft sales casino here in Las Vegas yesterday, inking a deal worth more than $200 million for letters of intent covering three Lineage 1000E large cabin and three midsize Legacy 500 business jets. The prospective buyer is MGM Resorts International, which plans to use the aircraft to fly its customers. The new Lineage has a range of 4,600 nm with eight passengers, giving it the ability to fly nonstop from Las Vegas to Dublin. It is equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls and can be fitted with optional autoland and an enhanced vision system. The Legacy 500 has a range of 3,125 nm with four passengers. “A vitally important element of our overall guest service is delivering a comfortable travel experience to some of our more important guests,” said MGM Resorts International chairman and CEO Jim Murren. “At the same time, we are also committed to the environment and improving our company’s operating performance. We believe this action, which replaces our older equipment, will provide an attractive return on investment and is consistent with our profit growth plan, which is geared toward improving our operating performance.” –M.H.

FBOs

ADS-B

Customer Opinion

Unmanned Aircraft

OEMs

Avfuel’s Newest Dealer

Problems Anticipated for Blocking

Business Jet Traveler Survey

U.S. Achieves Milestone

Gulfstream Shows G600 Cabin

Fort Wayne (Ind.) Aero Center is the latest FBO to join the Avfuel family. Due to open in January, the facilty will offer all the standard Avfuel benefits, including Avtrip Points. page 26

Privacy and security are concerns for aircraft operators in the face of ADS-B implementation. Unencrypted signals may be intercepted by unauthorized personnel. page 28

A recent survey by a sister AIN Publications magazine reveals operators’ attitudes toward their anticipated use of business aircraft in the coming year. page 42

An RTCA-supervised group of industry and government experts has been working on “detect and avoid” technology, and their efforts have led to an interim document. page 44

The airplane still hasn’t flown, but potential buyers of Gulfstream’s G600 long-range jet can sample the pleasures of the interior. A mock-up is on display at the aircraft static display. page 62

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YoPro event offers key advice for job seekers

good at, I have no idea what you are good at, and I don’t have the time to play psychologist,” noted Mark, putting himself in the place of a potential employer. Simply walking the show floor gives job seekers a taste of the variety of different career paths available in the industry. Not surprisingly, many of the questions from the college students during the interactive discussion revolved around how to land a job. Many of those present attended a young professionals reception the previous night, and Damato urged them to continue to cultivate relationships with members of the industry, perhaps in a mentoring relationship. The timetested networking holds true here, both in

CURT EPSTEIN

An NBAA 2015 panel discussion on Wednesday focused on helping young people consider options for joining the business aviation industry. Speakers included Brad Thress, Textron Aviation’s senior vice president of customer service, Jo Damato, NBAA’s director of educational development and strategy, Megan Barnes, vice president of the Paragon Aviation Group, and Robert Mark, a former commercial pilot and head of aviation media company CommAvia. Among the key points was that job seekers should engage in some self-assessment before hitting the job trail to determine their strengths in order to best “sell” themselves. “If you don’t know what you are

A panel here at NBAA 2015 tackled the multi-faceted topic of how to achieve employment and satisfaction in the business aviation industry. Panelists included, left-to-right: moderator Lowen Baumgarten; Jo Damato, NBAA director of educational development and strategy; Brad Thress, Textron Aviation senior v-p of customer service; Megan Barnes, v-p of Paragon Aviation; and Robert Mark, head of aviation media company CommAvia.

‘Dreams Soar’ global flight to promote women in aviation by Kerry Lynch Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is partnering with a 28-year-old alumna and graduate student on an around-theworld solo flight to promote women in aviation and careers focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Shaesta Waiz, the first civilian female certified pilot from Afghanistan, is planning a 90-day mission that would make her the youngest female to attempt the solo flight around the world. To begin on June 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Fla., the “Dreams Soar Global Solo Flight for STEM” mission will involve 27,318-nm, 33 stops, 18 countries and five continents. Waiz will fly the mission in a 2001 Beechcraft Bonanza modified with tip tanks. Waiz, born in a refugee camp in Afghanistan but raised in California after her family escaped the Afghan-Soviet war, has been coordinating with ICAO and the United Nations on the mission, which includes a week-long stop in her native country. The UN is helping with the arrangements for some of the locations. High Performance Aircraft is supplying the aircraft that is being ferried to the U.S. from Africa. Waiz, who has logged

NBAA

Convention News

by Curt Epstein

about 500 hours, has worked closely with the American Bonanza Society to familiarize herself with the aircraft and will begin training in the Bonanza at FlightSafety International in January. After that, she said she will have the Bonanza, N36ER, at her disposal to fly every day in preparation for the missions. “As a pilot, I have this passion for

learning about potential job openings as well as a means to get your resume on the top of the pile when it comes to filling it. The panel members stressed preparedness when it comes to the actual interview. Barnes suggested candidates drill themselves on common interview questions, while Damato added they should do research on the company and be ready to ask questions about their potential employer as they will likely get one shot to impress. The interview as well as most contacts with industry members, should be followed up with an email or even a handwritten note. While entry-level jobs may not be the ideal situation, Barnes recommends treating them as an opportunity to learn, and cautions against leaving them too soon, as that will present a red flag to a future employer. Thress recalls advice given to him during his U.S. Air Force service days, “to do the best job you can at whatever you do, and you will be recognized, and given more opportunities.” He mentioned that Textron Aviation hires heavily from its internship program, and the ones that stand out are the ones that do more with their opportunities than was expected. Above all, the panelists agreed a career in business aviation can be very hard and still fun. “The point is to have enthusiasm at what you do,” said Damato. o naviation that I want to share. But it’s more than that. I want to show women that they can succeed in anything–including flying around the world,” she said. Waiz already has begun her outreach, promoting STEM and discussing her mission in 12 states and six countries. She has teamed with other students and industry partners to establish a Facebook page, crowdfunding site and other outreach. Along with Embry-Riddle, Avfuel has committed to providing fueling and trip support and Beeline is providing technical support. She has lined up a number of other sponsors, such as Bose, the Florida Aviation Business Association and Dick and Betsy DaVos family foundation. o

SUPERSONIC BIZJET MATH MAKES SENSE NOW, SAYS ANALYST A supersonic business jet (SSBJ) now makes economic sense, according to Oscar Garcia of InterFlight Global, an aviation consultancy that specializes in the issue. “We’ve done the study in two ways–on the air transportation side with the airlines, and with the corporate aviation side,” said the firm’s CEO. “On the airline side, the price premium cannot exceed 30 percent. On the corporate side, the price premium can reach up to 70 percent. The corporate and special-mission government side is much less price sensitive.” Garcia’s data shows that Aerion’s AS2 SSBJ is not even 45 percent more expensive than an ultra-long-range business jet. “I’m researching it for my clients, and the interesting thing is that the Aerion lifecycle cost, because you are flying it half the time [because it is twice as fast] is less than a Gulfstream G650 or a Bombardier Global 7000,” he said. “That’s with the Aerion’s direct operating costs at $14,000 to $15,000 an hour. It becomes very interesting. And the typical client is flying 12 fewer days a year” due to time savings. He also thinks that the time is ripe for the U.S. Congress to revisit the national ban on supersonic flight over land. “Congress is looking at this issue again, maybe more than it ever has before. It is starting to look at the fact that we need speed, we need the ability for rapid reaction,” Garcia noted. –M.H.

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Lightspeed Foundation rewards a deserving few by Amy Laboda Lightspeed Aviation president Allan Schrader knows there is nothing in the world quite as satisfying as seeing good causes rewarded. Each year Schrader gets to bask for a few moments in the thrill of watching his company’s nonprofit Lightspeed Foundation award grants of $2,000 to as much as $10,000 to causes that use aviation as a means to do good around the

world. This year’s winners are Pilots N Paws, awarded $10,000; The Ninety-Nines, $8,000; Civil Air Patrol, $6,000; New Tribes Mission Aviation, $4,000; and JAARS, $2,000. All are cash grants designed to help the organizations fulfill their missions. Community Engagement

Interestingly, it isn’t the Lightspeed Foundation that

Allan Schrader, president of Lightspeed Aviation, presents this year’s Lightspeed Foundation Pilot’s Choice Awards in Palm Springs, Calif. Since 2010, Lightspeed has awarded $500,000 to date to recipients chosen by “the pilot community.”

chooses which outfit gets an award. “I think there were a couple of things we wanted to accomplish. First of all, we didn’t want to be the people who decided who got the money,” Schrader told AIN. “We wanted to engage the pilot community and make them feel that they were awarding the grants. We wanted to give them a vote.” The program started in 2010 as a way for Lightspeed (Booth C6925) to give back to the general aviation community, Schrader explained. “What we have learned is that nonprofits in general are very good at their mission, but they are not always good at telling their story, and even more so, at marketing their story so that they can raise the funds they need. “That first year of the awards we saw these little NGOs struggle to tell their story, so we decided to help them, mostly by engaging social media, and helping them create short videos that more clearly express their goals. Today a lot of organizations that participate in the Lightspeed Foundation Pilots’ Choice award program tell us that, even if they don’t win a prize, the process helped them to organize and energize their outreach efforts, and that made it worth participating.”

High-speed rejected takeoffs warrant more consideration by Rob Finfrock FlightSafety International advanced training director Dann Runik may be considered an expert on the potential dangers of high-speed rejected takeoffs. That wasn’t the case just a few years ago, however, before a major business aviation OEM identified a disturbing trend in the number of incidents involving abort decisions at or above V1 takeoff decision speed. “The people in [the OEM’s] flight ops said, ‘We need to do something about this,’” he recounted to attendees at the 2015 Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP) Convention earlier this year. “‘As an OEM, we want to write guidance of how to make the go/no go decision.’” Runik admitted to having reservations at first. “No other OEM had ever done this, for what I thought were good reasons,” he continued. “There are too many fingers in the decision. They listened politely, and said, ‘No, for all the reasons you just said, we want to do it… and, you should be the one to do it.’” What followed was a thorough examination of the situations leading to highspeed aborted takeoffs, as demonstrated in the FAA’s Takeoff Safety Training Aid

that reviewed approximately 430 million takeoffs since the dawn of the jet age in 1958 through 2003. “Of all those takeoffs, 143,000 were aborted, and of those, 97 ended in fatal accidents or incidents that seriously damaged the airplane,” Runik said. Perhaps surprisingly, just 21 percent of those 97 serious overruns involved engine failure. In light of the ever-increasing level of cockpit automation available to pilots, Runik addressed the commonly held mindset that pilots should abort their takeoff for any number of crew alerting system (CAS) warning messages. “No one can deny that we know more about our airplanes today, in real-time, than ever before,” he said. “We’re safer than we’ve ever been...except at V1, because of the multitude of things that can come up and sucker us into wrongly aborting takeoff.” As an example, Runik pointed to the 43 red or amber CAS alerts that will push through the takeoff inhibit system in the Citation Mustang, widely considered to be among the easiest turbine aircraft to manage.

6 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Accepting the $10,000 grant from Lightspeed president Allan Schrader (center) on behalf of Pilots N Paws are, Gary Wing (left) and PNP pilot Chuck Decker.

For example, the Ninety-Nines quickly figured out that they could use iPads loaded with the Lightspeed Foundation web page at their booth, and even roaming the crowded aisles of trade shows and air shows to encourage people to vote for their cause on-site. Pilots N Paws used the video function in a compelling pitch for their cause, relocating shelter-dogs to eager new owners around the U.S., saving them from destruction. “What I am pleased to see is that this year, two of our award winners were rewarded for reaching out to the next generation of aviators,” said Schrader, referring to the Civil Air Patrol and

“It’s a fair question: if you’re going to abort for those things, what are those things?” he asked. “Loss of both generators, for example. Is the airplane still safe to fly? Are both engines still turning? Sure. “And here’s one I found very interesting: anti-skid fail. What is your acceleratestop distance required based on [during an aborted takeoff]? Operational antiskid.” he said. “If you’re going to abort the takeoff, you should be able to answer the question of how dangerous that highspeed abort might be.” In addition to his role at FlightSafety, Runik is also a captain for Delta Air Lines on the Boeing 747-400–a position that recently provided him with firsthand experience about making that split-second, go/ no-go decision. “We’re rolling down the runway in Tokyo, and just prior to V1 we get a red CAS message: CONFIGURATION: FLAPS,” he recalled. “I continued the takeoff, [although] our zero-flap maneuvering speed is 288 knots; we would have been 100 knots too slow if I’d truly forgotten the flaps. “We were climbing out safely, but my crew beat me up about it, and I was second-guessing myself, too,” Runik continued. “Once we were above 10,000 feet it dawned on me: the alert would have come when we first applied takeoff power if the flaps hadn’t been set correctly.” Maintenance later found a faulty micro switch. o

the Ninety-Nines. “It’s six years we’ve been giving these awards out, and $500,000 has been distributed. But best of all, more than 50 organizations have benefited from being finalists,” said Schrader. “What I’m proud of is that we’ve equipped them all with the skills and social media savvy they need to help them further their diverse missions.” Lightspeed is at NBAA 2015 and exhibiting its ANR headsets, topped off by the popular Zulu PFX. The company is also showcasing a new line of premium leather pilot flight bags, custom-designed and sized for the modern pilot and his or her accoutrements. o

FLIGHTSTAR NEARS STC FOR LEARJET 40 SERIES ADS-B out Avionics installation and repair shop FlightStar, of Savoy, Ill., is in the final stages of earning an ADS-B out supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Learjet 40/45. The FlightStar upgrade will cost approximately $65,000, depending on what equipment needs replacing, but this is far less than the more than $300,000 for Bombardier’s 40/45 service bulletin for ADS-B, according to FlightStar avionics sales manager Greg Vail. Some Learjet 40/45s are now selling for less than $2 million, and it’s hard for an owner to justify spending $300,000 for ADS-B, he explained. While the Bombardier bulletin calls for replacing the existing FMSs with dual WAAS-capable FMSs, the FlightStar upgrade includes a single Universal Avionics UNS-1Ew. Or owners can opt to add a Honeywell WAAS GPS sensor instead of replacing the FMS. The FlightStar STC will also include upgrades to the transponder and control heads, Vail explained. FlightStar (Booth C8816) received type inspection authorization for the Learjet 40/45 ADS-B out STC in September. Flight-testing is scheduled in December, and FAA approval is expected by year-end. –M.T.

It’s easy to see which Falcon owners have long-range plans.

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Targeted for a “sweet spot” somewhere between medium and super-heavy duties, Bell’s 525 is turning heads.

Bell is bullish on its 525’s versatility by Mark Huber Bell Helicopter (Booth N2132) plans to unveil a mockup of its new 525 super-medium twin fitted with a VIP interior at the NBAA Convention, but not until next year’s show. Right now Bell is working on several concepts inhouse, including the one pictured with this article, and with outside suppliers including Mecaer (Booth N2516). That company collaborated with Bell on developing a VVIP interior that was recently certified in several countries for Bell’s 429 light twin. In standard and high-density configurations, the 525 features seating for up to 16 or 20 passengers, respectively. Layouts for corporate, VIP and VVIP/headof-state are expected to accommodate six-to-12 passengers and to

incorporate all the entertainment, information and high-speedconnectivity equipment that are found on the latest private jets. Entry to the 525’s 4.5-foot-tall cabin is through a pair of hinged doors located between the cockpit and the first of four seating areas, or through two large aft-sliding doors. The cabin features 88 sq ft of floor space and a 128-cu-ft baggage hold, bigger than the luggage compartments on even some large-cabin corporate jets. The 525 is comparatively fast with a top speed of 155 knots. Power comes from a pair of GE CT7-2F1 turboshafts (1,800 shp each) driving an all-composite five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor. The 525 is Bell’s largest civil helicopter,

ANOTHER BBJ GETS SPLIT-SCIMITAR WINGLETS Lufthansa Technik (Booth C10416) has installed split-scimitar winglets on a customer Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). With this modification, the aircraft is the third BBJ in the world to be equipped with these aerodynamically optimized winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing (C8113). “The results met my expectations completely,” the unidentified client said. “This was a new task for Lufthansa Technik, and the company fulfilled it on schedule and with high quality. Even the new paint on the wingtips where the installation took place was adapted to the existing complex color scheme.” Among other things, the specialists at Lufthansa Technik’s VIP and Executive Jet Maintenance product division reinforced various areas on the inside of the aircraft’s structure, particularly in the wing tanks, to install the winglets. The modification took 10 days, and Lufthansa Technik is the first MRO in Europe to install split-scimitar winglets on a BBJ. The new winglets have been on the market since early last year. They enable a fuel savings of 2.2 percent and thus increase the aircraft’s range, said Aviation Partners. —D.A.L

with a rotor disc diameter of 54.5 feet, and features hybrid aluminum/composite construction. It is expected to have a range of 500 nm, maximum takeoff weight of 19,300 pounds and a useful load of 7,400 pounds. The 525

features computerized fly-bywire controls and touchscreencontrolled Garmin G5000H avionics. Gone are the traditional cyclic sticks between the pilots’ legs, and the cockpit is equipped with sidesticks. The pilots’ seats swivel into position for ease of egress. Ahead of them is a low-slung digital instrument panel and an enormous field of Plexiglas that affords wide visibility over the nose and down to the ground. Bell announced the 525 program in 2012. In addition to the corporate and VIP market, the company envisions a variety of uses for the helicopter, including offshore energy, law-enforcement, air-ambulance and search-and-rescue and coastal-patrol work. The first 525 took to the air on July 1, and several more test aircraft are

Though utility roles are among those projected for Bell’s 525 Relentless, the OEM also has exotic visions of VVIP amenities, exemplified in this proposed interior layout.

APS adds a new jet trainer; underwriters back program by Harry Weisberger Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) is at the NBAA Convention (Booth N4630) to acquaint the business aviation pilot community with training in recognition of and recovery from loss of control inflight (LOC-I). Based at Phoenix-Mesa (Ariz.) Gateway Airport, APS has conducted LOC-I training since 1996. In September it concluded an agreement with USAIG, the aviation insurance underwriter, to compensate operators for the cost of their pilots’ training. APS also works with underwriter Swiss Re to provide rebates to its insured clients. Here in Las Vegas, APS is introducing the company’s newest trainer type, the Aermacchi S-211, which is on static display at the show. President Paul “BJ” Ransbury, v-p of training Randy Brooks and Faye Hamilton, director of sales, are helping NBAA show attendees learn more about the new insurance incentives. They will also describe revisions and

8 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

refinements to the APS training syllabus based on the newest addition to the fleet. Ransbury told AIN that the two-place Italian jet fills a niche between APS’s piston-powered Extra 300 and ex-military McDonnell Douglas TA-4 “Skyhawk” jet trainers. He added that the S-211 is equipped with programmable variable flight control sensitivity, which allows it to emulate the handling qualities of other airplanes, with significantly lower operating cost than the TA-4. USAIG Endorsement

APS is now a safety training provider in the USAIG Performance Vector program, and the only one that offers upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT). Ransbury said the Performance Vector program addresses the safety management system needs of flight operations. “They can participate in a two-day program designed for jet pilots, but flown in our Extra 300

currently being assembled. Larry Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing for the 525, said Bell remains on track to complete flight testing with five ships flying an estimated 1,500 hours by the end of next year. Bell holds some 68 letters of intent for the 525 and expects to exceed its goal of 70 LOIs by year-end. The company plans to release an “industry price” for the 525 next year, Roberts told AIN. Roberts said, “When we did our market analysis for the 525 back in 2010, our goal was to create a helicopter that we could place in that sweet spot between the mediums and the super heavies. The 525 allows our customers to do everything they can do with a medium or a competitor’s super-medium and quite a bit, about 60 percent, of what they are doing with the heavies. It gives them a good slot position to take care of both the lighter and the heavier ends of the work. They recognize that when you have super heavies flying out beyond 200 miles, most of the time, they only have six to eight passengers on board. Because of the 525’s fuel capacity and flight economics, we are able to carry six to eight people out 250 nautical miles, depending on the cargo load. So we think we will be very competitive with what the heavies, mediums or super-mediums can do, and that is very attractive.” o

based on cost concerns,” he explained. “We offer an upgrade option to the TA-4 and advanced simulator training. USAIG is offering operators a five-percent discount on anything APS offers across the board.” The Performance Vector program covers the entire cost of putting one pilot per flight department through the upset training course. He cited similarity to a Bombardier Leading Edge feature that since 2012 has included APS upset training with the purchase of a new airplane. The Swiss Re incentive directly reimburses flight departments for up to $25,000 toward their APS training. Performance Vector upset training takes place at either the APS PhoenixMesa Gateway site or at Arlington Airport, outside Dallas, for flight training, and simulator training at CAE’s DFW training center. “Our program has dramatically evolved to encompass all aviation operators from GA up to and including airline crews,” Ransbury noted, adding that APS has trained more than 7,000 pilots and is instructing more than 1,000 pilots a year. He said his company is participating in the FAA Air Transport Pilot Certification Training Program, which requires some upset training. o

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Frasca adds new tech to level B by Robert P. Mark Cruising along at 100 feet agl with the sun reflecting back off the water into the pilot’s eyes might make any helicopter pilot forget they’re flying a simulator. Frasca International’s new Bell 407GX full flight simulator (FFS) boasts FAA level B approval, as well as EASA level B simulator and EASA level 3 flight training device (FTD) credentials. Bell Helicopter’s Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas, recently took delivery of the first 407GX FFS, which comes standard with a 3-D graphics system brought to life using Frasca’s TruVision global visual display. The 407GX’s display can reproduce a 200- by 80-degree field of view and includes infrared projectors to create a solid night vision goggle training platform. When training options demand a specific layout, the new 407GX can be switched between the legacy avionics configuration and the Garmin G1000 by exchanging panel assemblies. Frasca (Booth N4407) said pilots will experience more lifelike simulation with the FFS system’s six-axis motion, made possible with 62-inch actuators and a secondary six-axis TruCue vibration system. TruCue provides critical vestibular feedback to pilots, creating the cues necessary for pilots to react naturally to motion signals during maneuvers. The TruCue system also reduces instructor fatigue by isolating the instructor station from other simulator vibrations. Frasca’s 3-D graphics system is the heart of the 407GX simulator and creates a realistic training platform for tough missions such as oil platform or highaltitude rescue operations. A shipboard or oil rig landing is one of the most difficult arrival and departure tasks in a helicopter due to the lack of available reference points, especially when a shipboard helideck may be rolling or heaving. Imagine landing

on elevated helipads, a mountain pinnacle or some other narrow landing zone when it’s difficult to evaluate the terrain elevation below. The texture of the top of a pinnacle, for example, is perceived in 3-D and used to create the situational awareness necessary to show the correct height above the ground at touchdown. The perception provided by 3-D also opens training possibilities, including a generic texture mapped onto a mountain polygon sloped at 45 degrees, which builds an accurate reproduction of the toe-in maneuver, including skid contact, while the pilot must keep the rotor disk clear of the upslope. Also new to Frasca’s simulator line is SimAssist, a software module that measures the pilot’s task proficiency in realtime. It also continuously adapts to the student’s proficiency level by ensuring no task is too difficult, nor too easy. This system is useful for pilots learning new tasks, but can also help experienced pilots adapt more quickly to a fixed-based FTD, thus maximizing the training potential of the device. At the instructor’s discretion, the system can also provide active or passive assistance, record the student’s proficiency over time and provide real-time feedback to the instructor.

Recent Frasca wins include a contract for a level 5 Robinson R44 FTD from Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore. This simulator includes TruVision and the TruFeel control loading system and a helicopter missions database for the state of Oregon. The first level 5 helicopter simulator delivered in China has received approval from China’s regulators (CAAC). This simulator is a convertible Frasca TruFlite R44/Schweizer S300 and includes TruVision. The simulator was purchased by Xilin Fengteng GA Corporation of Guanghang, which provides helicopter pilot training, business transportation and air-medical services. Another China company, Shandong Hairuio General Aviation of Binzhou city, has ordered two Frasca level 5 Cessna 172S FTDs. The company operates four Cessna 172s and is a Cessna authorized sales and service provider. Denver-based Metro State University added two Frasca C172 Mentor advanced FTDs at its Aviation and Aerospace Science Department, bringing the university’s total number of Frasca simulators to 22. These include a level 1 Citation Mustang FTD with G1000 avionics, graphical instructor station, NIFA scoring module, TruVision and TruSound. o

BELL 505 WHIRLING TOWARD CERTIFICATION Bell Helicopter (Booth N2132) reports letters of intent for more than 350 copies of the new Jet Ranger X light single helicopter, which features the dual-channel Fadec Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine (504 shp) and Garmin G1000H avionics. Configurations of the new five-seater available initially will be utility, law enforcement and corporate/VIP. The price point of the base 505 is expected to be in the $1 million range. The 505 is designed for a maximum cruise speed of 125 ktas, a maximum range of 360 nm and a useful load of up to 1,500 pounds. The 505 remains on track to earn Transport Canada certification early next year. Bell announced the 505 program at the 2013 Paris Airshow, and the first test aircraft made its first flight on Nov. 10, 2014. The second flight test vehicle first flew this past February. The first two flight-test vehicles completed hot testing in Havasu, Ariz., and highaltitude testing in Colorado over the summer. A third flight-test vehicle made its first flight on July 16. That aircraft is currently being used for certification, noise and handling qualities testing. It is also heavily configured with optional equipment such as TCAS, air-conditioning, standby flight instruments and a second VHF radio. It will finish its certification testing near the end of the year with function-andreliability testing. The aircraft features a wideopening double-door, a 22-sq-ft flat cabin floor with tie downs and

an 18-cu-ft baggage compartment that can accommodate up to four standard suitcases or several travel golf bags. The 505 is equipped with three 16-inch-wide bulkheadmounted, forward-facing, energy attenuating seats. For switching between passenger transport and utility missions, these seats can either fold up or be removed. The 505 features an open cabin layout with 61 cu ft of rear cabin volume for carrying passengers or cargo. Bell officially dedicated its new 82,300-sq-ft assembly plant for the 505 Jet Ranger X in Lafayette, La., on August 27. The facility is expected to have up to 100 employees. Turbomeca delivered the first production Arrius 2R engine for the 505 to Bell in August on schedule in Lafayette. The Arrius 2R is the only turbine in the 500-shp range to feature a dualchannel Fadec. “We are perfectly on track to meet Bell Helicopter’s expectations,” said Jean-François Sauer, Arrius 2R program vice president, “and moving at a steady pace towards EASA engine certification by the end of 2015.” The Arrius 2R achieved first ground run in April 2014 and made its first flight aboard 505 FTV1 at Bell’s Mirabel (Quebec) facility in November 2014. Production Arrius 2R engines will be assembled at Turbomeca USA’s facility in Dallas and integrated in Lafayette. Initially, the 2R will have a time between overhaul (TBO) limit of 3,000 hours. –M.H.

Bell Model 505 is close to finishing flight testing.

EASYFBO SIMPLIFIES FUEL-ORDERING PROCESS EasyFBO is a web-based application that digitizes the fuel-ordering process. Customers place their fuel order via their tablet or smartphone, including details on aircraft identification, location on the field and fuel type and quantity. The order is then routed to the FBO desk and relayed to the line tech driving the fuel truck. The app is free for fuel buyers, and pricing for the FBO’s element is still under consideration. While it’s always possible for someone to tick off the wrong box in a program, the theory is that the risk of error is far less than that involved with verbal communication over telephones or radio. Once the fueling job is completed, the line tech relays the metered amount and other details electronically to the FBO front desk and to the aircraft operator

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who placed the order, so any miscommunications or discrepancies can be flagged immediately. EasyFBO was developed by John Hill, who worked as a janitor at a local FBO at Leesburg (Va.) Executive Airport while still in high school four years ago. In the time since then, he’s climbed a few rungs on the employment ladder, and also earned his private pilot’s license. Now a senior economics major at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., Hill took it upon himself to design software intended to eliminate fuel-order problems faced by FBO managers, line techs and their aircraft-owner customers. His business partners include Daniel Lehmer, a student at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, and app developer James Tobin, a student at Christopher Newport University. –M.P.

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City imposes new SMO restrictions by Kerry Lynch NBAA is vowing to hold the city of Santa Monica, Calif., accountable for a series of measures approved October 27 that impose new restrictions on emissions and other pollutants at

Santa Monica Airport (SMO), including a prohibition on the sale and use of certain types of fuel. The vote is the latest effort by the city to exert control over and limit aviation uses at SMO.

City leaders have been seeking to close the airport, and in early October wrote Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), saying, “The adverse impacts of the ongoing airport operations continue to plague

Opponents of the Santa Monica airport have been working toward curtailing operations, and recent action by the city council brings that goal closer.

our community. Emissions, noise and safety risks imperil the community and degrade local quality of life.” NBAA, which has jointly filed a Part 16 complaint urging the FAA to ensure Santa Monica honors its grant assurance agreements, said last week that it “is considering appropriate actions to respond to the council’s decision to ignore its legal obligations, and to proceed with the measures.”

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Before the City Council vote, NBAA COO Steve Brown wrote Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown, warning that the restrictions “are incompatible with the city’s binding federal obligations and could lead to severe sanctions, including the termination of all [Department of Transportation] grants to the city, as well the reversion of SMO to federal ownership.” Brown added that the FAA has warned that environmental restrictions “must be rational and cannot be a mere façade for access restrictions.” NBAA restated its belief that the city is beholden to AIP commitments that are in effect until 2023, as well as deed-based commitments that are in effect in perpetuity. In its letter to Lieu, McKeown disagrees, saying the city believes “our grant obligations were fulfilled and discharged in 2014.” He also urged Lieu to push the FAA to resolve the Part 16 complaint expeditiously. “The FAA’s lassitude in resolving the question of the expiration of the grant obligations is a substantial impediment to achieving relief for the community and progress on exercising control of the city’s land.” NBAA’s Brown agreed that it would be preferable for the proceedings to advance swiftly, but said “it is highly inappropriate that the city has recruited political intervention…in an effort to interfere with FAA deliberations. The city should not take any precipitous action while legal questions about the airport are working their way through FAA administrative and court proceedings.” o

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16 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

The increasing size of high-end business jets and the shortage of hangar space in the New York metropolitan area to accommodate them revealed itself as a growing concern at an Aviation Professionals Sharing Information (APSI) meeting held in a hangar at Jet Aviation’s Teterboro Airport facility earlier this fall. Against the backdrop of a Bombardier Global, APSI president Victoria ReinaDuffy, vice president of sales for Priester Aviation, noted that popular business aviation airports in the area such as Teterboro (TEB) and Westchester County (HPN) are currently at 150 percent of capacity, with many hangars in the region unable to accommodate the newest ultra-long-range corporate jets. “As soon as Gulfstream announced it was going to build the G650, I started getting up on my soapbox, asking where the industry would store such aircraft,” said Bill Beversluis, Jet Aviation’s vice president of aircraft management. “The [Bombardier] Global 7000 is going to be 111 feet long; where we are going to put that thing I have no idea, and when you spend $75 to $80 million for an airplane, having it sit outside does not particularly sit well with people.” As international trade becomes more and more global, the large-cabin jet segment has propped up the business jet industry for the past several years. “We have owners who have Citation Xs or the small Challengers; these are the ones who are coming to us saying, ‘I’m going to replace that and I need a big Global,’” said Todd Anderson, senior vice president of real estate and development for Sheltair, which operates several FBOs in the region. While more distant airports stand to benefit from owners willing to reposition their aircraft when needed, such concessions come with drawbacks as well. If a crew has to arrive at a distant airport and position the aircraft to Metro New York locations, that time eats into a crew’s duty day. “When you are taking delivery of these aircraft you want them to be able to be used to their full capacity,” said Reina-Duffy. “It’s not going to do anybody any good if you are going to cut

the range of the aircraft by two hours,” with the disruption of the duty day. For many business jet users that’s not a palatable option, and one seemingly at odds with the freedom, utility and ease of access that business aviation provides. “You worry about flight departments going away,” said Westchester County Airport manager Peter Scherrer. “That’s the biggest concern. If they can’t get space, after a while they say, ‘Why should I have a flight department? It’s too much work, too expensive, maybe I’ll go to a fractional operator or I’ll charter an airplane.’” Lengthy Process

Some companies, among them Sheltair, which co-sponsored the APSI gathering along with Jet Aviation, have space to improve their local facilities. The Floridabased company manages more than 3.5 million sq ft of aviation properties in New York, Florida and Georgia. “Building a hangar is not something that just takes six to eight months; it takes a lot of planning, a lot of time and a lot of financial resources,” said Anderson. “We’ve gotten to the point now where we can’t build them fast enough.” His company recently broke ground on a 41-acre project at Long Island’s Republic Airport, which will eventually yield more than 300,000 sq ft of hangar space. The environmental permitting process alone for the expansion spanned six years. Sheltair has plans to add hangars at several other locations in the region. Westchester County Airport is undergoing a rework of its master plan, one that eventually will earmark more land for hangar development, Scherrer told AIN. After the airport officials determine the best course of action, politicians will get involved before an environmental impact study is launched. Once a plan is agreed, the new parcels will be put through the request-for-proposal process for development, all of which adds up to a number of years before any additional hangar space will be available at the airport. “Going through the whole process takes time,” said Scherrer, “It doesn’t just happen tomorrow.” o

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NEWS CLIPS z Coast to Coast Taps Precision Heliparts Precision Heliparts Canada (PHP-C) has signed a five-year repair, overhaul and supply chain agreement with Coast to Coast Helicopters. Coast to Coast operates a fleet of 86 rotorcraft and 36 fixed-wing aircraft from a variety of manufacturers. The fleet supports the oil and gas, forestry, hydro, mining, passenger, freight, tourism and emergency services sectors. “We chose PHP-C as a primary supplier for many reasons including the depth of expertise and experience, demonstrated customer support excellence and the availability of inventory,” said Frederic Allard, president of Mustang Helicopters, a division of Coast to Coast Helicopters. PHP-C is a division of the Precision Aviation Group (Booth N2116).

z Jet Edge Predicts Double-Digit Growth Aircraft management and charter provider Jet Edge International is predicting it will achieve a fourth-straight year of double-digit sales growth by the end of 2015. The company recently increased its fleet to almost 50 aircraft, following the additions of a pair of GIV-SPs, three Falcon 2000LXs and a 900EX EASy II. Over the past summer, Jet Edge moved its New York-area headquarters into the former Atlantic Aviation FBO at Teterboro Airport. Another two GIV-SPs are due to join the fleet by mid-January. The company also has strengthened its management team with the appointment of former TWC Aviation CEO Edward Frank as its president. Other industry veterans joining Jet Edge include executive vice president aircraft sales Alex Joya, marketing director John Tucker and sales vice president Bradford Drew.

z Hawker Landing Gear MRO Adds To Capabilities Av8 MRO (Booth C12537) of Houston has added in-house, FAA-approved cadmium plating and non-destructive testing, both of which are critical in the overhaul of landing gear, to its tool chest. “Together, these in-house processes will typically reduce our turn time by one to two weeks, which is substantial,” said Yoel Arnoni, principal with Av8 MRO. The MRO is an FAA- and EASA-approved repair station with the capabilities to repair and overhaul all series of Hawker landing gear and major component parts. It is approved to make almost 400 replacement parts for Hawker landing gear systems. According to Russell Eckhart, accountable manager with Av8Pro, “The addition of NDT and cad plating was a logical next step for us, as these processes allow us to determine more quickly what is required for a particular landing gear overhaul, thus saving our customers time and hassle.”

z Peregrine Adds Aircraft Under TCAS II 7.1 Update Peregrine received approval to expand the list of aircraft covered under its STC for the updated traffic alert and collision avoidance system software, TCAS II 7.1. The STC, obtained in August, originally covered an update of the BendixKing CAS 67 system to support TCAS II Change 7.1 aboard the Learjet 31A, Citation 650, Hawker 800A, Gulfstream IV and Challenger 601-3A and 601-3R. This expansion now covers the CAS 67 systems on other legacy Gulfstreams, Falcons, Hawkers, Challengers and Learjets. The STC addresses a mandate for TCAS II Change 7.1 in aircraft operating in European airspace. EASA in late 2011 required that TCAS systems incorporate a modification to the “Adjust Vertical Speed” resolution advisory and added features to monitor resolution advisory compliance. The deadline for the update is Dec. 20, 2015. Englewood, Colo.-based Peregrine is offering the STC bundled with an upgraded TPU 67B processor. The engineering services firm includes installation details in the data package.

Baker has own rapid-response jet by R. Randall Padfield Gulfstream was the first manufacturer to use a dedicated business jet, a G150, for fast aircraft-on-the-ground (AOG) service, and now most other OEMs have similar programs. But in AIN’s collective knowledge, there has been no such program offered by a non-OEM aviation company. Now there is. Baker Aviation (Booth N2012), an aircraft maintenance and Part 135 charter/management company based in Fort Worth, Texas, announced it has added a Cessna Citation II that is dedicated to rapid-response AOG and parts procurement for its customers. The aircraft is managed by family-owned Baker’s charter/ management division. “In today’s environment, aircraft owners are looking for partners that can provide 24/7 service, and at Baker Aviation we are always looking for ways to go above and beyond the status

Texas-based Baker Aviation uses this Cessna Citation II for fast-response service in AOG situations. The aircraft is managed by Baker’s charter/management division.

quo,” said Ray Goyco, Jr., president and COO at Baker Aviation. “As an aircraft owner for years, [company founder] Mr. Baker has experienced first hand the impact of an AOG at the most inopportune time. His dedication to invest in this level of service for our customers is a testimony to the Baker family’s commitment to the success and growth of our company.” Headquartered at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Baker Aviation also has maintenance facilities at Addison

MSB opens office to meet U.S. demand by James Wynbrandt In response to increasing U.S. demand for its tailor-made crystal, china and flatware (CCF) inserts, Montreal-based MSB Group has opened an office in Savannah, Ga. Shannon Gill, MSB’s business development director, is relocating to the new site, where she MSB Group business will head the group’s stra- development director Shannon tegic development with Gill is moving to Savannah the support of U.S. sales personnel currently in Kansas, California and Ohio. “We’re seeing the U.S. is going to be a big part of our future,” said Gill. “The bespoke nature of our products means we work very closely with the customer to provide exactly what they need. It made sense for us to bring the business to the USA.” MSB’s custom CCF products protect glassware and other fragile items. Gill noted growth of the executiveconfigured airliner market has exponentially boosted demand because these aircraft need many more CCF inserts than a large-cabin business jet. “Where we might deliver 20 [CCF] pieces for a business jet, we might deliver 200 pieces for one [executive airliner] aircraft,” Gill said. MSB is also showcasing here in Las Vegas (Booth C10721) new versions of its Hi-Lo conference tables featuring a slimmer pedestal, while its new electric model can be controlled via Bluetooth, raised or lowered wirelessly from anywhere in the cabin. The tables will be available as line-fit options for Gulfstream’s forthcoming G500 and G600. Last Fall MSB Group was acquired by France’s Sogeclair, expanding MSB’s engineering capabilities. o

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Airport in Texas. The company is licensed to provide aviation services in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. At NBAA 2015 Baker Aviation is demonstrating its line of Hot-Stop “L” fire containment kits, designed to contain fire, explosions and smoke emissions from portable device lithium-ion battery failures. Baker Aviation is the exclusive distributor for the Industrial Energy Products HotStop bags. o

EPPS AVIATION SIGNS 25-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION Epps Aviation, the largest FBO in the Atlanta area and a fixture at DeKalbPeachtree Airport for more than a half century, will be there for its 75th anniversary as well, with the announcement that it received a 25-year lease extension good through 2040. With the extension, the company, one of three full-service providers on the field, said it can now begin construction on a new avionics installation facility. “Not only do we have the support of the DeKalb County government, but more importantly the support of our customers and the community,” said company founder and president Pat Epps. “Our reinvestment program for the service center will create a modern and unique work environment for our employees that effectively addresses the needs of our customers.” The company just retrofitted its Citation 560 with a Garmin G600 flight deck and is now able to offer an STC’d retrofit solution for the entire 500-series Citations, including the 500, 501, 550, 551, S550 and 560, with several options available depending on needs and budget. Epps Aviation (Booth C8532) was recently added to the Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Registry from the Air Charter Safety Foundation. “I am very proud of our charter team and their pledge to be listed amongst those Part 135 operators already listed on the ACSF industry audit register,” said Anton Coy, the company’s director of operations. The IAS process is conducted every two years as an in-depth evaluation of regulatory standards and the operator’s safety management system program against both FAA and international standards. –C.E.

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ForeFlight wx briefing has the personal touch

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PASSAGEWAY TO THE FUTURE Not much has been revealed about Textron’s newest project, the Cessna Citation Hemisphere. What we do know is that it will have a 102-inch-wide fuselage cross section. The company has a mockup at the aircraft static display demonstrating the new cabin dimensions. Also part of the display is a global range map, showing the new long-range jet’s projected stage length in the form of graphic depictions of city pairs.

Esterline’s acquisition of Barco redefines CMC display product line by Amy Laboda Quebec-based Esterline CMC Electronics (Booth C12838) is highlighting an expanded portfolio of its avionics displays, as well as projection systems for flight training simulation. “The reorganization of Esterline CMC product divisions really began in 2014 with the acquisition of Barco’s defense, aerospace and training division, which we concluded on January 31,” explained Marc Bouliane,

director of products and display solutions for CMC. Barco is a supplier of projection solutions for the flight training simulation environment. “Marine and air traffic displays are now another division,” he said. With a sharp focus now on avionics displays, CMC has managed to double its volume of displays produced. “We believe we are now number three in the supply of displays for the

A corporate reshuffling has solidified the Esterline CMC division’s focus on flight training simulation projection images (top row) and various aircraft avionics displays.

avionics industry worldwide,” said Bouliane. CMC displays are found in Honeywell Primus Elite and Apex flight decks. “By combining CMC with Barco we were able to move the development timetable up on several projects the two companies were already working on,” said Belgium-based Kristof Viérin, vice president of sales for Esterline CMC. The company brought with it to NBAA 2015 news that it has reached the 1,000th production milestone on its SureSight enhanced vision system sensors. The CMA-2700 sensor was selected for the Bombardier Challenger 605 and Global, while the CMA-2600 sensor is in operation on multiple aircraft platforms from Bombardiers to Falcons to the Boeing Business Jet. Esterline CMC’s electronic flight bag (EFB) system, also showcased this week at NBAA 2015, features a 12.1-inch multitouch display. The PilotView EFB is standard for aircraft from ATR, Dassault, Embraer, Bombardier and Boeing. Finally, the company announced that it has received supplemental type certificate approval for its CMA-6800 display solution to replace legacy CRT screens on the Cessna Citation III/V/VII, Hawker 800 and Dassault Falcon 900. o

20 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

There was a time in aviation forecasts and big picture items when every preflight weather brief- such as prog charts and sigmets ing was personal. The pilot and or airmets, to its presentation of the briefer stood over charts and plain text TAFs and Metars in laid out how the day might go. sequential order along the chosen Visualization of potential weather routing (replete with color coding issues was much easier, and that, by to denote VFR or IFR). The app design, made go/no-go decision- breaks Notams into sections, also making a simpler task, too. This in plain text, showing where tower month Houston-based mobile app lights are out (and how close to maker ForeFlight (Booth C10021) your routing), if there are specialintroduced a digital version of that use airspace issues, chart changes good old-fashioned integrated preflight weather briefing in its mobile flight-planning and moving-map app. “Foreflight Briefing changes the paradigm by delivering required elements of a standard flight briefing in a modern, aesthetically pleasing and graphical design In a return to aviation’s good old days, ForeFlight that helps pilots visual- preflight weather briefings present information in ize weather and related easy-to-understand graphics and plain English. flight information along their route of flight, all in a way and more. we believe pilots will enjoy,” said Perhaps the most radical Tyson Weihs, co-founder and CEO change is its integration of graphof ForeFlight. ics into the stream of the classic The briefing may be digital and briefing, bringing us back to the pulled straight from Lockheed old way we did things, with the Martin Flight Service’s main- briefing and the graphics right frame, but the ForeFlight app there in front of us together. A takes the data and parses it into regulation 91.103 (a) digital prethe most logical sequence and flight briefing has never been sectioning, from the synopsis, quite so elegant. o

LUXIVAIR TOUTS SAN BERNARDINO FBO Representatives from Luxivair SBD, the lone FBO serving California’s San Bernardino International Airport, are on hand here at NBAA 2015 as part of the Epic Fuels lineup (Booth C6907) to highlight the services provided by the airport-operated facility. “We are eager to meet with the aviation community gathered at one of the industry’s largest events and share the unique Luxivair SBD experience,” said Mark Gibbs, the airport’s director of aviation. The FBO offers a spacious glass-enclosed atrium lobby, on-site U.S. Customs, ramp-side vehicle access, pilot’s lounge, snooze room, a/v-equipped conference room, theater room with stadium seating, flight planning room, crew cars, on-site car rental, lounges and an outdoor lounge offering a panoramic view of the airport framed by the San Bernardino Mountains. Located between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, the airport also offers hangars for overnight and shortterm aircraft storage, as well as four MRO providers. –C.E.

Beautifully it transforms King Air cockpits and the way you fly. The King Air is one of the great airplanes of all time, and the fleet of 7,000 has a lot of flying time ahead of it. Built expressly for the King Air, Sandel Avilon is the flight deck that makes sense. Engineered to make installation as efficient as it makes flying. Its unique design installs in a one piece prewired assembly. Revolutionary. In as little as five days of installation, Avilon will transform your King Air cockpit bringing features such as the revolutionary Path Guidance Panel, Enhanced Vertical Navigation, ADSB, and RNP capability. Architected to improve the safety of single pilot IFR, Avilon will improve your view and the way you fly. We invite you to visit us during NBAA and learn how to fly with the future. Avilon redefines the flight deck experience.

Sandel Avilon Booth C10232 & Static Display Space 600 | www.sandelavilon.com

Bombardier

Looking back at the last 12 months

2014

2015

calm an increasingly worried market. Of that total, $1.5 billion would be new debt facilities, while $600 million would be in equity.

Challenger 650

Global 6000

MARK WAGNER

• Bombardier showcases its Challenger line and the Global 6000 at the ABACE show in Shanghai. The Challenger displays included the 350, 605 and 850 models. Bombardier opened the three-day convention by signing a contract for a Global jet, the culmination of an 18-month negotiating period. As an optimistic harbinger, it is projected that the China market will buy up to 950 business jets worth $30.9 billion through 2023. • Bombardier’s factory-owned aircraft maintenance facility in Tianjin, China, began construction. Expected to open in early 2017, it will support a Bombardier fleet of 120 in the China region.

October 2014

• The Challenger 650 makes its debut at the NBAA Convention in Orlando, Fla. The 10-passenger jet has a redesigned cockpit and cabin interior, and will provide more takeoff thrust for shorter takeoff distances. As long as the higher thrust setting is not used more than 10 percent of the time, engine maintenance won’t be affected, director of product strategy Brad Nolen asserted. First deliveries of the airframer’s $33.35 million Challenger 650 (4,000-nm range) to launch customer Netjets are targeted for before year-end of 2015.

• Bombardier Business Aircraft adds Arabasco as an authorized service facility for Challenger 605 customers based in or flying to Saudi Arabia. Maintenance services will be provided at the private aviation terminal of King AbdulAziz International Airport in Jeddah. • The company “pauses” its Learjet 85 program, resulting in a $1.4 billion pre-tax charge in its fourth-quarter 2014 results and the layoff of 1,000 workers in 2015. The Learjet 85 was projected to have a 3,000-nm range and Mach 0.82 cruise speed. This decision comes as Bombardier refocuses its development schedule on the CSeries and Global 7000/8000 programs.

February 2015

• Bombardier brings in Alain Bellemare on February 12 to lead the company as president/CEO. Pierre Beaudoin shifts to the chairman’s role. Beaudoin replaces his father, Laurent, who had been at the helm for 50 years and is now chairman emeritus. • The CS300 test aircraft completes its maiden flight on February 27 from Mirabel International Airport near Montreal. It flew for five hours, reaching 41,000 feet. The 135- to 160-seat CS300 accounts for two-thirds of the CSeries airliners on firm order.

DAVID McINTOSH

July 2015

Challenger 850

• Bombardier’s interior design teams, striving to keep their approach fresh and creative, are being inspired by grand homes, yachts and five-star hotels. The Global 7000 currently being designed could have up to 1,000 different combinations of cabin layouts, said Tim Fagan, manager of industrial design.

May 2015

• The Challenger 650 makes its public debut at the EBACE show in Geneva, Switzerland. Other jets on display are the Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000. The company is also showing a full-scale mockup of the Global 7000. • NetJets Europe receives its first Signature Series Bombardier Challenger 350 in Geneva. This sale marks the 500th delivery of the 350. • Bombardier reveals its business jet market forecast for the first time at EBACE. Encouraged by a strong 2014 (204 deliveries), the company estimates that 9,000 new business jets worth $267 billion will be delivered over the next decade. North America (3,900 projected sales) and Europe (1,525 projected) are expected to lead the way. This forecast comes as Bombardier launches a new Aircraft Health Management System: its four key features are connectivity, real-time monitoring, privacy and data analysis.

March 2015

• Bombardier, facing financial challenges, cancels certain dividends and intends to raise $2.1 billion in capital to

22 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

August 2015

• Bombardier Aerospace receives type certification for the Challenger 300 and 350 from Colombian civil aviation authority UAEAC. The market forecast predicts Latin America will take delivery of 850 business jets by 2024. • Bombardier opens a new regional support office in Munich, Germany. Also, Indamer Aviation in Ahmedabad, India, was appointed an authorized service facility for all Global models. In the U.S., six customer response team trucks have been added, increasing the total to 13.

September 2015

Challenger 350

MARK WAGNER

January 2015

June 2015

• Approximately 1,750 Bombardier Aerospace employees will be laid off or “progressively impacted” by the decision to reduce the Global 5000 and 6000 production rates. Workforce reductions began in June; up to 1,000 workers in Montreal, 480 in Toronto and 280 in Belfast were affected. • At the Paris airshow, Bombardier reports that the CSeries certification program is around 70 percent complete. As of June 15, the airframer had logged 1,881 flight-test hours and 30,000 cycles in structural testing.

December 2014

• Bombardier Business Aircraft showcases its new Challenger 350 at the MEBA show in Dubai, while also highlighting the company’s regional product support. The company claims about 25 percent of the Middle East’s business aircraft market, with its Challenger line especially successful. • The first Global 7000 flight-test vehicle is under construction, with the rear fuselage being built in Mexico and the cockpit in Canada.

DAVID McINTOSH

April 2015

• The company announces the Global 7000/8000 program will be pushed back two years. Bombardier now expects to deliver the first 7000 in the second half of 2018, with the 8000 likely to come one year later. The new jets feature GE’s new Passport engines, Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics and a four-zone cabin, the largest yet. • Bombardier posts a gain in deliveries over the first half of 2015, with 11 more than the first six months of 2014. Production of the new Challenger 350 continued to accelerate, as nine more of these jets were delivered compared to the first half of 2014. First-half production of the Learjet 70/75 nearly doubled. The large-cabin Challenger 605, however, saw first-half deliveries drop by six from the 14 delivered in the first half of 2014.

Chicago Jet signs deal for Paradigm’s IFE set by Matt Thurber Avionics specialist Chicago Jet Group has inked an agreement to be the exclusive distributor

for Paradigm Technology’s new AdonisOne portable in-flight entertainment system, which

includes a moving map. With a retail price of $13,900, the AdonisOne comes pre-loaded with 75 movies, 15 magazines, 10 music albums and the moving-map. Buyers can also customize the content with passenger briefing cards and other documents such as catering menus, crew profiles, etc.

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24 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

The AdonisOne portable in-flight entertainment system from Paradigm Technology is now available exclusively through Chicago Jet Group. Price is set at $13,900.

Up to 10 passengers can access the content on the AdonisOne via the unit’s built-in Wi-Fi signal. Any smart device can connect to AdonisOne, which is controlled via an html 5 web user interface, and passengers can change destination information for the movingmap using their devices. The user interface can be custom branded by the owner of the AdonisOne unit. A lithium-ion battery provides up to 10 hours of viewing time and 15 hours of standby time. All content is provided under licensing agreements with studios and publishers, and content is updated on a monthly basis, including five new recentrelease movies. The monthly service fee is $169. The current version of AdonisOne (the LT model) is updated via flash memory, but the next version (the LX) will offer Wi-Fi updating when the aircraft is parked on a ramp with Wi-Fi access to the Internet. The LX will also offer streaming access for up to 15 passengers. An XR model for up to 60 passengers is also on tap, designed for charter airlines. Chicago Jet Group is demonstrating the LT and XR at its NBAA booth (C7012). The AdonisOne LX weighs 2.9 pounds and in addition to battery power, operates on 12 to 28 VDC or 100 to 240 VAC. Size is 7.75 x 6.25 x 2.25 inches. No certification is required, and the AdonisOne can be carried from aircraft to aircraft. “If you have more than one airplane, now you’ve got a real entertainment system,” said Mike Mitera, Chicago Jet Group director of operations. o

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Fort Wayne FBO signs on as newest Avfuel dealership by Charles Alcock Avfuel named Fort Wayne Aero Center in Indiana as its latest branded dealer. The new Midwest FBO is in the final stages of construction and is due to open on Jan. 1, 2016, with reservations for arrivals being accepted beginning December 26. The facility will offer all the standard benefits of the Avfuel network, including Avfuel contract fuel and Avtrip rewards. Ground handling services will include jet-A and 100LL fueling, aircraft maintenance, de-icing, quick turns and support for cargo and charter flights. “We couldn’t be happier to join such a supportive network of FBOs,” said Jeff Van Slyke, general manager of the Fort Wayne Aero Center. “With a focus on exceptional customer service and our partnership with Avfuel, customers can be assured they will receive the best care and products the industry has to offer.” The new FBO is owned and operated by Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. Its amenities include a 12,000sq-ft executive terminal, free Wi-Fi, a pilots’ lounge and private rest area, a fitness center and conference rooms. Avfuel Intiatives

One cabin, one lighting system—Enhance any curve or contour with Viu™. This extremely flexible, yet robust, lighting strip allows for unobtrusive RGB light to be integrated into organic curves and stylish edges. Suitable for many different applications in the cabin—from ceiling monuments to toe kicks—Viu™ has the unique ability to match the intensity of a wash lighting system.

Visit B/E Aerospace at booth #C12407

beaerospace.com/LIS Responsive Support. Novel Concepts. Superior Solutions.

3 10/26/15 10:38 AM 26BE-NBAA15-Dailies.indd NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Ahead of this week’s NBAA show Avfuel reported growth in traffic for this year and some new product initiatives. “We’ve had a great year,” said sales vice president Joel Hirst. “I think it is a testament to our qualified staff and the talent we’ve brought to support our growing customer base. We’ve always got our ear to the ground, discovering new solutions to fulfill our customers’ needs. I think they are perceptive to that mentality and look to join a network that not only provides the best solutions but also continuously strives to better itself.” Earlier this year, Avfuel launched a new website with more user-friendly features for both desktop and mobile versions. Customers can use the site to manage and link accounts, find resources in the network, check FBO locations and prices, discover Avtrip bonus point promotions

The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority will manage the FBO when it opens.

and create Avtrip promotions. This year has also seen Avfuel expand its network with 38 new branded locations, 34 of which are in the U.S. and the remaining four in Europe. The new overseas sites include Waterford Regional Airport in Ireland; The Private Jet Company in the Isle of Man; Marshall Aviation Services in Birmingham, England; and Woodgate Aviation in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “We really focused on global expansion this year,” commented C.R. Sincock, Avfuel’s managing director of international business development. “The beauty of aviation is that you’re not confined to any one location, any one continent. It’s about connecting people, cultures and businesses. Knowing our customers travel around the world, we want to be able to provide them with safe, secure, reliable services at every destination. Our growth this year laid the foundation for an exciting 2016.” o

Win a BMW At its NBAA exhibit (Booth C8816), Avfuel is giving visitors the chance to win a brand-new Melbourne-red BMW through a promotion for its Avtrip program. Each branded FBO visited at the booth will give guests a chance to win the car, which will be on display there. On November 1, the company finished this year’s Avtrip Points n Giveaway program.

STANDARDAERO INTALLS FALCON 50 ADS-B StandardAero has completed its first certified ADS-B OUT solution for a Falcon 50 at the company’s Augusta, Ga. MRO facility. The system incorporates the CMD Flight Solutions ADS-B OUT upgrade and supplemental type certificate, which meets DO260B standards. As a result, the Falcon 50 is now in full compliance with the FAA’s 2020 mandate for ADS-B OUT capabilities. “This Falcon 50 is one of only several aircraft in the nation with this specific system. The CMD Flight Solutions ADS-B installation provides operators with an affordable

upgrade path,” said Jerry Sanders, avionics product director for StandardAero Business Aviation. “We anticipate a growing interest from other Falcon 50 customers due to the overall success of this first installation.” StandardAero provides a variety of avionics, cabin management and connectivity capabilities via its network of service providers. The company is factory authorized by the majority of avionics manufacturers and provides in-house engineering design, system integration and installation capabilities along with an Organization Designation Authorization. –D.A.L.

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Unencrypted ADS-B out confounds aircraft blocking by Amy Laboda The business aviation industry has an important concern; the lack of any way to de-identify a particular aircraft that is broadcasting an ADS-B out signal. With the 2020 U.S. and European mandates for ADS-B out rapidly approaching, there is as yet no way to prevent any simple ADS-B receiver from viewing information broadcast by aircraft equipped for ADS-B out. Although the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program is no longer available, the FAA and flight tracking companies have an agreement whereby the flight trackers agree to deidentify an aircraft if requested by the aircraft’s owner/operator. This is now called “blocking display of aircraft situation display to industry data,” and it is administered by the FAA. But this does not prevent ground-based ADS-B receivers operated by hobbyists all over the world from being able to see even a blocked aircraft’s ADS-B out information.

In an address to the Equip 2020 industry group last summer, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said, “As the BARR experience demonstrated, the need to protect the privacy and security of one’s real-time movements is well understood by the business aviation industry, American Civil Liberties Union and more.” A few weeks later Jens Hennig, the group’s privacy ad hoc leader and v-p of operations at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), issued a white paper that describes the privacy problems of ADS-B and establishes the pursuit of a solution by the group as “Action Item 21.” Dangerous Eavesdropping

The issue is a straightforward one. ADS-B out operating on 1090 MHz transmits an unencrypted, real-time signal that includes the aircraft’s Mode S

transponder code, its call sign, aircraft type and position and speed as determined by the aircraft’s own GPS-based avionics. “Anyone with the right equipment can capture that real-time data and potentially use it for nefarious purposes,” said Bolen. For example, the mobile app Plane Finder AR allows a user to aim a smartphone at a passing aircraft, and the application queries the Plane Finder database for flight information, including call sign, altitude, current heading, origin/destination and relative distance from the user’s current position. Plane Finder’s data seems to include aircraft that have requested blocking. For example, the position of Donald Trump’s Boeing 757, N757AF, is viewable on the Plane Finder website, even though the Trump organization has requested blocking. “We need to safeguard an aircraft operator’s privacy, security and business competitiveness, and we want to ensure that concern is addressed as ADS-B moves toward implementation,” concluded Bolen. Spoofproofing Challenges

Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 is clearly viewable on this screenshot from the Plane Finder website, even though the U.S. presidential candidate has requested blocking.

Plane Finder AR delivers ADS-B out data, including ICAO identifiers, to any smartphone.

28 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Business aviation is not alone in its concerns. The Department of Defense has asked for the development of encryption and jam/spoof-proofing mechanisms to protect the confidentiality and availability of information being transmitted and received by its aircraft, as well. The goal is similar to business aviation’s desire to keep certain operations confidential. Currently, to alleviate the threat of spoofing, which means inserting fake ADS-B traffic targets into the system, 1090ES ADS-B broadcasts are authenticated with radar. But that is the very technology that ADS-B was designed to replace. Keeping radar as a backup to ADS-B and as a security authenticator for ADS-B targets raises the cost of the NextGen system and lengthens its payback time. There has to be another way to ensure the security of ADS-B and the privacy of its users. For aircraft that fly lower than 18,000 feet, an alternative ADS-B frequency–978 MHz (978UAT)–is available. “A UAT has an anonymity broadcast mode that can be programmed to

function when the airplane is squawking 1200,” said GAMA’s Hennig. “It will block the N-number transmission from being seen by anyone who cannot uncode the encryption. Such an encrypted anonymity mode could be programmed into 1090ES,” he explained. “It wasn’t done under [the applicable RTCA] DO-260 standards ostensibly because the Europeans did not want that function and negotiated to keep it out.” One solution would be encryption of the 1090ES message, however, the signal broadcast by 1090ES ADS-B is a 112-bit message that is not suitable for encryption with traditional algorithms. Findings from research at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Institute of Technology on more than one million ADS-B transmissions found that a format-preserving encryption cryptographic engine could be a low-cost method to encrypt ADS-B communications. The Equip 2020 group isn’t thinking about encryption now, according to Ric Peri, v-p of government and industry affairs for the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), and one of its representatives on Equip 2020. “The group wants the FAA to establish a privacy office to administer assignment of random 24-bit ICAO addresses as anonymous flight IDs, rolling every 30 days or so,” explained Peri. But as ADS-B technology matures, encrypting the ADS-B broadcasts will probably be the way we solve both the security and the privacy issues.” For the moment Equip 2020 has tasked the NextGen Advisory Committee to ask RTCA to conduct a technical feasibility study. According to the white paper, with just four years to go before ADS-B mandates go into effect in the U.S. and Europe, it is unlikely that any anonymity function will be available in advance of the mandates. o

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Engineering the impossible.

Re-inventing private aviation by Mark Huber

The private aviation market is being refreshed by several companies attempting to provide a new take on traditional fractional ownership, per-seat membership and scheduled charter. In some cases, the use of turboprop aircraft is reshaping the value proposition.

Beacon

Three of the founders of Surf Air left that company last year to found Boston-based Beacon, an “all-you-can-fly” service similar to Surf Air that offers scheduled service between White Plains, N.Y, and Boston Logan International with an initial fleet of three King Air 200s operated by Dynamic Aviation. The fleet is expected to grow to 27 aircraft, including King Air 200/250s and Beech 1900 turboprops. Next summer Beacon plans to add seasonal weekend service to Nantucket, Mass. and East Hampton, N.Y. The monthly membership fee is $2,000 plus a $1,000 initiation fee. The membership includes four continually renewable reservations, and flights can be booked (in 30 seconds via the Beacon app) up to 15 minutes before departure. Beacon CEO Wade Eyerly told AIN that the beginning schedule would feature 12 flights daily between White Plains and Logan, with a reduced schedule on Saturdays.

OneJet

OneJet is taking the next step in building its scheduled charter network with the addition of a route between its Indianapolis International Airport base and Nashville International Airport in Tennessee. OneJet added the new route September 8 with flights from Indianapolis to Nashville in the morning and returning to Indianapolis in the late afternoon. The addition of Nashville follows the introduction of flights to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Memphis earlier this year. The company uses three Hawker 400XPs for the service, with Pentastar Aviation operating the

flights. OneJet said its load factors have increased to about 80 percent network-wide. OneJet plans to continue adding locations, with more announcements anticipated over the next year. The company is targeting markets within a 500- to 1,000-mile range that have strong local corporate bases and have “a meaningful demand to the other points already in the market.”

PlaneSense

While growing, the shared turboprop model is not new. Portsmouth, N.H.-based fractional turboprop-share company PlaneSense has been operating for almost 20 years with newer Pilatus PC-12 singles, a fleet that now stands at 34. This makes PlaneSense the largest civil PC-12 operator, and now the company is branching into light jets as the launch customer for the Pilatus PC-24 twinjet. As part of its transition to offering jet service, PlaneSense acquired a pair of Nextant 400XTi jets and holds options for three more. PlaneSense PC-12 shareholders will be able to access the Nextants for an hourly exchange rate. The PC-12s continue to be the company’s focus, with more than 300 owners. Aircraft are retired from the fleet after 6,500 hours on average. The PC-12s are flown by two-pilot crews. PlaneSense’s primary operation area includes most of the eastern U.S., southeast Canada and the Bahamas, meaning there are no empty-leg fees within those regions. Shares as small as 1/16th, good for 50 flight hours annually, can be purchased, and the hourly occupied rate is less than $800. Flexible-hour programs can increase share time.

The company offers “short” and “long” programs that cater to varying stage lengths. The “short program” option includes 50 annual flight hours in a 1/16th share (or 100 hours in a 1/8th share, etc.), has a minimum 30-minute flight charge and has no minimum time deducted. PlaneSense says that this program is best suited for an owner whose typical flight leg is one hour or less. The alternative “long program” option includes 70 annual flight hours in a 1/16th share (or 140 hours in a 1/8th share, etc.), has a minimum 30-minute flight charge and has a minimum 1.4 hours deducted for each flight from the annual allotted hours. The long program is best suited for an owner whose typical flight is greater than 1.1 hours. Five-year shareholder contracts can be renewed without additional investment, the company helps customers sell their shares, and offers a guaranteed buy-back program if the shares don’t sell at a specified residual value or within a set period of time.

Rise

Rise, a Dallas-based allyou-can-fly membership charter service, has expanded its King Air 350 service to the entire Texas Triangle by adding eight more scheduled flights between Houston and Austin. It started service with the eight-passenger turboprop twin on the Dallas-Houston and Dallas-Austin routes. The Rise-branded King Air is operated by Monarch Air, a Part 135 charter operator based at Addison Airport near Dallas. Rise memberships, which start at $1,650 per month, are available in Houston, Austin, Midland and Dallas. The

company offers three levels of individual memberships for its all-you-can fly model. It plans to offer “Rise Fun Flights” to Austin, Texas; Vail, Colo.; and other destinations on weekends.

Surf Air

California-based Surf Air, which started flying in 2013, is another company that has built its fortunes on the PC-12. However, unlike Wheels Up or PlaneSense, Surf Air bills itself as a “private air travel club” and offers regularly scheduled flights between various cities in California and an accompanying concierge service.

Surf Air

Monthly individual membership is less than $2,000 plus a $1,000 initiation fee, and entitles customers a seat on these flights and unlimited flying (“all you can fly”) between destinations that currently include the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles Metro Area, Santa Barbara, Carlsbad/San Diego and Truckee/ Lake Tahoe. Members also receive four round trip “guest” tickets each year. Surf Air operates nine PC-12s and has nine more on order–five of which will be delivered this year–and options for 50 more over five years. By the end of the year the company expects to have 45 daily flights and nearly 3,000 members. The company is run by former Frontier Airlines CEO Jeff Potter.

Wheels Up

Founded by jet card industry veteran Kenny Dichter and partners in 2013, Wheels Up has grown to more than 1,600 members by offering a variety of membership options, enhanced

OneJet

Wheels Up

30 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

services from industry partners and lifestyle events and concierge services called “Wheels Down.” Wheels Up (Booth N137) operates a mixed fleet of more than 35 new King Air 350i twin turboprops equipped with Wi-Fi and custom interiors (this should reach 40 by the end of the year) and 10 refurbished Cessna Citation Excel/XLS jets. Earlier this year, Wheels Up announced that it is taking its second block of 35 King Airs, part of a 2013 order for 105 of the aircraft. The next block will be fitted with Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion touchscreen

avionics with deliveries beginning in early 2016. Corporate membership fees are $29,500 ($14,500 annual dues starting in the second year) and individual fees are at $17,500 ($8,500 annual dues starting in the second year). Members also pay a flat hourly rate of $3,950 for the King Air and $6,950 for the Citations. This spring at the EBACE show in Geneva, Dichter said he planned to expand Wheels Up into Europe, although details of this move have not yet been revealed. He plans to grow the company’s fleet to consist of “175 King Air 350i and 50 Cessna Citation Excel/XLS by 2021, and we are exploring ways to incorporate additional Textron products onto the Wheels Up platform.” Wheels Up members can access the fleets of VistaJet, Jet Aviation and HeliFlite when they need larger aircraft or helicopters, sometimes at discounted prices. The deal with Jet Aviation includes guaranteed availability, guaranteed pricing per occupied hour, and available 25 percent round trip bonus price reduction. The aircraft are available on an hourly basis or a 25-hour pre-purchase program. Similarly, members have preferred pricing on HeliFlite’s fleet of Bell 430s and Sikorsky S-76s for transfers between Manhattan and Tri-state area airports. o

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MSA Pay makes fuel sales cardless by Kerry Lynch U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation (Booth C9634) is rolling out a new app here at NBAA 2015 that enables pilots to order and pay for fueling services directly through their mobile devices. MSA Pay, which U.S. Bank believes is the first complete order-through-payment “cardless” mobile app for fueling in the general aviation marketplace, is designed to save customers time by eliminating receipt and invoice tracking. In the works for about eight months, the app is currently available for Apple iOS devices and will be available on the Android platform early next year. Pilots will use the app to notify FBOs of the arrival details, service requests and any special needs. Once the FBO provides the requested services, an invoice is sent to the pilot for approval. The app will email a copy of the invoice to the pilot and the pilot’s back office for final payment processing, U.S. Bank said. “Pilots may pay for their transaction when they want. This

allows them to focus on their customers rather than the paperwork and back-office requests,” said Tami Richards, Aviation Solutions program manager for U.S. Bank. This expedites the time needed on the ground, particularly in cases of quick turns. Another benefit, Richards said, “is the FBO will have notification of the [requests] and be ready to respond.” Users can select destination FBOs; make, modify and cancel reservations; create profiles; and review, approve and pay invoices through MSA Pay. The app works through U.S. Bank’s web-based point-of-sale

MSA Pay is available for iPhones; an Android version is coming next year.

program. The app facilitates either automated reservation confirmation or an option for the FBO to add a personalized note. “We wanted to eliminate a pain point,” said Dominic Venturo, chief information officer for U.S. Bank. After landing, pilots have numerous things to coordinate with the fixed-base operator, including the paperwork surrounding fuel invoicing. “When you look at this space there are unique challenges,” he said, adding that this will improve the transaction process. The app can automate the process, facilitate advance scheduling and streamline billing, he said. U.S. Bank is eying a number of additional features that will be added over the next six to 12 months, such as car reservations, catering and other concierge-type services, Richards said. “We’re looking at beyond the arrival to pinpointing amenities while on the ground,” she said. The app further will enable notification of last-minute changes. o

AIR CULINAIRE USES SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD IN-FLIGHT MENU Tampa, Fla.-based Air Culinaire Worldwide (Booths C10429, C10435) is launching its first crowdsourced in-flight catering menu for business aviation here at NBAA 2015. Air Culinaire is a Universal Weather and Aviation company with 20 kitchens and hundreds of catering affiliates scattered around the globe. “The best way to produce a comprehensive menu is to work directly with the community to understand what they want,” said Stacey Farooqui, director of marketing for Air Culinaire. “Through the reach of social media we now have a menu that includes crowdsourced items in which the whole community can feel ownership.” The menu, created via a social media-based focus group of corporate flight attendants from around the world, includes items and concepts based on their direct input. Air Culinaire worked with a group of more than 120 corporate flight attendants during a three-month time period to ask questions and foster input into every component of the in-flight catering menu creation and packaging process. The result? The company introduced a ceramic packaging option, as well as a new a la carte menu category. Air Culinaire Worldwide plans to continue to use a corporate flight attendant focus group via Facebook for menu planning in the future, –A.L. according to Farooqui.

A new menu option from Air Culinaire developed through social media queries to corporate flight attendants.

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32 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

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NEWS CLIPS z Iacobucci Unveils Two New Luxury Seats Iacobucci/HF Aerospace (Booth C11805) is introducing two new VIP seats here at NBAA 2015. The Ravello VIP Double features a 21-inch seat bottom, matching ottoman, privacy divider, and fully reclines to full-flat berthing. The seat is equipped with TV screen, two power outlets, USB chargers, beverage holders, mood lighting, integrated flight attendant call and overhead reading light. The ottoman is fitted with stowage for personal amenities and additional USB chargers. The Milano single seat reclines to fully flat berthing during cruise flight and can be outfitted with options including reading light, cup holder, in-arm monitor compartment, adjustable headrest, USB port, PCU port and PCU/audio jack and is available in a variety of materials, colors and finishes. With Wednesday’s announcement of Brazilian approval for steep approaches, Embraer’s Legacy 450 and 500 models now anticipate similar certification from Europe’s EASA, as well as approval to operate at London City Airport.

Legacys get steep-approach nod by Amy Laboda Embraer Executive Jets (Booth N3932) announced Wednesday at NBAA 2015 that its Legacy 450 and 500 received Brazilian ANAC certification for steep approaches. That certification is a prerequisite for similar approvals forthcoming from both EASA and London City Airport (LCY). The company has been conducting steep approach testing

at LCY, where the airport must approve aircraft for both steep takeoffs and approaches, which is part of the airport’s unique noise abatement program. Company sources stated that they expect EASA certification imminently. LCY is one of a handful of airports around the world that employ steep approaches,

Amstat sees expansion in used jet inventories by Mark Huber Business aviation intelligence firm Amstat (Booth N1904) reports an overall flat resale market for business jets in the third quarter, with 2.5 percent of the active fleet turning over versus 2.7 percent a year ago and overall the lowest quarterly performance in the last three years. Midsize jets performed the best, with 3 percent turnover in the quarter and an annualized rate of 7.2

percent to date, the latter down from 7.8 percent and 7.3 percent in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Contrastingly, the large-cabin jet segment saw resale activity down both quarter on quarter and year on year, with year-todate performance the lowest in five years, with an annualized rate to date of turnover of just 5.4 percent versus 6 percent in 2014. For light jets, the

in this case 5.5 degrees. The Legacy 450/500 steep approach mode is modeled after that in Embraer’s EJets, except that the Legacy’s system estimates the mass of the airplane for spoiler deflection using flight mechanics formulas based on angle-ofattack and airspeed. It can fly approaches with glideslopes as steep as 7.5 degrees. o annualized rate was 7.7 percent, compared with 8.6 percent. Turboprops also posted the lowest performance in five years, with 5.6-percent turnover yearto-date versus 6 percent last year. “In general, business jet, turboprop, and turbine helicopter inventories have been trending upwards,” Amstat reported. “By the end of the third quarter, the inventory of business jets for sale as a percentage of active fleet was up quarter-on-quarter to 11.3 percent from 10.8 percent, but flat year-on-year. This percentage remains below the 20-year quarterly average of 12.6 percent, but the trend has been upwards since early 2014.” o

DAC INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS CAN SAFELY ‘STICK IT’ DAC International (Booth N3921) announced it is now a U.S. distributor for Nichigo G-Tape. The Japanese product is an environmentally friendly pressure-sensitive tape with a variety of aviation applications. It is also hand-tearable and easily removable. Unlike duct tape, G-Tape is reusable and does not leave any residue behind, making it ideal for protecting aircraft interiors during assembly and maintenance or as masking for painting. In addition, the tape has a higher tensile strength and dimensional stability than normal gaffer or duct tape products. “This is a new and exciting product to be representing,” said Cisco Hernandez, vice president and general manager of the Greenwich AeroGroup subsidiary. “Gaffer or duct tapes are often made with rubberbased products, but Nichigo G-Tape is an eco-friendly tape that is halogen-free and lead-free.” The tape is available in a wide range of adhesive strengths, ranging from removable to permanent, depending on application. DAC can also supply double-sided tape for tasks such as carpet bonding. –C.A.

z L-3 and Thomas Team Up on LCD Upgrades L-3 Aviation Products (Booth C8145) and Thomas Global Systems have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of upgrades of specific cathode-ray-tube (CRT) displays to liquid-crystal-diode (LCD) displays used in aircraft cockpits. Expected benefits include elimination of CRT-related maintenance costs, downtime and obsolescence issues. “This agreement builds on our recent award from ATR to provide an LCD display upgrade for its 42/72 aircraft [twinturboprop regional airliners]. The ATR program is a springboard for CRT-to-LCD upgrades for other platforms,” said Stuart Mullan, president L-3 Aviation Products. Angus Hutchinson, CEO, Thomas Global,” explained, “This agreement builds on the launch of Thomas’s TFD-8601 display, which is designed to replace legacy CRT primary flight displays on corporate and regional aircraft,” explained Thomas Global CEO Angus Hutchinson. He also noted that the agreement, “leverages the exceptional experience of both Thomas and L-3.”

z White-phosphor NVGs Approved in UK Idaho-based Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU), a nightvision goggle manufacturer, announced the UK CAA’s approval for the use of its white-phosphor, night-vision goggles on the MD 902 Explorer helicopter. The first application for the goggles in the UK was initiated with local emergency service provider and aircraft operator Specialist Aviation Services (SAS). “As more UK operators continue to experience the quality, clarity and definition of these goggles, we anticipate that demand for them will continue to increase,” said ASU president Jim Winkel. “Obtaining this first authorization is a big step towards advancing the safety of night operations and making whitephosphor goggles more readily available for UK operations.” Numerous law enforcement and air ambulance operations in the UK fly the MD902. ASU (Booth N717) now has 36 supplemental type certificates covering 65 makes and models of aircraft (fixed and rotary wing), including STCs from the FAA, EASA, Transport Canada and Brazil.

z ATG and Helm Create Virtual Reality Design Studio Aerospace Technologies Group (ATG, Booth C9843) has announced a joint venture with software company Helm-Systems to create an in-house virtual reality studio. The studio will provide customers with advanced 3-D services that will help them to conceptualize critical interior design elements such as cabin configuration and materials used. The company envisions the virtual studio being used by a range of platforms and customers, including OEMs, completion centers, designers, and individual owners. The company says this product will allow customers a greater degree of efficiency, flexibility, and clarity during the design process since they will be able to visualize—and evaluate—options with a 3D virtual system. ATG also notes the potential cost savings for customers, since all non-optimal design ideas will theoretically be ruled out near the beginning stages of development instead of becoming costly engineering changes in the later stages of completion.

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 33

Embraer joins with DHL on worldwide logistics model by R. Randall Padfield Embraer Executive Jets and DHL have teamed up on a new global logistics model designed specifically for business aviation. With 930 executive jets (and increasing to more than 1,000 next year) flying in some 60 counties, Embraer clearly has the need for sophisticated logistics support. “We have been continuously improving our customers’ experience in all aspects, thanks to relevant actions taken in process quality and support infrastructure,” said Waldir Goncalves, Embraer senior vicepresident of customer support and services worldwide. “I’m glad that DHL will join us for this unparalleled global logistics model for business aviation.” According to Peter Bonte, DHL’s vice president global business development server parts logistics, “DHL has a network of several locations

around the world and we have selected the best of these locations to support Embraer’s customers. Some of the locations are Memphis, Belgium, Dubai and Singapore.” Some warehouses are multicustomer, but all warehouses are certified to distribute parts for Embraer. DHL segregates a part of the building for Embraer, and Embraer has people in each location to manage the operation. Embraer selected DHL because of its global footprint and relevant experience in the aerospace industry. The logistics service will provide overnight deliveries even when an order comes in late in the day. An integrated IT solution will offer real-time visibility and improved tracking. Asked if Embraer is considering using dedicated AOG (aircraft on the ground) business jets to ferry parts and technicians,

Airborne connectivity provider Gogo Business Aviation has introduced an expanded suite of cockpit and data link services, new wireless update capability for its Gogo Vision entertainment system and enhanced ATG 1000 app support. Through Honeywell’s Global Data Center, Gogo (Booth N1716) can now provide Inmarsat Classic Aero voice and data service, and flight planning, data link, graphical cockpit and weather information plus flight-following services. Gogo said the new offering is part of a larger initiative from the Chicago-based company to expand its voice and data airtime services. The package also provides customers with “the convenience of single-source activation, support and unified monthly billing,” according to John Wade, Gogo Business Aviation executive vice president and general manager. The new update capability for Gogo Vision lets customers receive automatic content updates via Gogo Cloud in their hangars, by installing a simple, no-charge equipment package. Previously these updates could only be performed at certain Signature Flight Support FBO locations. Pointing to the impracticality of transmitting large media files over airborne connections, Wade said Gogo’s new method “further reinvents the process.” Also new is support through Gogo’s ATG 1000 for several cockpit and operational applications, including apps from FlightAware, ForeFlight, Honeywell and WSI. The ATG 1000 already supports voice, email and texting with passengers’ own smartphones.

34 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

The logistic model we have selected is much more powerful–we can get parts where we need, when we need. It’s a difference in concept.” o

by Curt Epstein

BARRY AMBROSE

At Pratt & Whitney Canada’s booth on the exhibit hall floor, NBAA 2015 attendees can peer deep inside the engines that power a wide range of business aviation aircraft.

Goncalves replied, “No, because now we have hundreds of [DHL] airplanes delivering parts around the world, so if I select just one or two jets, it is not comparable.

Million Air to open elite FBO at Beijing Capital Airport

GOGO NOW OFFERS EXPANDED CONNECTIVITY SUITE

THE POWER OF TRANSPARENCY

Waldir Gonçalves, left, senior v-p of customer support and services worldwide at Embraer Executive Jets, teamed on logistics with Peter Bonte, v-p global business development service parts logistics at DHL Supply Chain.

FBO chain Million Air signed an agreement with China’s Capital Jet (CJET) and Epic Aviation to establish CJET/ Million Air Beijing, the first premium FBO at Beijing Capital International Airport (ZBAA). The announcement, made at NBAA 2015, is the culmination of several years of groundwork according to Million Air CEO Roger Woolsey, who noted this is the company’s first entry into the Asian market, as well Million Air management is betting on the emergence of general as CJET’s first American-brand aviation in China, planning to open a premium FBO in Beijing. partnership. “There’s a lot of speculation and thought about where the industry is jet boarding and unloading at the termigoing,” Woolsey said. “I think that avia- nal rather than heading straight to a distion in China is about to have a really big tant spot on the ramp. boom as the airspace continues to be more The location will accept the Epic Card, open and free.” and those customers will receive exclusive ZBAA sees on average 50 international priority services, including preferred airbusiness aircraft arrivals a day, which are craft parking, valet luggage service and handled by CJET as the only authorized access to the new pilots lounge. ground service and customer passage proNext year will also see the beginning of vider for private aviation in the greater Million Air South Africa, with the planned metropolitan Beijing area. While its ter- opening of a first FBO in Cape Town, folminal at ZBAA was recently built, it will lowed by another in Johannesburg in 2017. undergo a remodel to bring its somewhat Closer to home, the company expects to sterile interior more in line with “interna- break ground early next year on Million tional hospitality” style, with an upgraded Air Austin which, when complete in 2017, pilots lounge and conference rooms. will be the third FBO at Austin-Bergstrom Million Air will provide customer ser- International Airport. vice training and provide operational and In other news, the Houston-based comsafety standards at the location which will pany named retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier begin operations on January 1. Woolsey General Blaine Holt as president. He will noted that future aircraft handling will be provide strategic leadership and manage all more along Western standards, with the operations at Million Air network. o

Latest JetNet iQ report shows 10 percent growth by Kerry Lynch JetNet is forecasting that the world business jet fleet will grow by 33 percent over the next 10 years, approaching 27,000 by 2024. But the industry data specialist also is anticipating a wave of retirements, with nearly 3,000 aircraft going out of service in that timeframe. The business aviation market analysis specialist released its latest JetNet iQ market intelligence findings and long-term outlook here at NBAA 2015, predicting a market for 9,365 business aircraft worth $255 billion over the next decade. That is close to Honeywell’s latest 10-year forecast for 9,200

new business jets, but JetNet’s outlook includes personal jets, such as the single-engine Cirrus SF50 Vision. The market analyst believes the emerging personal jet segment will account for 7.4 percent of the units delivered over the forecast period but just 0.5 percent of value. Long-range jets, meanwhile, are expected to account for 17.7 percent by volume and 40.2 percent of value. The fleet is anticipated to grow from 20,193 in 2014 to 26,774 by 2024, even with an expected 2,784 retirements. Detailing its forecast, JetNet analysts also pointed to mixed

JETNET IQ FORECAST -BUSINESS JET DELIVERY UNITS Excluding Personal Jets Deliveries 2015-2024 9,365 Units $255B in value

Deliveries 2015-2024 8,676 Units $254B in value

Source: JetNets

New Deliveries Units

New Deliveries Value

indicators in the current market environment. Rolland Vincent, the director of JetNet iQ, noted the unprecedented corporate profitability, but said that is not translating into a full recovery of flight hours. In fact, Vincent estimated that as many of 3,300 business jets are idle; many are believed to be older models suggesting there is a “retirement wave” ahead. Also, companies proportionately are spending less on business jets, he said, pointing to a “decoupling” of corporate profits and business aircraft sales. Used sales are a leading indicator, Vincent noted, and inventories have returned to pre-recession levels. But pricing remains a top concern, both with used and new aircraft, as soft and aggressive pricing is lowering residual values. JetNet iQ surveys of 500 operators found that nearly 60 percent cited residual values in their decision to put off aircraft purchases in the past two years. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed believe the public image of the industry has improved, but more than 17 percent said they either somewhat or strongly agreed when asked if the public image of the industry has caused them to seek other forms of transportation. “We need to get our public image back on the right side,” Vincent said. JetNet also announced a new product, iQ Investor, that will be released quarterly with more than 200 pages of industry analysis on demand, performance, OEM updates and operator surveys. o

TRUENORTH OPTELITY PRO STC’D ON GV TrueNorth Avionics (Booth C13639) has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of its Optelity Cabin Gateway Pro on a Gulfstream V. The STC was developed and certified by MidCanada Mod Center of Mississauga, Canada. The Cabin Gateway Pro is a 2MCU-size unit weighing about 7.3 pounds, offering 801.11 a/b/ g/n/ac Wi-Fi and two Iridium voice channels plus an integrated PBX and IP-based router. It supports Voice over IP and is compatible with all types of mobile devices as well as TrueNorth’s Stylus, Wi-Fi, Corded Ethernet and Classic Ethernet headsets. This GV was already equipped with TrueNorth’s Simphone connectivity system, but the Optelity Cabin Gateway Pro provided a streamlined upgrade path and has a smaller footprint. The Gateway Pro system is also eligible for TrueNorth’s new Optelity Care membershipbased support program. “Our track record for developing STCs and working with partners like TrueNorth on these programs is a source of great pride. Together, we help owners to extend and enhance the value of their current aircraft,” said Bill Arsenault, vice president, Mid Canada Mod Centre. “In our experience, the Optelity Cabin Gateway was designed for ease of installation and certification, making the job easier for us.” “Mid-Canada Mod Centre is an important long-time partner with a stellar reputation when it comes to STCs,” said TrueNorth CEO Mark van Berkel. “We are always proud to work with Bill and his team and are delighted they have achieved this success with the Optelity Cabin Gateway, it’s another step forward for this connectivity system.” –M.T.

TrainingPort stresses custom training needs by R. Randall Padfield TrainingPort believes that a “one size fits all” approach to safety training is ineffective for corporate flight departments and therefore offers more than 70 online safety-training courses to business aircraft operators. “Every corporate flight department is different,” said Scott Macpherson, founder

MARIANO ROSALES

TEXTRON ROLLS OUT 100TH CITATION M2

PRO LINE FUSION, AND ALL THAT JAZZ Rockwell Collins’s Craig Peterson demonstrates for NBAA 2015 attendees the ins and outs of the company's Pro Line Fusion avionics suite. The touchscreen architecture is the latest in the Rockwell Collins menu of products, designed to lessen pilots' workload and increase safety and efficiency.

Less than two years after receiving FAA certification, Textron Aviation is preparing to deliver its 100th Citation M2. “Since entering the market in December 2013, the M2 has quickly become the bestselling business jet in its class,” said Kriya Shortt, Textron Aviation senior vice president, sales and marketing. The M2 has a maximum cruise speed of 404 knots, a range of 1,540 nm, can operate out of runways as short as 3,250 feet and will climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes. The aircraft is designed for single-pilot operations, seats seven, features the Garmin G3000 avionics suite and is powered by a pair of Williams FJ44 engines. –M.H.

and president of Training Port, “Generic online programs have a lot of gaps when it comes to meeting actual training needs or the latest regulations.” TrainingPort works with clients to develop a comprehensive training-needs assessment, he explained. This “ensures that all courses we deliver are customized to meet a flight department’s real-world operating conditions and risk profile.” The company now offers 70 online safety courses custom-tailored to business aviation operators flying in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. Here in Las Vegas, TrainingPort (Booth N924) is offering a $300 discount on its $795 initial airborne weather radar course for business aircraft pilots from November 17 to December 19. “We recognized that there was a training gap when it came to understanding and using weather radar effectively, so we worked with the best weather radar talent in business aviation to develop an unbeatable course,” said company vice president of operations Nik Chapman. o

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 35

Garmin offers AOA system priced right for light aircraft The FAA has made it much easier for aircraft owners to install angle-of-attack (AOA) indicating systems in light aircraft, and avionics manufacturers have responded with relatively low-cost products that could help prevent loss-of-control accidents. AIN recently flew in Garmin’s AOA-equipped A36 Bonanza to see how the company’s AOA system works. AOA systems measure the acute angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind then display the airplane’s AOA condition on a cockpit instrument or on the primary flight display. Starting at $1,499, Garmin’s AOA system consists of three components: the GI 260 AOA indicator, GAP 26 probe and GSU 25 air-data computer. On the Garmin A36, the GI 260 is installed on the left side of the compass on top of the glareshield, so it can easily be seen by the pilot in the left seat, although it is not oriented toward the right-seater’s view. The A36 is equipped with Garmin’s G1000 avionics suite, but Garmin doesn’t offer an AOA indication on the G1000 with this AOA package. For the experimental amateur-built market, Garmin does offer the option of displaying AOA on its G3X avionics

primary flight display. What makes the Garmin AOA easy to install is the GAP 26 probe, which is fitted to an inspection plate positioned under the Bonanza’s right wing. The GSU 25 is hooked up to the probe and to static pressure. Once installed, the system must be calibrated by flying the airplane and matching the approach AOA indication to the typical 1.3 Vso approach speed. “Once the AOA angles have been calibrated, they will be accurate in the calibrated flap configuration, at any gross weight or altitude, every time,” according to the Garmin AOA system owner’s manual. The AOA system automatically indicates AOA after the airplane reaches at least 50 knots. The pilot can view the symbols on the GI 260 indicator, which also provides aural warnings through the audio system. In normal flight there usually is no indication showing on the GI 260. As we slowed the Bonanza down, green bar annunciators started showing up on the bottom of the instrument. At 1.3 Vso, the instrument shows the approach AOA reference dot flanked by two green bars. From here, the next horizontal bar is yellow, then it transitions to yellow then

MATT THURBER

by Matt Thurber

Garmin’s angle-of-attack indicator offers a simple display of critical information. The $1,499 system consists of the GI 260 angle-of-attack indicator, the easy-to-install GAP 26 probe and GSU 25 air-data computer.

red chevrons. The aural warnings start as slow beep-beeps with the first yellow chevron. These warnings then speed up as the red chevrons illuminate. Just before the airplane stalled, the entire indicator lit up while it beeped rapidly. The proper way to handle this situation is to lower the nose, which matches the downward-pointing direction of the red and yellow chevrons, and doing so quickly returned the AOA indicator to the

Citation market rebounds, as North America recovers

safe green bars and AOA reference dot. The Garmin AOA system is uncomplicated and priced to encourage aircraft owners to install the device and realize the benefits of AOA indicators. And as more aircraft are equipped with AOA indicators, flight instructors will spend more time not only learning how they work but teaching the important concept of AOA and how relying on airspeed can leave little margin for error. o The Citation CS3 is popular among ownerpilots. Rising optimism among small business owners has the Citation Jet Pilots Association “feeling pretty good about the market.”

Demand for light and midsize jets in North America is finally returning to levels seen before the 2008 recession, JetAviva CEO Cyrus Sigari told attendees of the Citation Jet Pilots Association’s (CJP) 2015 convention held in September. For the moment, at least, that strength is enough to counter troubling signs on the international stage. “The theme for this year is confidence,” Sigari told attendees in his annual update on the current highs and lows in the Citation sales market. “Overall, we’re feeling pretty good about the market.” Positive economic indicators, including rising small business optimism, have bolstered the sales forecast in the U.S. and throughout North America. “We’re effectively at 100 percent, [which] is the highest it’s been since, effectively, 2006 or so,” Sigari noted. “People are no longer doom and gloom, and

that has shifted the dynamic of the marketplace.” Countering those positives are continued uncertainty over recent stock market fluctuations, and the effects of lower oil production on light jet demand in traditionally strong– but energy-dependent–regions such as Texas, Oklahoma and Canada. Internationally, Europe continues to be “a drag on the marketplace,” Sigari added, although strong piston aircraft demand throughout the EU may present an opportunity for future growth as those owners eventually make the transition to turbines. Turmoil in the BRIC countries has also led to slumping aircraft sales, though in Southeast Asia it has also driven corporate officials to consider private air travel due to safety concerns about the region’s commercial airlines. Depressed global currencies against the U.S. dollar are also

MARIANO ROSALES

by Rob Finfrock

an area of concern. “Generally speaking across the board, the U.S. dollar has gone up about 20 percent, which gives us good purchasing power, [but] it also makes it more expensive for people globally to buy our stuff,” he added. As far as the market for Citations, Sigari noted that interest has waned greatly in the C510 Mustang light jet, offset by the recent addition of the M2 to the Citation line. “Cessna was very successful in building a backlog of orders, and it has been steadily working through that,” he said. “Now it’s looking for new customers.”

36 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Demand also continues to be relatively healthy for the CJ3+, while Cessna’s flagship singlepilot jet, the CJ4, “has been the bread and butter, chugging out the door consistently since it was certified in 2010,” Sigari said. “The backlog is up to Q1 of 2016; the word ‘backlog’ hasn’t really existed in this segment of the market for several years.” Sigari also noted that the market for older Citation models may experience a bit of an upswing in the near future, after years of lagging sales, due to greater availability of glasspanel avionics retrofit solutions.

Anticipated FAA certification of Tamarack Aerospace’s active winglet system is also “a big deal, one that changes the value proposition” for straight-wing Cessna CitationJets, he added. JetAviva is exhibiting at the Henderson Executive Airport NBAA static display. o

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New compact satcom is Blue Sky Network’s latest by Bill Carey Blue Sky Network (Booth C7726) is here introducing the HawkEye 7200A satellite

communications system, its most advanced Iridium satellite tracking system to date.

The HawkEye 7200A meets or exceeds performance criteria of the Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) that ICAO recommends for continuous aircraft tracking beginning in 2017. “We want to make sure that we’re the system that’s ahead of the curve by releasing it now,” said Nick Tucky, Blue

Sky Network director of sales. “So operators know that the system is available and they can start outfitting their fleet to meet the requirement by 2017.” The HawkEye 7200A leverages the latest technology to produce a much smaller and lighter satcom than the D1000A

Blue Sky Network’s HawkEye 7200A satcom system meets ICAO criteria for continuous aircraft tracking.

system it succeeds. “The new modem in this is 90 percent more compact than the previous model, therefore allowing us to exploit technology and design a system that weighs one pound versus six pounds, because dry weight is very important to an aircraft operator,” Tucky said. “It’s the smallest, lightest, most advanced voice and data satellite transceiver module ever.” The HawkEye 7200A has approved model list supplemental type certification from the FAA, allowing it to be used on multiple fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft types. A Tier 1 Iridium provider, Blue Sky Network offers a turnkey tracking solution through its SkyRouter cloud-based web portal, and it provides 24/7 technical support from its headquarters in La Jolla, Calif. The satcom device provides precise tracking using a GNSS receiver at reporting rates based on time, location or events the operator can customize “from 30 seconds on up,” Tucky said. The company is also featuring the Hawkeye 100A accessory option, which adds capability for Iridium phone calls and messaging. International Tracking

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38 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014, ICAO has recommended that aircraft report their position at 15-minute intervals as a first step toward implementing a more comprehensive GADSS that will be designed to support position reporting for abnormal or distress events. “We are tremendously proud to have participated in ICAO discussions regarding the future of aviation tracking,” said Jon Gilbert, Blue Sky Network president and CEO. “Drawing on this vision of GADSS, we have developed a new generation of hardware that is physically efficient and concurrently cost-effective.” Blue Sky Network unveiled the HawkEye 7200A to the international helicopter community at Helitech International in London in October. o

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Private aviation consumers speak out in BJT Survey by Charles Alcock

he customer, they say, is always right, so the business aviation industry would do well to pay close attention to the latest annual Readers’ Choice Survey published by AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler. The latest results, published in the October/November edition, give strong grounds for optimism about private aviation consumer intentions. But there are also some fascinating insights into their likes and dislikes, which are revealed in the charts published here. The headline news is that nearly 52 percent of current business jet users plan to fly the same amount over the next 12 months, while nearly 40 percent say they will fly a bit more (32 percent) or a lot more (7.9 percent). About half of the BJT readers responding said they flew the same amount over the past year as during the year before, while 21.7 percent flew a bit more and 15 percent a bit less. Only 7.7 flew much less and 5.9 percent much more. Not surprisingly, survey respondents said “saving time” is the number-one reason that they fly on business aircraft, followed by the ability to fly into airports not served by airlines and the ability to work and hold meetings in flight. Nearly 62 percent of their flights are mostly or almost always for business, while 28.1 percent were an even mix of personal and business flying. Less than 10 percent of flights were categorized as mostly or almost always personal. According to the survey, the most attractive feature of an aircraft is economical operation, with range, cabin size, aircraft manufacturer and age of aircraft rounding out the top five; baggage space was at the bottom of the list. Respondents’ business aircraft wish list included the Pilatus PC-12 at the lower end and the Gulfstream G650 at the top end. You can find full demographic information about survey respondents at BJTonline.com/2015survey.

BJT has been helping subscribers maximize their investment in private aviation since 2003. It offers unbiased reviews of new and used aircraft; advice about buying and selling jets; and information about taxes, laws, financing, safety, maintenance, insurance and more. It also features articles about new luxury autos, vacation destinations and other leisure pursuits, plus interviews with luminaries such as entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, actor John Travolta, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and MTV cofounder Bob Pittman. Popular annual features include BJT’s Book of Lists (June/July), which blends useful tips with entertaining trivia; Readers’ Choice (October/ November), a report on the magazine’s exclusive survey of bizav users; and Gift Guide (December/January), which spotlights holiday gift ideas suited to business jet travelers. BJT’s exclusive audience of high-net-worth readers has grown substantially since the magazine began publishing. During the same period, it has garnered more than two dozen editorial awards, including 13 in the annual competition sponsored by the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). Most notably, BJT has twice (2011 and 2013) been a winner of ASBPE’s General Excellence Award, marking it as one of the best business magazines in the U.S. In addition, the publication’s editors and writers have won three Gold Wing Awards from the U.S.-based National Business Aviation Association; six Folio: Eddie awards, including four for Best Travel/Transportation Magazine; an Aerospace Journalist of the Year award; and prizes in editorial competitions sponsored by the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Air Transportation Association. –C.A.

42 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Continued on page 50 u

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With the Garmin G950/G1000 integrated flight deck upgrade, you’ll breathe new life into your Beech 1900D, Twin Commander, Twin Otter, Piper Meridian, Metroliner or Cessna 501 and 525*. Besides solving avionics obsolescence issues and improving your dispatch reliability, you’ll ensure your aircraft is equipped for the future, with moving maps, electronic charts, WAAS/LPV approach capability, integrated FMS, ADS-B, traffic and weather links, plus available SVT™ 3-D synthetic vision displays. And you’ll gain increased utility and tangible cost benefits at a fraction of the cost of traditional flight deck retrofits. For more information, visit us at NBAA at booth C8943 and static display space 500. Or contact Scott Frye, Garmin Integrated Flight Deck Sales Manager at Scott.Frye@garmin.com and 913-440-2412 or visit Garmin.com/aviation.

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Integrating large UAS achieves a milestone by Bill Carey The aviation standards organization supporting the FAA in developing the technical criteria for allowing large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to fly in civilian airspace has achieved a “significant milestone” in that effort. Preliminary requirements for airborne collision avoidance and communications with the ground have been completed, advisory group RTCA recently announced.

The “interim” documents establish minimum operational performance standards–or MOPS–for “detect and avoid” and command and control, core functions the FAA will require for unmanned aircraft to fly with manned aircraft in unrestricted airspace. RTCA, formerly known as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, expects to produce final

standards next summer after verification testing of the requirements. RTCA standards are incorporated by the FAA in its regulatory and advisory documents, and provide guidance to designers and manufacturers in building and certifying equipment. Under RTCA’s auspices, a committee of industry and government experts designated Special Committee 228

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44 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

So-called “detect and avoid” technology has taken a major step forward, paving the way for integrating large unmanned aircraft in U.S. national airspace.

(SC-228) has been at work since 2013 developing detect-and-avoid and command and control, or C2, requirements for large unmanned aircraft–not the small drones that have been much in the news lately. The resulting interim documents “focus on an initial scenario: the operation of civil unmanned aircraft ‘to’ and ‘from’ Class A airspace” the layer of airspace above 18,000 feet, RTCA said. “This is a historic milestone on the path to integrating UASs into the airspace in a safe and efficient manner,” RTCA president Margaret Jenny said of the preliminary standards. “It would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the leaders and participants of SC-228, as well as the guidance and support of the Department of Defense, FAA and NASA.” The RTCA release followed a September 16 announcement by NASA that it has completed a third phase of detect-and-avoid flight tests of its Ikhana unmanned aircraft at Armstrong Flight Research Center, part of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Those tests, which resume next spring, are informing the standards development effort. NASA, the FAA and industry partners have flown the five-ton Ikhana, a variant of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, in “scripted encounters” with manned aircraft over the Mojave Desert. “Depending on the specific scenario, either Ikhana detected one or more approaching aircraft and sent an alert to its remote pilot to take action, or Ikhana itself took action on its own by flying a programmed maneuver to avoid a collision–an aviation first,” NASA said. The Ikhana was fitted with a detectand-avoid system consisting of a prototype General Atomics electronically scanned radar, an ADS-B transponder from BAE Systems, and a secondgeneration Honeywell TCAS computer. Honeywell also provided software that fused the operations of the three sensors and a specially instrumented King Air “intruder” aircraft for the scripted encounters. “That ends that particular phase, but we’ve got some other work, both internally funded as well, that we’re going to continue to push,” said Bob Witwer, Honeywell Aerospace vice president for advanced technology. “I think both we and our customers are really excited about the product space that we’re targeting.” o

NEWS CLIPS

Japan touts steps to welcome bizav

z Textron Aviation Creates Ownership Program

by James Wynbrandt and Curt Epstein Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (CAB; Booth C12349) is taking steps to make all of the country’s airports more welcoming to business aviation. “We have to admit it was not so user friendly,” said Hayato Yamaguchi, a CAB deputy director. “Many business jet users complained that Japan was closed, an inaccessible country for them.” That began changing in 2010 when the government made business aviation part of a national growth strategy, he said, and the shift is accelerating in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Infrastructure improvements at Haneda, Narita, Nagoya and other airports include increasing parking space for business aircraft, adding taxiways to shorten taxi time, creating dedicated customs facilities, and building (at Nagoya) Japan’s first business aviation terminal.

The results have been slow but steady, with business aviation movements in Japan rising 2.2 percent annually from 2010 through 2014, and international business aviation movements increasing by an annual rate of 3.3 percent during the period, Yamaguchi said. But business aviation movements increased 14 percent in the first half of this year, he noted, a hopeful sign of robust growth ahead. For those looking to avoid the general congestion of the Tokyo area, representatives from Nagoya Airport in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture are here at NBAA 2015 (Booth C12347) to discuss its convenient location within the country, and its suitability for Japan-bound business aviation travelers. Nagoya is one of the few airports in Japan to be considered business aviation-specific, as the larger Chubu Centrair International Airport was built

nearby to handle the majority of the area’s airline traffic. Centrally located Nagoya is easily connected to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto by high-speed train. Indeed, Nagoya will be the first city linked to Tokyo by an under-construction next-generation maglev train, which will be nearly twice as fast as the current “bullet trains.” The airport, which is open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., offers a dedicated customs, immigration and quarantine facility, staffed on demand for international business arrivals, and ground handling is supplied by two FBOs: Nakanihon Air Service and Aero Asahi. The business aviation terminal is centrally located, less than 300 feet from the ramp, and aircraft can taxi directly to their own parking spaces under their own power. The airport is also suited as a fueling stop for long-range business jets from the U.S. East Coast heading for mainland China. o

FRANCO-AMERICAN UNITY HERALDED AT DASSAULT FALCON BREAKFAST

Hartzell uses new tech to optimize its props by Amy Laboda “We have greatly advanced propeller technology by taking advantage of the aerodynamic effect of blade sweep, the strength of lightweight structural composites and robotic manufacturing technologies for both composite and aluminum blades,” said Hartzell president Joe Brown, as he introduced new propellers for the Textron King Air fleet this week at NBAA 2015. “We can offer across-the-board performance improvements in all phases of flight,” he continued. The new propellers are in development for the King Air 350, and will complement the swept-blade propellers already available for the B200 and C90 models. They are a Hartzell Propeller (Booth C7629) and Raisbeck Engineering (N4900) effort, and have just entered flight-testing for FAA certification. Flight testing on the four-blade propeller started in October, and a supplemental type certificate is expected soon. The flight-testing for the five-blade carbon-fiber propeller is expected to be completed in early 2016. Both the four-blade aluminum swept-blade propeller and the five-blade composite swept-blade propeller are on display during NBAA 2015 at both companies’ booths. o

z Inairvation Signs New Installer Partners Inairvation, a joint venture of Lufthansa Technik and F/ List, has selected three partners–Flying Colours, Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services and Ruag Aviation–to install its pre-engineered, integrated cabins for retrofitting in Bombardier Global 5000s and 6000s. With its new partners, Inairvation (Booth C10416) can now offer installation packages to the retrofit market. The Globals are the first models to be offered and other platforms will be added as dictated by market demand. The baseline retrofit package offers the nice HD cabin management/in-flight entertainment system integrated into new side-ledges and modification kits. Also available are many optional packages that, when taken together, create a completely new interior. The pre-engineered retrofits are expected to reduce the high non-recurring engineering costs and downtimes of one-off installations.

z Mecaer Gear Lands at NBAA 2015

MARK PHELPS

The mood at Dassault Falcon’s annual family breakfast at the NBAA show in Las Vegas was more somber than usual this year, with Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier and Falcon Jet president John Rosanvallon reflecting on last Friday’s terror attacks in Paris. Rosanvallon, pointing to the French and American flags adorning the stage, remarked that France and America always come together to support each other during difficult times. CNN aviation analyst Miles O’Brien served as the emcee for the morning and presented a video showing Dassault facilities in both France and Little Rock, Arkansas. There was ample footage of the Falcon 8X, which is in production and according to Trappier will be flown to the NBAA Convention next year by Falcon’s “first and most loyal client,” Serge Dassault. –J.E.

Textron Aviation has rolled out a new plan to provide operational support and Part 91 aircraft management services to its Cessna Citation business jet and Beechcraft King Air customers. The ProOwnership service can be tailored to the customer based on level of services required. The manufacturer can provide flight operation transition flight crews or pilot mentoring, and help with selecting a home airport and hangar. ProOwnership services also can include overseeing all maintenance events, helping with trip planning and providing concierge services. “The beauty of our ProOwnership program is that it can be fully customized to fit each customer’s needs, making owning and operating an aircraft as enjoyable and seamless as it should be,” said Brad Thress, senior vice president for customer service.

Serge Dassault

NEWS NOTE With the success of its first Corridor software technology forum, held this week at NBAA 2015, Continuum Applied Technology, developer of Corridor Aviation Service Software (Booth N1622), is planning to make the technology gathering an annual event at the show. “The NBAA Convention is always a great opportunity for the Corridor team to interact with customers,” said Thomas Carleton, Continuum’s director of customer services. “It just makes sense to coordinate our customer meetings at an event that is already draws our industry together and promotes interaction among its innovators.” The forum focused on new Corridor features and product development. The gathering also provided an opportunity for Continuum to address expected effects of the company’s acquisition by aviation management products provider CAMP Systems in March. n

Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG) is displaying several of its landing gear assemblies at its booth (N2516) this week at NBAA 2015. They include those for the One Aviation Eclipse 550 very light jet, AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin helicopter and the UTAS nosegear for the Gulfstream G650. MAG’s diverse clientele for landing gear and related systems includes helicopter makers AgustaWestland and Bell as well as fixed-wing OEMs Textron, Diamond, One Aviation and Piper, as well as component makers UTAS, Turkish Aerospace Industries and Northrop Grumman. MAG-related components include complete systems, as well as shock absorbing nose and main gears, steering systems, electromechanical actuators, landing gear control valves, braking systems, wheels, brakes and landing gear cockpit controls.

z NBAA Announces New Professionalism Award NBAA has announced a new honor. It recently established the Dr. Tony Kern Aviation Professionalism Award to recognize those in business aviation who embody the concept of professionalism. The award is named after Kern, who is a co-founder of the consulting firm Convergent Performance. The goal of his company is to “apply the latest in human factors research to high-risk industries wanting to reduce error, increase professionalism and optimize the human/machine interface.” According to NBAA, Kern is one of the world’s foremost leading authorities on human performance. The NBAA Safety Committee has named professionalism as one of its top focus areas. This award aims to highlight individuals working in business aviation who actively pursue “excellence through discipline, ethical behavior and continuous improvement.” Anyone within business aviation may be nominated for the award, with multiple annual recipients possible each year. The nomination period is expected to open in January.

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 45

FLIGHTSAFETY ADDS NEW ONLINE COURSES

MATT THURBER

Take a ride with AIN editor Matt Thurber as he tries out the sport amphibian that has caught the eye of so many pilots.

Icon amphib is attracting all types of flyers by Matt Thurber For a break from the big- and smallbut turbine-powered iron that seems to prevail at a typical NBAA show, a visit to Icon Aircraft’s booth (N4510) might be on order. The Vacaville, Calif. company is here with its recreational amphibian A5 piston, a fun and safetyfocused design targeted squarely at people who enjoy the outdoors. So far, Icon has tallied roughly 2,000 orders for the two-seat folding-wing amphib, and deliveries began in August. As an NBAA show incentive, through November 22, Icon has lowered the minimum deposit to $1,000 from $5,000. During my A5 flight, my demo pilot was Kirk Hawkins, company CEO and founder and a former Air Force F-16 and American Airlines 767 pilot and mechanical engineer. Sitting in the water at Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin on a gorgeous summer afternoon, the A5 looks like it wants to go–flying, camping on a beach, carving liquid donuts on the smooth lake’s surface. A unique feature of the A5 is the most prominent instrument on the panel: a large angle-of-attack (AOA) indicator,

in the center of the pilot’s field of view. The actual AOA is depicted by a wing shape instead of a needle. Hawkins water-taxied away from the dock then added full power; after a graceful water turn he lifted the A5 off the water at about 40 to 45 knots. Then I got to take the controls. Unlike other light sport aircraft that I’ve flown, the A5’s controls are highly harmonious; pitch and roll forces feel natural and well-matched, and the pitch control is not too sensitive. Hawkins demonstrated some of the A5’s spin-resistant airframe features that should make the A5 safer for the average and new pilot. The A5 can be stalled, but three key design goals dictated what happens at the stall. First is that it be resistant to spinning, second that it be controllable while in a stall and third that it have a slow descent rate during a power-off full stall that would still allow a survivable crash. Pulling the power back, the A5 remained fully controllable in the stall while descending about 600 fpm. The fact that the A5 doesn’t react to a stall by dropping a wing suddenly, even when

stepping on the rudder, is a significant accomplishment. Hawkins also demonstrated an accelerated stall right into the buffet, and the A5 didn’t drop a wing and remained solidly stable as he unloaded the wing and recovered from the stall. He also showed me how the A5 will climb in a full stall with full power applied, and he said it would do so even at mtow. The bottom line for the spin-resistant features, he said, is that even in a high AOA situation, the outboard onethird of the wing remains flying, which is what allows the pilot to still have control of the A5 in a stall. “The key is not to punish people if they’re not perfect [pilots],” he explained. “It’s an extraordinary safety benefit.” I flew around some more and landed and took off a few times. With flaps set at full and the gear up, I brought the power back and let the A5 descend. The touchdown on the water was a little anti-climatic; the hull made contact briefly, skipped back into the air, then touched down again and stuck. I pulled the power back and the hull grabbed the water more firmly and we were down. o

Gray Stone Advisors offers staffing, budgeting products by R. Randall Padfield Gray Stone Advisors, a consulting company for business aviation with offices in Knoxville, Tenn., and Columbus, Ohio, is offering two new products aimed at helping flight departments make the business of running a flight operation less onerous. Company executives Jim Lara and Steve Brechter have been working together for almost 20 years. “We’ve seen shifts in the corporate business aviation market over the last number of years,”

Brechter explained. “First, the corporate environment has become much leaner than we’ve ever seen before, so there are fewer corporate resources available to the flight department, such as accounting. Second, whereas previously flight departments often reported directly to the CEO, now many are reporting to people lower down the corporate ladder, for example to HR, legal, communications and finance. Some of their reporting points are not even authorized users

46 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

of the flight department. So now many flight department directors find they must vie for resources without having the skill sets they need to do this effectively.” To help flight departments deal with crew staffing and budgeting, Gray Stone Advisors has developed two tools: CrewCount and BudgetBuilder. CrewCount helps take out the guesswork involved in determining how many people are needed in the flight department by accurately quantifying the specific requirements of the operation’s goals. BudgetBuilder, basically a sophisticated spreadsheet of customized data in a format that can easily be presented to senior management and other corporate executives, asks users to evaluate 270 specific elements relating to a flight department’s budget.

FlightSafety International (Booth C8524) is offering the next generation of training for navigation, international procedures, line-oriented training, pilot and technician certification. The company is adding a NextGen Communication/Navigation course to its list of eLearning courses. The new program is designed to familiarize flight departments with NextGen and Future Air Navigation System (FANS) operations. The two-hour, self-paced online course describes the basics of transponder and radar theory and enables participants to identify NextGen air traffic management systems and networks, identifies the mandates and requirements for operations and references the operational approvals necessary for ADS-B and controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC). Other CPDLC eLearning courses are available for aircraft manufactured by Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream. FlightSafety recently introduced online courses for CPDLC for the Garmin G3000/ G5000 and minimum navigation performance specification and adverse weathermonsoon operations. The international procedures line-oriented flight training (LOFT) course consists of eight hours of ground school and three hours of simulator training. The course will help enable pilots to respond correctly to in-flight contingencies in international airspace including ICAO Doc 4444 guidelines. Those who fly aircraft that require one or more stops will benefit from the course as it is adaptable to their specific mission. The new FlightSafety Master Aviator program is designed to give pilots a deeper knowledge of the aircraft they fly via a series of courses taken both initially and recurrently at least every eight months. Separately, FlightSafety and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada have extended their training services agreement for another 10 years. Under the agreement, FlightSafety will continue to provide advanced technology-based maintenance training for P&WC products including turboprop, turbofan and turboshaft engines, as well as auxiliary power units. –M.H.

Then Gray Stone Advisors helps flight department directors through the budget process and crew staffing models and remains available for additional consulting. “Our goal is to help the flight department become self-sufficient, but we’re available whenever needed,” said Brechter. One flight department director, commenting on CrewCount, said, “The crew staffing model was great. Although my boss had another headcount in mind, this gave me confidence to justify ‘my gut’ with analytics. A huge thanks!” o

Bombardier is now expanding service capabilities in Wichita

DALLAS AIRMOTIVE PROMISES THRILL OF THE BUILD, SHOW SPECIALS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION

Bombardier Business Aircraft’s service center in Wichita was recognized as an authorized service center on Rolls-Royce BR710 engines. The authorization comes as Bombardier has shifted more Global maintenance to Wichita and positions the company to provide both airframe and engine services on the Global lines. Bombardier in the spring added 38,000 sq ft of hangar space to the Wichita center, increasing its total square footage to 113,000 sq ft. Stan Younger, vice president, aircraft service centers for Bombardier Business Aircraft, said the company has invested significantly in parts and tools to add the capabilities to the cited. “Expanding our worldwide network’s support capabilities is one of our top priorities,” Younger said, adding, “Our goal is to provide operators with the ability to receive the best maintenance whenever and wherever they need it.” With the latest authorization, all of the Bombardier Business Aircraft service centers have obtained Rolls-Royce authorization. Customers at the centers have direct access to Rolls-Royce

BARRY AMBROSE

by Kerry Lynch

Bombardier v-p Stan Younger, left, celebrates a service center certification plaque with Rolls-Royce v-p Andrew Robinson, and R-R communications specialist Kim Rubush.

technical service representatives, along with Rolls-Royce’s online portal for support and technical troubleshooting. Having the BR710 maintenance capability in Wichita, “strategically is very important to us,” added Andrew Robinson, senior v-p, services and customer support, adding it more closely aligns the maintenance with the OEM. Younger noted that, since the shift of the maintenance, “the take rate has been phenomenal” and the authorization provides

a more “tip-to-tail” approach. Among the work shifted there is for NetJets Global jet maintenance, Younger said, noting the Wichita center provides a “central location” for the fractional ownership provider. The shift also comes as Bombardier rationalizes its facilities in Wichita, particularly as it canceled the Learjet 85 program. The company has evaluated how best to leverage its recourses and talent pool at the location. The Wichita’s service center now has a staff of nearly 250. o

American Aero donates $20,000 to Navy SEAL support foundation by Amy Laboda American Aero, an IS-BAHcertified Signature Select FBO (Booth N3505) at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, presented the Navy SEAL Foundation with a generous check for $20,000 on the first day of the 2015 NBAA convention.

The non-profit foundation, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., provides support to the naval special warfare community and its families during crises. “A number of our employees are current or former members of the military, and we have the

highest regard for this nation’s service men and women,” said Riggs Brown, general manager of American Aero. “This donation is part of our ongoing commitment to honor those heroes,” he continued. American Aero raised the donated monies through a “Red, White and Blue” program that enables fueling customers to contribute 10 cents from the price of every gallon of fuel, and the FBO matches the donation. o American Aero Fort Worth, an FBO at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Signature Select FBO, donated $20,000 to support the Navy SEAL Foundation during NBAA 2015. From left to right: Riggs Brown, general manager, American Aero; Carlo Franzia, former SEAL and founding member of SEAL Team 7 plank holder group; Mike Nemee, former SEAL; and Jackie Williamson, American Aero.

Dallas Airmotive announced that its First Support field service organization completed more than 10,000 service events in the last twoyear period. To hit the magic 10,000 mark, the BBA Aviation subsidiary expanded First Support. “Field service has always been an integral component of our business,” said Mark Stubbs, chief commercial officer for Dallas Airmotive. The organization has grown to include more than 110 technicians available at the customer’s call. “We will continue to expand our team, our tooling and our capabilities so that we can meet customer demand in the field,” Stubbs continued. NBAA attendees can see field service technicians in action at the Dallas Airmotive exhibit (Booth N3505) twice daily, at 11 a.m. and 2 pm. While there take a look at some of Dallas Airmotive’s NBAA show specials, including exclusive savings on qualifying MRO services for customers who commit to sending their engine overhauls to Dallas Airmotive. The company offers OEM-authorized service on more than 25 engine models and has three overhaul centers as well as 10 regional turbine centers around the globe. The company is in the final stages of construction on its MRO and test center at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. It announced Tuesday that it expects to receive certificates of occupancy for the 220,000-sq-ft facility and its 30,000-sq-ft engine test center in January 2016. Once the certificates are issued Dallas Airmotive can begin the process of transferring people and equipment to the new location. –A.L.

Tech for MROs, FBOs by Curt Epstein Industry payment solutions provider Multi Service Technology Solutions (Booth C10821) announced the official release of its Total Aviation Software. The next-generation aviation management package is built on the foundation of the company’s four existing platforms–TotalFBO, FBO Manager, MyFBO.com and AvPOS–and will provide solutions for service providers such as FBOs, MROs, flight schools and charter companies. The new web-based system offers modules for fuel, card processing, concierge service, CRM, data sharing, flight scheduling and more. It allows users to customize the sytem for “plug and play” ease, according to their specific business needs. A configurable “app style” dashboard

makes it easier for customer service and line service staff to master and streamline their frequent tasks. Tablet-ready, the software is also compatible with the latest credit protection protocols such as PCI and EMV chip-enabled cards, ensuring users can process payment transactions safely and securely on the ramp or anywhere with an Internet connection. Multi Service Technology Solutions senior vice president Michele Wills said, “We are excited about [the system’s] many features and functionality, including ease of use, low cost and software as a service deployment model that allows for automatic updates, saving our customers time and money on costly upgrades and IT infrastructure.” o

AVIALL SAYS FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL Parts supplier Aviall is offering its online customers in the lower 48 states and Alaska a wonderful early holiday present: free ground shipping. Customers in Europe get the same gift via FedEx International Economy Service shipping. There is no minimum-spending limit to get the free shipping, though customers do need to redeem the offer online, and purchases need to be made before the end of the year. Aviall (Booth N2321) has a product inventory of some 2 million parts. If the aircraft needs servicing on the road, however, they can count on the Boeing subsidiary’s AOG service to support them. The company dedicates 100 professionals (15 of which are multilingual) to get the necessary parts for an aircraft repair out quickly. The AOG team is on the job 24/7, 365 days a year. Dallas-based Aviall said during NBAA 2015 that it expects to introduce an app for its AOG services, as well as digital notifications of parts delivery status soon. –A..L.

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 47

Having received FAA type certification for its second example of a Fusion-equipped King Air 350i/ER, Beechcraft expects to begin delivering aircraft to customers in the near future.

NEWS CLIPS FlightSafety International (Booth C8524), headquartered at New York’s La Guardia Airport, said its Sikorsky S-76D helicopter simulator at the company’s West Palm Beach, Fla., training facility has been qualified to level D by the FAA and EASA, making it the first such simulator to receive this qualification. “The FAA and EASA level D qualification illustrates FlightSafety’s ability and commitment to provide customers with industry-leading advanced technology training equipment,” said David Davenport, FSI executive vice president. The simulator features a Thales avionics suite with version 400 software and provides WAAS/LPV approach capability, FAA single-pilot IFR and an onboard health usage monitoring system (HUMS). It is equipped with FSI’s Vital 1100 visual system, CrewView collimated glass mirror display and electric control loading and cueing.

z The Time is Now for TCAS 7.1 Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS), an L-3 and Thales company (Booth C8145), is reminding NBAA 2015 attendees that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandate for aircraft using its airspace and services to upgrade to TCAS II Change 7.1 is December 1. “The Change 7.1 upgrade delivers important enhancements to TCAS, including reversal logic, new aural alerting for Adjust Vertical Speed, and Level-off resolution advisories. A lot of operators should want this upgrade even if they don’t fly to Europe,” explained Shane LaPlante, vice president of aftermarket sales for ACSS and L-3 Aviation Products. The 7.1 upgrade is available from ACSS for all of its TCAS products through the L-3 dealer network and major OEM service centers worldwide. ACSS products include TCAS II, TCAS 3000/ SP, T2CAS and T3CAS.

z Tactair Supports Global Development Tactair Fluid Controls (Booth N5212) announced that it has issued safety of flight letters for landing gear hydraulic controls on the under-development Bombardier Global 7000/8000 ultra-long-range twinjets. Tactair specializes in the design and manufacture of fluid power and motion control products for aviation brake, landing gear and flight control systems, among others. Each shipset for the in-development Bombardier business jets consists of eight valves, including landing gear/door control solenoid valves, steering selector solenoid valve and manually operated alternate extension valves. The Liverpool, N.Y.-based company said it “continues to work diligently to support certification efforts.” The Global 7000 has not yet achieved its first flight, and according to Bombardier’s latest estimates, its entry-into-service is slated for the secondhalf of 2018. This represents a significant delay in the program, widely attributed to issues related to the CSeries regional jet program. The Canadian airframer has deferred on providing a timeline for the longer-range Global 8000.

z JCB Aero Opens U.S. Beaudet Completions House French aircraft interiors specialist JCB Aero (Booth C13031) recently opened a new U.S. facility close to Dassault Falcon’s completion center in Little Rock, Ark. Trading under the name Beaudet Aviation, the company provides cabin refurbishment and reconfiguration services. The new facility features cabinetry, upholstery, fiberglass and paint shops, and can make complete cabin interiors. Beaudet plans further investments that will be fund programs designed to shorten manufacturing cycles, including the addition of a hangar and additional production areas and tooling. Among the capabilities that are expected to be added are varnishing processes. Beaudet started operations with a workforce of just 30 people. The number of employees is set to increase to 100 by the end of 2016. All craftsmen are selected by JCB’s own interior specialists.

BARRY AMBROSE

z FlightSafety Has Level-D S-76D Helicopter Sim

Beechcraft has certified Fusion on King Air 350i by Kerry Lynch Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft subsidiary received FAA type certification for its second King Air model, the 350i/ER, to be fitted with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion touchscreen avionics suite. Deliveries of Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 350i/ERs are scheduled to begin shortly. Certification of the Fusion King Air 350i follows approval for the Fusion flight deck aboard the King Air 250 last summer. As with the 350i, deliveries of Fusion-equipped King Air 250s

are expected to begin by the end of the year. Certification for the C90GTx is expected to follow in the first half of 2016. The new Fusion avionics, which replace Pro Line 21 systems, include three 14-inch interchangeable, high-resolution displays and touchscreen capability. Other features include highresolution synthetic vision, full multi-sensor flight management system, presets that will reconfigure all three displays with one touch and availability of automatic wireless database and chart

uploads. The system was designed with an open and scalable architecture for future upgrades. In addition to the cockpit upgrades, the newly certified King Air 350i also has received upgrades to its cabin features, including standard Wi-Fi capability and electronically dimmable window shades. Textron Aviation and Rockwell Collins announced during the most recent European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition that it was making the Pro Line Fusion suite standard on its King Air line, a move that Christi Tannahill, senior v-p, of turboprop aircraft and interior design, said was in direct response to customer feedback. “Offering the latest technology in the cockpit and cabin has resulted in great market reaction,” she added. o

BendixKing and Blackhawk Mods to offer AeroVue and engine upgrade by Kerry Lynch Honeywell’s BendixKing division is partnering with Blackhawk Modifications to offer an AeroVue integrated flight deck and engine upgrade program for the King Air 200. BendixKing is expected to begin work on an AeroVue supplemental type certificate for the Beechcraft King Air 200 in the first quarter of 2016. Certification already is under way for the B200. The BendixKing AeroVue package will include three 12-inch LCD screens, flight management system with vertical navigation, digital autopilot and a cursor control device. The package also includes WAAS GPS receivers, integrated engine instrumentation on the primary flight displays, dual-channel air data and attitude heading reference system, Mode S transponder, software-base multimode

48 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

digital radios and flight management system keyboard with joy stick, among other features. The avionics suite brings some of the technologies developed for Honeywell’s Primus Epic suite on Part 25 aircraft, the company said. Blackhawk (Booth C12012) offers three engine upgrade programs for the Beech King Air 200 series that involve installation the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42, -52 or -62 models. The modifications are performed through the Blackhawk dealer organization. Blackhawk and Honeywell will begin demonstrations of the packaged King Air 200 upgrades during the first quarter of 2016. New AeroWave

Separately, Honeywell’s BendixKing has begun shipment

of its next-generation AeroWave 100 airborne connectivity system with an active low gain antenna (LGA). The system provides a lower-cost connectivity option for general aviation aircraft and comes with a service plan based on hours of use. The next-generation system is based on the original AeroWave 100, but the company simplified installation and decreased weight by nearly four pounds with the new LGA. The active LGA is an Inmarsat Class 15 system providing worldwide Internet access. The new design includes an integrated GPS that eliminates the need for interface with the onboard navigation system. BendixKing has priced the system between $24,995 and $27,499. The service plan is pre-paid at an effective rate of $40 per hour. o

NBAA BOOTH N5509

ELEVATING SAFETY WORLDWIDE Vendor Management

Risk Assessment Tools

Safety Audits

Operator & Flight Data

Custom Safety Solutions

Our proud Global Operators Acropolis Aviation Limited - UK

ExecuJet ME - UAE

ACROSS - Mexico

Afrijet Business Service - Gabon

Executive Aviation Taiwan Corporation - Taiwan

Flymex - Mexico

Air Charter Scotland - UK

Gama Aviation Limited - UK

Sky Partners - CA - USA

Alliance Airlines - Australia

Global Jet Austria GmbH - Austria

TAG Aviation Asia - Hong Kong

Associated Aircraft Group, Inc - NY - USA

Global Jet Luxembourg S.A. - Luxembourg

TAG Aviation Espana S.L. - Spain

Australian Corporate Jet PTY, LTD - Australia

Global Aviacao Executiva - Brazil

TAG Aviation Middle East W.L.L. - Bahrain

Baires Fly S.A. - Argentina

Helidosa - Dominican Republic

TAG Aviation S.A. - Switzerland

Caverton Helicopters - Nigeria

London Air Services, Ltd. - Canada

Taj Air, Ltd. - India

First Jet - Mexico

Presidential Aviation, Inc. - FL - USA

Taxi Aviacao Executiva - Brazil

ExecuJet Australia PTY, Ltd - Australia

Redwings, S.A. de C.V. - Mexico

NV Jets - NV - USA

ExecuJet Aviation PTY Limited - South Africa

Royal Jet - UAE

Vista Jet Ltd - Malta

10 N Main Street, Suite B / Yardley, PA / 19067-1422 Fax: +1-877-998-3761

info@wyvernltd.com

Phone: +1-800-WINGMAN (946-4626) wyvernltd.com

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 42

FRACTIONAL SHARES

Other

5.5 Found online

Customer service

5.5

Used consultant

Please rate this fractional aircraft provider on each of these factors from poor (0) to excellent (5). 4.36

Cleanliness of aircraft

8.8

46.2

Previous experience with the provider

4.21

Aircraft model choices

4.07

Age of aircraft

4.02

Availability of aircraft on short notice

3.98

Overall satisfaction

3.96

Peak-day policies Recommendation from friend or colleague

34.1

AVERAGE RATING

If you’ve owned a fractional share in the past three years, how did you select your fractional provider?

3.73

Transparency/explanation of charges

3.64

Value for price paid

3.61

Residual-value terms

3.08

JET CARDS

Found online

1.2

Other

Please rate this jet card provider on each of these factors from poor (0) to excellent (5). Customer service

7.2 Used consultant

49.4 Previous experience with the provider

30.1 Recommendation from friend or colleague

4.31

Age of aircraft

4.19

Cleanliness of aircraft

4.16

Overall satisfaction

4.05

Aircraft model choices

4.04

Availability of aircraft on short notice

3.92

Transparency/explanation of charges

3.88

Value for price paid

3.82

Peak-day policies

AVERAGE RATING

If you’ve had a jet card within the past three years, how did you select your jet-card provider?

3.69

CHARTER OPERATORS

Other Found online

5.4

Please rate this charter operator on each of these factors from poor (0) to excellent (5). Customer service

1.6

4.16

Cleanliness of aircraft

8.3

4.05

Overall satisfaction Used a charter broker 56.5 28.2 Recommendation from friend or colleague

Previous experience with the provider

3.92

Availability of aircraft on short notice

3.78

Transparency/explanation of charges

3.76

Value for price paid

3.72

Age of aircraft

3.71

Aircraft model choices

3.61

Peak-day policies

3.59

50 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

AVERAGE RATING

If you’ve flown chartered aircraft within the past three years, how did you select the operator you used most recently?

Continued on page 52 u

Booth C11812

THE GREATEST IDEAS ARE SIMPLE. THIS ONE ALSO FLIES. Experience unique intuitiveness with our IFE, CMS & Communications solutions. For more information about IDAIR, please visit www.idair.aero A joint venture between Lufthansa Technik AG and Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 50

OWNED AIRCRAFT Please rate your business aircraft model on each of these factors.

Dassault Falcon 7X

Aircraft reliability Bombardier

48.4

38.5

Dassault

8.8

68.4

Embraer

28.1

54.6

42.4

Gulfstream

76.1

Hawker*

21.2

50.0

37.5

Pilatus

75.0

Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

% Excellent

25.0

59.5

% Very Good

62.3

100

120

Aircraft technology

19.5

54.0

Dassault

42.1

48.3

57.6

Embraer

25.0

Hawker*

9.1

Textron&Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Hawker Beechcraft & Hawker

32.4 6.3

Textron Aviation Cessna

50.0 50.0

18.6

55.8

10.0

18.6

Textron Aviation Cessna

28.6

Dassault

28.1

48.7

100

48.4 43.9

120

38.7

41.0

Pilatus Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

26.2

24.6

Pilatus

25.0 35.7

30.6

100

120

42.9

22.0 40.4

53.1

Textron Aviation Cessna

22.1

15.0 5.0

30.6

10.8 28.2 5.1

50.0

12.5

48.7

22.7

12.8

34.4

55.9 18.0

14.0

40.0 54.6

15.9

48.4

10.0

22.1 6.6

100

120

Cost of maintenance

28.6 42.2

45.60

Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

Bombardier

Textron Aviation Cessna

Embraer

Hawker*

13.5

43.6 55.0

37.0

28.6

Dassault

18.7

29.0 6.5

42.3

Hawker*

Gulfstream

64.5

Gulfstream

41.9

24.2

Embraer

10.0

Cockpit technology

Aircraft value for price paid Bombardier

40.0

10.9

20.9

43.3

35.9 5.1

34.9

9.7 12.5

30.8 50.0

Bombardier 29.2

22.6 43.8

28.2

22.2

40.0

Pilatus Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

Pilatus

33.3

60.4

Gulfstream

8.6

41.4

17.5

32.3 42.9

Hawker*

19.1

50.0

Dassault

25.3 40.4

35.5

Gulfstream 28.1

% Poor

34.4

Embraer

Bombardier

% Fair

Cabin amenities

33.3

Bombardier

Textron Aviation Cessna

% Average

10.0

8.8

31.9

50.6 5.5

24.8

100

120

Dassault

10.5

33.3 50.0

Embraer 25.0

Gulfstream Hawker* Pilatus Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

Bombardier Challenger 605

52 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Textron Aviation Cessna

33.3 34.4 32.1

13.2 30.0 25.6

*out of production 8000series

51.2

10.5 30.0 5.0

40.2

9.8

36.8 35.0

16.4

12.5

29.5

39.5

9.3

21.1

11.6 36.9

100

Continued on page 54 u

120

V I S I T

U S

A T

N B A A

B O O T H

N 3 5 0 5

WINGS TO WHEELS DRIVEN TO SERVE FROM RAMP TO ROAD

Land at Signature. Rent National. Keep the Points. As a member of National Car Rental’s Emerald Club,® you win big points when you rent at select Signature Flight Support® locations. First, you get approval points for making the best possible rental choice. And you earn Signature TailWins® points for every rental dollar you spend. Make it a point to use Signature and National. You’ll always find the experience rewarding.

SignatureFlight.com/National

Members of National’s Emerald Club earn one Signature TailWins reward point for every dollar spent on time and mileage at National Car Rental. Points can be earned for rentals at participating National locations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean. Tour, travel industry and complimentary rentals do not qualify for points. Other restrictions apply. The Emerald Club and its services require a signed Master Rental Agreement on file. National, National Car Rental, the “flag,” Emerald Aisle and Emerald Club are trademarks of Vanguard Car Rental USA LLC.

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 52

OWNED AIRCRAFT Please rate your business aircraft model on each of these factors.

% Excellent

% Average

26.7

Bombardier

23.1

42.9

24.2

29.8

53.3 48.3

51.4

Gulfstream 26.3

28.2

21.1

Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

46.5 29.5

Textron Aviation Cessna

20.9 44.3

50.0

Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Beechcraft Beechcraft && Hawker Hawker

9.3

64.1

Pilatus

10.0

27.9

100

40.0

10.0

11.6

9.3

55.0

120 *out of production 800 series

12.8

51.2 34.2

Textron Aviation Cessna

23.0

41.4 6.3

18.0

Hawker*

13.2 40.0

18.6

6.5

5.5

36.8

50.0

Pilatus

38.7

32.3 6.5 6.5

60.0

Hawker*

43.1 6.9 54.8

Embraer

Gulfstream

16.7

28.1 5.3

54.8

Embraer

% Poor

7.7

Dassault 33.3

Dassault

% Fair

Overall satisfaction

Manufacturer’s product support Bombardier

% Very Good

10.0

100

120

OWNED HELICOPTERS Please rate your helicopter model on each of these factors.

% Excellent

Aircraft reliability 31.8

50.0

Bell 20

Airbus*

9.1

52.4 0

100

63.6 23.8

47.6

120

% Poor

28.6

15.0

23.8

30.0 20

35.0 60

14.3 20.0

100

38.1

Bell

31.8 20

19.1

Bell

23.8

19.1

100

28.6

38.1 0

28.6 40

14.3 9.5

19.1 19.1

100

23.8 31.8

14.3

9.5

27.3

9.1

Airbus*

14.3

Bell 100

52.4 25.0

14.3 50.0

14.3 20.0 5.0

100

Cabin amenities Airbus*

9.5

Bell

23.8 22.7

57.1 18.2 40

9.5

54.6 60

100

Cockpit technology Airbus*

9.5

Bell

52.4 25.0

120

Overall satisfaction

14.3

23.8

Airbus*

13.6

Aircraft value for price paid Airbus*

% Fair

Manufacturer’s product support

18.2

9.5

Bell

42.9 60

Aircraft technology Bell

% Average

Cost of maintenance

Airbus*

% Very Good

28.6 50.0

*Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter)

9.5

20.0 5.0 80

120

NOTE: Respondents rated airplanes and helicopters that they or their companies owned within the past three years. We received insufficient data to report on manufacturers not listed. Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding and because numerals are not shown for ratings under 5 percent.

100

54 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Continued on page 56 u

120

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 54

FLYING PRIVATELY How do you expect your private flying to change in the year ahead?

Gulfstream G650

Will fly a bit less

5.4

Will fly much less

2.9

7.9 Will fly much more

What are the three most important reasons you fly privately?

51.8 32.0

Most important

Second most important

455

Ability to use airports ility to use airports that that airlines airlines don’t don't serve serve Ability to work hold to work & hold business meetings en&route business meetings en route

205

More comfortable flight

Privacy

Security

134

132

146

172

149

How has your private flying changed in the past year compared with the year before?

177

111

140

200

264

120

Will fly a bit more

Third most important

Save time

Will fly about the same

100

200

Flew much more

5.9

138

300

400

500

600

700

800

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS

Flew much less

7.7

15.0 Flew a bit less

What are the three aircraft features that are most important to you?

49.8 Flew about the same

Most important

Second most important

Economical operation

Third most important

188

Range

122

126

Cabin size Aircraft manufacturer Age of aircraft 63

Cockpit technology

Runway performance

Product support history

Cabin amenities 18 Baggage space 27 0

101

Cessna Citation Sovereign+

Aircraft model’s Aircraft model's accident history accident history

115 99

Speed

118

104 134

Flew a bit more

114

165

107

21.7

40 63

100

200

300

400

500

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS

56 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Continued on page 58 u

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Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 56

WISHED-FOR AIRCRAFT If you could receive a complimentary year of flying, which aircraft would you choose?

Beechcraft King Air 350ER

Single-engine turboprop airplane Pilatus PC-12

60.1 %

Cessna 208A or 208B Caravan

15.3 %

Daher TBM 700, 850, 900

15.1 %

Piper Meridian

5.3 %

Other

4.3 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Twin-engine turboprop airplane Beechcraft King Air (all models)

71.7 %

Piaggio Aero P180 Avanti or Avanti II 300 22.9 % Embraer Phenom

29.7 %

Mitsubishi MU-240, (all40XR, models) 3.1 % Bombardier Learjet 45 or 45CR

19.5 %

OtherEncore+) 2.3 % Cessna Citation 560 (V, Ultra, Encore,

0 CJ4)10 Cessna 525 CitationJet (CJ1/CJ1+, CJ2/2+, CJ3, Hawker/Beechjet 400

Pilatus PC-12 Dassault 7X

Very light jet (VLJ) Embraer Phenom 100

40% 50 13.1

Bombardier Learjet 35 or 36

2.6 %

Beechcraft Premier I, IIA

2.4 %

Cessna Citation 550 (II/SP, S/II, Bravo)

2.3 %

Other (please specify)

1.3 %

Bombardier Learjet 31

1.0 %

Small-cabin/light jet 29.7 %

Embraer Phenom 300

4.4 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

5.9 %

Other

5.0 %

37.4 %

Eclipse 500/550

RESPONSE PERCENT

5.6 %

Nextant 400XTi

52.4 %

Cessna Citation 510 Mustang

17.4 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Bombardier Learjet 40, 40XR, 45 or 45XR

19.5 %

Cessna Citation 560 (V, Ultra, Encore, Encore+)

17.4 %

Cessna 525 CitationJet (CJ1/CJ1+, CJ2/2+, CJ3, CJ4)

13.1 %

Hawker/Beechjet 400

5.6 %

Nextant 400XTi

5.0 %

Bombardier Learjet 35 or 36

2.6 %

Beechcraft Premier I, IIA

2.4 %

Cessna Citation 550 (II/SP, S/II, Bravo)

2.3 %

Other

1.3 %

Bombardier Learjet 31

1.0 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Embraer Phenom 100

58 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Continued on page 60 u

Liebherr-Elektronik makes NBAA debut by James Careless At NBAA 2015, LiebherrAerospace is displaying systems and components from a range of its product lines. These include flight control and actuation, air management and landing gear for business jets and helicopters. At Booth N3135, show attendees can have a look at a cooling pack, components of a flight control system and a nose landing gear system. In addition, Liebherr-Aerospace will be showing a cabin humidification system that can be installed in various types of aircraft. “We are looking forward to welcoming our customers, operators and partners from around the world to meet and discuss trends in the aviation business,” said Nicolas Bonleux, LiebherrAerospace & Transportation’s managing director and chief sales officer. For the first time, LiebherrElektronik of Lindau, Germany, will be represented at the NBAA show. This company is displaying an integrated air system controller to complement the exhibits at Liebherr-Aerospace’s stand. Liebherr-Elektronik offers a variety of development assurance level “A” functions

that serve hardware platforms that support power electronics and control and monitoring electronics. “We are looking forward to presenting our know-how and

experience to the aerospace community at NBAA,” said Dr. Ralf Cremer, LiebherrElektronik managing director of sales and engineering, aerospace and railway. o

Flight control and actuation, air management and landing gear for business jets are among the components Liebherr-Aerospace is showing at its booth.

SATCOM DIRECT TESTING JETCONNEX SERVICE Satcom Direct has just become the first Inmarsat distribution partner to test the new JetConnex Ka-band satcom service over the new Inmarsat F2 satellite on the I-5 network for the Atlantic Ocean Region. The company is set to be the first to offer the new service, developed specifically for the business aviation market. According to the company, it is offering services that enhance JetConnex, such as filtering unwanted background processes like software updates to ensure the fastest data speeds. It offers data acceleration and a proprietary voice codec to improve the voice quality of calls. Here at the NBAA show, Satcom Direct (Booth C10134) is rolling out a new logo and branding identity to emphasize that it now offers more than just satellite communications capability. Increasingly, the company will start referring to itself as “SD” and “Global Connectivity.” –C.A.

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 59

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 58

WISHED-FOR AIRCRAFT Large-cabin jet Gulfstream IV, IV-SP, G350 or G450

56.3 %

Dassault Falcon 900 series or 2000 series

24.6 %

Embraer Legacy 600 or 650 7.5 % Bombardier Challenger 600 or 604/605

5.9 %

Bombardier Challenger 850

5.2 %

Other 0.4 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Gulfstream G450

Ultra-long-range/heavy jet 52.5 %

Gulfstream G650

Midsize-cabin jet

15.2 %

Gulfstream V, GV or G550

Cessna Citation 750 (X)

Dassault Falcon 7X

26.2 %

Gulfstream G100 or G150

Bombardier Global Express XRS/Global 6000 10.0 %

24.7 %

Hawker 750, 800 series or 900XP

Bombardier Global Express

16.6 %

Cessna Citation 560XL (Excel, XLS, XLS+)

2.8 %

Other 0.3 %

10.2 %

Cessna Citation 650 (III, VI, VII) 3.6 % Other

4.8 %

Bombardier Global 5000

12.7 %

Bombardier Learjet 55, 60 or 60XR

14.3 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

6.2 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Bizliner Bombardier Challenger 300

Boeing BBJ, BBJ2 or BBJ3

54.1 %

Boeing VIP widebodies

23.9 %

Embraer Lineage 1000 7.8 % Airbus ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 7.2 % Airbus VIP widebodies 6.4 % Other 0.7 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Super-midsize-cabin jet

Boeing BBJ3

Bombardier Challenger 300 series

32.9 %

Gulfstream G200 or G280

28.1 %

Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign

16.0 %

Dassault Falcon 50 series

15.4 %

Hawker 4000

6.5 %

Other

1.1 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

60 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Continued on page 70 u

Rockwell Collins, Duncan team up on Fusion panel upgrade for CJ3s by James Wynbrandt Citation CJ3 pilots have a new route to meeting future avionics mandates, with the unveiling of a Pro Line Fusion flight deck upgrade by Rockwell Collins and Duncan Aviation. Replacing the CJ3’s factory-installed Pro Line 21 portrait displays with three 14.1-inch landscape touchscreen displays with synthetic vision, the upgrade provides turnkey compliance with airspace modernization deadlines. Duncan is developing the supplemental type certificate for the installation, with certification expected by the end of 2016, and plans call for the upgrade to be available for additional CJ models in the future. No price has been set, but Rockwell Collins estimates the fly-away cost for the upgrade will be in the $315,000 to $325,000 range. Like all Pro Line Fusion installations, the software will be upgradeable for easy updates, while providing the backbone for integrating future enhancements such as Rockwell Collins’s

z Sierra Completes New Hangar Facility Sierra Completions (Booth N1735), a subsidiary of the Sierra Nevada Corporation, has completed construction of its new 31,000-sq-ft hangar at Colorado Springs Airport. From January 2016, the new hangar will serve as a modification facility for interior completions, and it can handle BBJs and ACJs.. Located in an area known as the Colorado Aerospace Park, the facility will include back shops, offices, storage facilities and a firesuppression system. The facility is expected to employ about 150 once operational. “This is the first step in establishing a presence for Sierra Completions at the Colorado Springs Airport and provides us with a facility to launch the business,” said Ed Topps, vice president of programs for Sierra Completions. He added that the company is in “active discussions with a number of customers already” about performing completions at the facility.

z Bader Launches Par Avion Luxury Watch Putting pen to paper on a deal on Citation CJ3 panel upgrades are (left) Steve Gade, v-p of business development and aircraft sales for Duncan Aviation, and Craig Olson, v-p and general manager, business and regional systems for Rockwell Collins.

HGS-3500 Head-up Guidance system (head-up display), EVS3000 Enhanced Vision System, MultiScan weather radar and Airport Moving Map. The panel makeover was planned with the active involvement of owner/operator organization Citation Jet Pilots (CJP). “We are extremely excited with this development, and in particular how this upgrade will allow CJ3 pilots to utilize the very

Gama research shows U.S. is a resurgent force by Charles Alcock New research by business aviation services group Gama Aviation confirms the perception that the U.S. is once again the key driver of industry growth. Between 2010 and 2014, 47 percent of all new business aircraft deliveries went to customers in the U.S., and this rises to 52 percent for mid-to-large size jets. The country now accounts for around 50 percent of all the world’s business aircraft, representing a total of 23,582 units. “This growth provides us with a wonderful opportunity to gain further market share; building on our existing managed fleet of 95 aircraft and driving our maintenance

NEWS CLIPS

service business,” said Thomas Connelly, president and CEO of UK-based Gama Aviation’s U.S. businesses. The latest addition to Gama’s managed fleet is a 10-seat Dassault Falcon 2000 that will be available for both private and charter use. The aircraft is based at Chicago Midway International Airport, where Gama has a maintenance facility. “We believe we have found a good niche in the Chicago area, providing high-value support services that are attractive to individuals and fleet owners alike,” said KC Ihlefeld, Gama’s aircraft management vice president. Gama, which is headquartered

latest technological advances in the FAA’s NextGen air traffic control network,” said CJP president David Miller. The upgrade follows the path blazed by the upgrade developed for King Air aircraft originally delivered with Pro Line 21 cockpits. The pilot displays and controls are replaced with Pro Line Fusion products while the CJ3’s modern and reliable autopilot and radios remain on the airplane. o at the London-area Farnborough Airport, has operations in 45 locations worldwide, managing over 145 aircraft in 17 countries. Its services also include line and base maintenance, full-service FBOs, engineering design, charter operations and training. The company’s maintenance network includes a mobile services team that responds to around 2,500 call outs each year, flying more than one million miles, and driving another 500,000 miles to support. What’s Cooking at Gama?

At NBAA 2015, Gama (Booth N2416) has teamed with Air Culinaire Worldwide to present cookery masterclasses during the show. At noon and 2 p.m. each day, chefs will be demonstrating the preparation of dishes using local artisanal products, including Chef Lee’s chocolate “breadwinner” pudding. o

Bahrain-based Bader Models launched its new Par Avion aviator watches here at NBAA 2015. The watches, which come in 10 different designs, are made from aircraft-grade alloys. “I got my design inspiration for the new collection from the aircraft fuselage alloy, wings and cockpit instrument panels,” explained Bader Murad, president of Bader Models (Booth N1232). “Through much analysis I adapted the materials into our luxury wristwatches.” The company also makes aircraft models, and the Par Avion watches can be purchased in conjunction with these items. Bader can incorporate company logos into the models, which can be bought as a box set.

z Air Comm Offering Discounts on Legacy Products Air Comm Corp., which acquired the assets of Meggitt Addison’s Keith Products division in 2013, is offering 10-percent discounts on legacy Keith Products and Air Comm airconditioning system STCs purchased during NBAA 2015. Eligible for discounts are air conditioner kits for the Cessna 206, T206, 310 (P, Q, R and T), 340, 340A, 414, 421 (A, B and C); Citation 500, 501 and 550; and Twin Commander 690. Several Air Comm legacy helicopter systems are also discounted, including the Sikorsky S-76A, -B and -C air conditioners and bleed-air heater; Bell 412 air conditioner; Bell 407 air conditioner and bleedair heater; and AgustaWestland A119 air conditioner. “All of these air conditioner and heater systems have years of proven performance and reliability,” said Billy Daniel, Air Comm customer service representative. “The addition of outstanding climate control brings significant value to the used aircraft.”

z Odyssey Nassau FBO Embarks on Major Upgrade Bahamas-based aviation service provider Odyssey Aviation launched a $4 million expansion of its FBO at Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the region. The improvement program will add an approximate 60,000 sq ft of parking space to its existing 600,000 sq ft, giving it nearly twice the footprint of its competitor. The additional space will create enough room to park another two-dozen aircraft, which the operator says will significantly aid in the peak season. Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016, the project also will see the construction of a 20,000-sq-ft second hangar at the Paragon Aviation Group location, for a total of 50,000 sq ft of storage space able to accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650. Odyssey (Booth N11222) also operates FBOs at Exuma and San Salvador International Airports, and provides handling service at Governors Harbor and Rock Sound Airports.

z Reliable Jet Maintenance Acquires Sky Support

SECURAPLANE HD CAMERAS NOW STANDARD ON G650 Meggitt (Booth C8937) subsidiary Securaplane has been selected by Gulfstream to supply HD security cameras as standard equipment on the large cabin, long range G650. The HD cameras are form identical to the existing Securaplane standard definition cameras on all existing G650s and will be available for retrofit. More than 2,000 Securaplane camera installations are flying worldwide on business jets and airliners and are used for a variety of applications including taxi, inflight entertainment, cabin and external security, and flight crew observation of aircraft control surfaces. – M.H.

Reliable Jet Maintenance–an FAA-approved Part 145 repair station in Boca Raton, Fla.–has acquired Sky Support, a 20,000-sq-ft repair facility in Opa Locka, Fla. “We’re proud to bring the new facility on line,” said Jonathan Burls, president and founder of Reliable Jet (Booth C12048). “It allows us to increase our footprint in the south Florida aviation marketplace.”

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G600 cabin mockup is a peek into the future by Mark Huber Gulfstream revealed a new interior mockup for its largecabin, long-range G600 here at NBAA 2015 that takes more than 200 customer suggestions into account from the initial mockup displayed at last year’s show. Tray Crow, Gulfstream director of interior design, gave AIN a preview of the new mockup and pointed out the most significant changes. “The biggest thing we’ve done is change the overhead passenger service unit section. You’ll notice that it is concave now and much more simplified. Instead of having a lot of breaks it is much more monolithic, so it’s cleaner and we’ve pushed it as far outboard as possible,” he said. “One of the key features is that we like to hide controls and reveal them as you sit down. That still exists, but we’ve also included manual gaspers and tactile switches that give you manual feedback

when you touch them. Those are located both at the ledge and at the passenger service unit. “We’ve worked on lighting for the cabin as well. We’ve warmed it up to give it a richer environment. That gives the cabin a more elegant feel,” Crow said. The seating is also new–not just the stitch styling, but the seat structure. The new structure wasn’t ready in time for the mockup, but is coming soon, Crow said. The seat arms have been reshaped to be more ergonomic and feel more comfortable to the occupant’s hand. In addition, there is personal storage in the sidewall next to the seat and in-seat. In the galley, the tower refrigerator is gone, moved below the counter to free up more counter space. The tower refrigerator is still an option for those who want it. The deeper cabin means more outboard storage in

ELLIOTT EXPANDS ADS-B SOLUTIONS FOR HAWKERS Elliott Aviation reported it is close to securing a supplemental type certificate (STC) covering a Garmin-based ADS-B in and out solution for the Hawker 750, 800XP, 850 and 900XP. The new upgrade features Garmin’s GTX 3000 Mode S extended-squitter transponder, GDL 88 ADS-B data link and a Flight Stream wireless gateway to provide ADS-B capability in conjunction with existing avionics suites. One advantage of the solution is that it easily integrates with other cockpit systems, such as TCAS. Another benefit of Flight Stream is that it also allows pilots to receive subscription-free Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather, including Nexrad, Metars, TAFs and Notams. These can be displayed on a mobile incockpit device, without the need for a cockpit display upgrade. In 2016, Elliott also expects to get STCs for Garmin ADS-B solutions for the Beechjet/Hawker 400A/400XP, Premier 1/1A and legacyequipped Hawker 800As/800XPs and Hawker 1000s. The Moline, Ill. company is also considering STCs for older Cessna Citations.–C.A.

SMARTSKY GOES THE DISTANCE FOR CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK SmartSky Networks (Booth C10137) has found a way to make those miles showgoers walk here at the Las Vegas Convention Center good for more than burning calories. The company, which will beta-launch its SmartSky 4G air-to-ground network by the end of the year, created its 4 Gives More program to raise money for the Corporate Angel Network. SmartSky distributed Fitbit personal monitors to its partners and earlybird customers to track the distance each participant walked from the start of the show until the NBAA/CAN Soiree on Wednesday. It then tallied the mileage and donate $4 for every four miles walked. Given the Convention Center’s imposing 3.2 million sq ft and more than 1,100 exhibitors, as well as the many aircraft in the outdoor static display, attendees’ shoes should take a beating.“ Rather than complaining about tired convention feet, now our collective footsteps can do some good,” said SmartSky Networks president Ryan Stone. “We’re hoping to write a large check this first year and more substantial ones in the future as our customer base grows. –C.E.”

Potential buyers of Gulfstream’s in-development G600 get a taste of life aboard the long-range jet with this mockup at NBAA 2015.

the galley overall and “we really tried to take advantage of that,” Crow said. The galley and lavatory floor features very thin layers of matte-toned flat granite. LED accent lighting runs between the cabinet bases and the floor. The beverage units are interchangeable; coffee pots can quickly be swapped out or doubled up if desired. The galley also features cabin windows on both sides providing ample natural light.

The center cabin features a 32-inch flip up monitor and dual wine chillers on opposite ends of a multipurpose credenza, which is opposite a conference grouping. The wider cabin ledge is large enough for personal monitors, a tablet holder or fixed touchscreens for customers who do not want to run cabin systems from their personal devices. Controls are concealed by spring-loaded, dampened doors. “We really worked on that dampened motion, it makes a big

difference on the perceived quality of the interior,” Crow noted. Each passenger position has two different sized cupholders, a three- and a 3.5-inch diameter to accommodate virtually any size bottle, mug or cocktail glass. The mirror above the sink in the lav has been raised and the lav now features two hanging closets, in addition to the hanging space already available in the baggage compartment that can be accessed through the lavatory in flight. o

Lightspeed’s Tango headset cuts the cord by Amy Laboda Headset manufacturer Lightspeed Aviation (Booth C6925) last week introduced something entirely new for the company: the Tango wireless headset. “For years pilots have been asking us when we will be coming out with a wireless headset,” Allan Schrader, president and CEO of Lightspeed, told AIN. “There are a number of electrical and acoustic issues that made the project a challenge, but our development team found novel solutions I’m proud of.” That solution is deemed Lightspeed Link, a proprietary method of wirelessly connecting the headset to a lightweight, rechargeable lithium-ion powered

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base unit that plugs into standard mic/headset jacks. The headset is also powered by an identical interchangeable lithium-ion battery. Up to six Lightspeed Tangos will work together in the aircraft cabin without interfering with each other, or with traditional Bluetooth- and wireless-connected devices. The base unit is connected to the aircraft intercom system with tough, flexible Kevlar cables that can coil inside the unit when not needed. It comes with a choice of dual GA, LEMO or U-174 helicopter connections. There is also an emergency direct connect cable for the base unit to headset in the event of a battery failure on either unit. “The headset-to-base unit connection is robust enough that pilots can be up to 20 feet away, meaning that one pilot can be outside the aircraft loading passengers, or bags, or preflighting, and still communicate with the pilot in the cockpit, or

With no cumbersome wiring to constrict movement in the cockpit, Lightspeed’s Tango wireless headset is now ready.

hear clearances, for instance,” said Schrader. Helicopter pilots, in particular, are likely to be in and out of the aircraft with the headset on. The Tango makes that much easier, according to Schrader. Lightspeed’s Tango joins its line of Zulu headsets and is priced at $800. The company is taking orders for the unit, which is now available for shipping. o

Since the service launched at the beginning of the year, Dassault’s pair of Airborne Response Falcon 900s have tallied more than 530 hours supporting the Falcon fleet.

Support response team on track for Dassault by Curt Epstein Since its establishment at the beginning of the year, Dassault’s Falcon Airborne Support Response team has been busy, according to company senior vice president for civil aircraft Olivier Villa. On Monday at NBAA 2015, he said that the pair of dedicated airborne support Falcon 900s, one based at Paris Le Bourget in January and the second at Teterboro Airport in July, have flown 90 missions so far this year in support of Dassault customers. The two trijets are used in AOG situations to swiftly

dispatch parts and technicians anywhere in the world. To help customers further, the FalconResponse aircraft can also be used for alternative lift. “In case the aircraft cannot be back in flight in time for the next flight, then we are able to take passengers to their final destination,” said Villa, noting that almost 50 percent of the missions were used for this purpose. “I can tell you this has received a great response from customers who are facing this situation.” Villa said the company has also

Sabreliner now offering BendixKing’s AeroVue by R. Randall Padfield Sabreliner Aviation of Perryville, Mo., will provide certification, installations and service of BendixKing’s new AeroView integrated avionics for the Cessna Citation 550 Bravo and entire 560 series, as well as the King Air C90 series. BendixKing will also make the modification available to the selected AeroVue dealer network. Sabreliner is “well placed to serve our customers and will complement the AeroVue product with their significant avionics expertise,” said BendixKing president Justin Ryan. Sabreliner is showing a full-scale interactive AeroVue system in a Citation cockpit at NBAA 2015 (Booth C14041). Sabreliner has seen a good deal of customer interest in the AeroVue retrofit, but has not yet signed any customers, according to marketing director David Meske. The AeroVue suite designed for the Citations includes a flight management system with vertical navigation, digital autopilot, SmartView synthetic vision, a cursor control device, two 12-inch primary flight displays and two 10-inch multifunction displays. Sabreliner is also introducing a four-year warranty for all aircraft

painted at its Flight Support Center in Perryville. “Ensuring our customers’ aircraft are protected longer at no additional cost gives them a piece of mind that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Sabreliner Aviation president Greg Fedele. “This is just one of many changes planned in coming months to re-establish Sabreliner Aviation as a worldclass problem-solver and partner.” The company, long rooted in support of Sabreliner business jets, is expanding its MRO services for business aircraft in the wake of its purchase and reorganization last year. Founded in 1983, two years after the end of production of the airplane to support the Sabreliner military and civilian fleets, Sabreliner Corp. also provided MRO and refurbishment services for aircraft that included the C-12, C-21, and U-28–the U.S. military designations for the King Air, Learjet 35 and PC-12 respectively–and other platforms for the armed forces. In 2013 Sabreliner Corp. defaulted on loans due to a financial squeeze reportedly exacerbated by reduced government spending mandated by sequestration. In January 2014, Innovative

expanded its ground service assets. In April, it established a mobile repair unit (MRU) with two technicians in the Northeastern U.S. and bolstered them with another two Teterboro-based GoTeam technicians in July. This month, the OEM added another MRU in Dallas. Last month, the company broke ground on a new heavy maintenance center near its Falcon 8X assembly line in Mérignac, France. When the facility becomes operational in mid-2016 it will have six bays that can support the Dassault fleet, primarily the 7X and new flagship 8X. The airframer’s maintenance network currently includes 47 facilities around the world, with another project under way in Moscow. Dassault also added parts distribution centers in Lagos, Nigeria, and Louisville, Ky. o Capital Holdings of Naples, Fla., acquired the assets of Sabreliner Corp. and began the restructuring. New Name, Same Owner

Now Sabreliner has come under the umbrella of Innova Aerospace. Other companies under the Innova Aerospace umbrella include Skyway Aviation Group, Innova Composite Helicopters, Innova Support & Services, Innova RMX Remanufacture, Innova Engineering and Innova Financial Services. Innova Aerospace CEO Tom Seeber explained that the parent company is privately owned by one individual, who wishes to remain behind the scenes for the time being. Seeber said the company is “well capitalized.” o

NEWS NOTE CAE and Dassault announced that the French airframer has renewed CAE’s certificate of approval as an authorized training provider. Dassault regularly provides rigorous audits of all of its flight training organizations to ensure that they are in accordance with the Falcon Training Policy Manual (FTPM). Dassault evaluates a provider’s organization and processes, training course development and standardization, flight simulation training device qualification, ground school and flight instructor certification, trainee completion standards, quality management system, regulatory approvals and other requirements. n

NEWS CLIPS z C&L Aerospace Buys Two ERJ145s for Parts C&L Aerospace, a global aviation services and aftermarketsupport provider, recently purchased two Embraer ERJ145s that it plans to part out at its Bangor, Maine, facility. Rotables from the regional jets will be stocked at its on-site warehouse and made available for sale or exchange. Every part that is put into inventory undergoes extensive inspection before being photographed, barcoded and scanned into an electronic location system. Parts are listed on the company’s website and provided as hyperlinks on all customer quotes. Separately, C&L Aerospace (Booth 1516) announced the hiring of Wes DeMoss as manager of the company’s growing military and OEM business development division. DeMoss spent four years developing Hawker Beechcraft’s association with all the major military contractors and in 2009 became government business sales manager. He later joined APPH Wichita, now known as Heroux-Devtek Wichita.

z Honeywell HTS900 to Power Marenco Helicopter The new Honeywell HTS900 engine will power the Marenco SKYe SH09 helicopter. The 338-pound, Fadec-controlled engine generates more than 1,000 shp. Steve Lien, vice president of defense and space international at Honeywell Aerospace said the new engine produces the same power of a twin-engine installation while generating “substantial” maintenance savings and greater performance due to a high power-to-weight ratio. Three HTS900 engines already have been delivered to support the prototype flying program at Marenco, including one instrumented engine to support certification activities with EASA and the FAA through 2016. The HTS900 uses a dual centrifugal compressor to deliver improved high and hot performance.

z Aviation Search Group Sees Increase in Recruiting Aviation Search Group (Booth N417) is seeing an upswing in business aviation recruiting. The Roanoke, Texas-based recruiting firm, said its business aviation search assignments have increased 38 percent over the past year. Aviation Search Group received assignments over the past year from companies such as Mayo Aviation, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Axis Jet and Avant Aerospace, among others. Positions sought have included directors of maintenance, aviation and sales and marketing, along with captains and a quality manager. The business has come from both new and repeat clients. “Flight hours are up, and aviation professionals are needed in all facets of business aviation,” said Aviation Search Group general manager Brad Stemmier.

z Quest Extends Sales Reach Quest Aircraft (Booth C13527 and Indoor Static) is extending its sales reach in the South Pacific. The manufacturer’s distributor, Setouchi Trading Asia Pacific of Singapore, has named Utility Air, based in Sydney, Australia, as its exclusive Kodiak sales representative for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the South Pacific Islands. Setouchi Trading has been a Kodiak dealer since July 2014. The Kodiak has received 21 certifications covering 31 countries. Utility Air specializes in marketing general aviation aircraft in the South Pacific. The Kodiak is designed for short- takeoff and landing use and is able to accommodate floats. It can take off at full gross weight of 7,255 pounds in fewer than 1,000 feet.

z Advanced Aircrew Expands e-Learning Offerings Advanced Aircrew Academy (Booth N3107) introduced 13 new e-learning online training courses to convention attendees. The academy is an affiliate of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and International Standards Support Services (I3SAS) for subject matter training, and offers courses on topics applicable to both fixed- and rotary-wing pilots, mechanics, flight/cabin attendants, schedulers and dispatchers and line service technicians.

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Some Epic new upgrades coming from Honeywell by Matt Thurber Aircraft with modern Honeywell flight decks will soon be eligible for some interesting upgrades that should make flying safer, including a new DynaCharts feature that aims to remove charts from cockpit displays. The company is also developing enhanced hazard detection for its IntuVue weather radar and TCAS coupled to the autopilot for automated avoidance of potential collision courses. The DynaCharts and TCAS enhancements will be available later next year or in 2017 as software upgrades to business jets equipped with Honeywell Primus Epic avionics, including Gulfstream 450 and later models, Falcon jets with EASy cockpits and other aircraft fitted with Apex suites. Availability of the new radar enhancements is for aircraft fitted with

Honeywell’s RDR-4000 3-D weather radar system. The upgrades’ availability depends on when they are made available to customers by the airframe manufacturer, according to Tom Lawler, Honeywell product line director for Primus Epic. DynaCharts takes information from charts and uses that to populate cockpit displays, instead of just placing the chart itself onto the display. “Lateral information from the chart goes on the lateral display,” he said, “and [vertical] information goes on the vertical situation display of the MFD. You’ll see the charted altitude limits on the vertical situation display.” Instead of the pilot having to look at a chart then mentally cross-reference that information with what is showing on the displays, he added, “It gives the most relevant information onto

one display, and the pilot is no longer cross-referencing.” The information also responds precisely as range is zoomed in or out. “Everything is consistently laid out in a readable manner,” he said. Coupling TCAS to the autopilot is new for business aviation. “The intent is simple,” Lawler said. “Just do what the pilot would be trained to do, only allow the automation to assist, to help the pilot with the flying task, not add more work.” The autopilot can react much faster than the pilot in cases where there is a TCAS conflict. And sometimes pilots hesitate when TCAS sends a message to the flight director instructing the pilot to climb or descend. “What we’ve seen in studies,” he explained, “is that any hesitation from the pilot

to do the maneuver manually often leads to a more aggressive command. So sometimes they hesitate and wonder, ‘is this a false alarm?’ and then hit it hard. Sometimes they go in the wrong direction for some reason. There’s data that says that’s the case more frequently than we’d like to think.” Honeywell has been flight testing this feature recently, Lawler said, “and it’s available to be certified when the OEMs can work it into their certification programs.” Some OEMs have committed to adding TCAS coupling in upcoming new aircraft programs, he said. “We think we’ll have similar customer interest as we’ve seen with automatic/ emergency descent mode.” The IntuVue enhancements include new symbology for hail and lightning detection and

extended sensing of severe turbulence a further 20 nm, to 60 from the existing 40 nm for RDR4000 radars. The hail is shown by a symbol that looks like a push pin or a dot connected to a line, Lawler said, “with some colorization around it [to show] airspace that might have hail.” The color palettes can depend on OEMs’ choices, so could vary, but in air transport RDR systems, the hail area is shown in a lavender color. NBAA show visitors can learn more about these new features at Honeywell’s booth (C7807), and also see the new GoFuel app, JetWave Ka-band satcom, Bendix King Aerovue King Air retrofit flight deck and AeroWave satcom, new Ovation cabin management system features and Honeywell solutions for upcoming mandates. o

Sharp-eyed visitors to the ViaSat exhibit (Booth C7022) may notice a slim orange cable disappearing up into the rafters. That cable leads to one of the company’s Ka-band antennas, which it received permission to install on the roof of the Las Vegas Convention Center before the start of the show. The antenna is being used to demonstrate the signal quality the company can provide through its Ka-band ViaSat1 satellite, through a variety of devices. While live-television is running in the background, James Person, ViaSat’s director of global business development for general aviation, is able to initiate a video-conference with his Carlsbad, Calif. office along with a phone call, all routed through the ViaSat1 satellite, which has 140 gigabits per second capacity. By contrast, most of the U.S. Department of Defense satellites, as well as most of those belonging to ViaSat’s competitors, are in the single-digit capacity range, according to Ken Peterman, the company’s general manager and senior vice president. “We have more onorbit satellite capacity than all of our competitors combined,” he told AIN, adding that customer density does not represent a problem. “We bring about 10 megabits per second to each device on the aircraft, and we do that for commercial airlines that have more than 100 passengers, and for business jets as well.” ViaSat2, scheduled to launch late next year, will raise that bar to 350 gigabits per second capacity, and the integrated Internet provider is developing ViaSat3, a three-satellite constellation that will provide global coverage with a stunning terabyte (1,000) gigabit per second capacity per satellite. The company expects to launch the first part of the constellation in 2019 and begin service in 2020. With the levels of connectivity demand only predicted to increase in the future, that abundance of capacity will put the company in good standing. Among the future bandwidth consumers will be engine and aircraft health monitoring systems, transmitting real-time data, which will become more prevalent. Here at the show, the company announced that it is partnering with Jet Aviation St. Louis to develop the first-ever hybrid Ku/Ka-band radome for Gulfstream’s large cabin business jets, starting with the G550. “By collaborating with ViaSat on the Ku-/Ka-band radome and STC, we can ensure Gulfstream business jet passengers stay connected no matter where they fly,” said David Loso, Jet Aviation’s director of avionics sales. –C.E.

MARIANO ROSALES

VIASAT DEMONSTRATES KA-BAND ANTENNA’S BIG BANDWIDTH

ON A CLEAR DAY The view from Henderson Executive Airport is within easy range of the Las Vegas strip. For the past several NBAA shows held here, Henderson has served as the site for the NBAA aircraft static display.

MyGoFlight solves tablet mounting by Amy Laboda The question that comes to MyGoFlight’s iPad mind when pilots first consider mount even works a mounting system for a tablet with sunshade EFB in the cockpit is “how can I monorails. future-proof this?” Tablets seem to be upgrading on a rapid cycle. It would be nice if it wasn’t necessary to change out the portable cockpit mounting system, which can cost 25 percent or more of the price of a tablet-based EFB, every time the size of the tablet changes. MyGoFlight (Booth C12739) has brought two new mounts and a universal tablet cradle to NBAA 2015 to solve that problem. “Securing a tablet in airplanes is a tricky business,” said Charles Schneider, CEO of MyGoFlight. “Our new products are a vast improvement over suction cups, which can vibrate loose in flight.”

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The company’s rail mount works with existing monorail shade systems, popping onto the rail and gliding on two roller balls for precise placement. One knob tightens the holder into place. MyGoFlight’s Flex Clip mount, which is just 1.875 by 1.56 inches at the base, can be secured to the aircraft using the four-hole AMP pattern (if such holes already exist) or with an optional 3M sticky foot. An infinitely adjustable flex arm allows for precise tablet positioning. Finally, MyGoFlight brought what it calls a future-proof universal tablet cradle to this year’s show. The cradle holds a dozen or so tablets from various manufacturers, ranging in size from seven to 10 inches. The XL version can handle the iPad Pro and all of the Microsoft Surface tablets. o

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Loss of control still a killer by Kerry Lynch The aviation industry has come together in a multipronged effort to attack one of general aviation’s most pervasive safety problems: in-flight loss of control (LOC-I). Statistics point to LOC-I as the leading killer in fixed-wing accidents, dwarfing all the other major categories. From 2008 to 2014, LOC-I played a role in 46.4 percent of all fatal accidents and 45.8 percent of fatalities from fixed-wing aircraft

crashes. The overwhelming majority of the LOC-I fatal accidents involved general aviation flights operated under Part 91 for personal reasons. And while flight into poor weather is often thought of as a typical cause, only 12 percent involved instrument meteorological conditions. The NTSB added prevention of general aviation loss of control in flight to its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety

Improvements this year “in response to some alarming trends in crash statistics,” NTSB member Earl Weener said. The good news, Weener told AIN, is the level of attention the issue is getting across the industry. The harder part is what to do about it. Weener recently presided over a daylong forum to delve into human performance, training and equipment factors that either play into or could help prevent LOC-I accidents. The forum drew a cross section of safety specialists from government, academia, manufacturers, flying clubs and general aviation organizations.

TRAVELER CALENDAR October 13–22 THE MOORINGS INTERLINE REGATTA British Virgin Islands. Ten days of “fast-paced sailing and nonstop parties.” Info: moorings.com October 17–18 WELLFLEET OYSTERFEST Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The 14th annual shellfish celebration includes a shucking contest, live music and arts and crafts. Info: wellfleetoysterfest.org

the thoroughbred racing season and is surrounded by blowout parties and celebrations. Info: breederscup.com November 1 NEW YORK CITY MARATHON New York City. Runners are gearing up for one of the Big Apple’s most popular annual events. The 26.2-mile course begins in southern Brooklyn and ends at 138th Street in Manhattan. Info: tcsnycmarathon.org

October 21 AMERICAN BALLET THEATER FALL GALA Lincoln Center, New York City. Tables were still available at press time. Info: abt.org

November 8–12 DUBAI AIRSHOW Dubai World Central, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This event will feature exhibits, flying displays and plenty of networking. Find daily coverage at ainonline.com. Info: dubaiairshow.aero

October 23–November 1 HILTON HEAD ISLAND MOTORING FESTIVAL Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Several days of automobile excitement for the whole family. Info: hhiconcours.com

November 17–19 NBAA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION Las Vegas, Nevada. Business aviation’s biggest event offers exhibits, educational sessions and networking opportunities. For daily coverage, visit ainonline.com. Info: nbaa.org

October 30–31 BREEDERS’ CUP Lexington, Kentucky. This event traditionally ends

November 19–22 DP WORLD TOUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The

culmination of the European Golf Tour. Info: dpwtc.com November 27–January 1 NANTUCKET NOEL AND CHRISTMAS STROLL Nantucket, Massachusetts. The town pulls out all the stops for a multi-week extravaganza that will cheer up even the biggest Scrooge. Info: nantucketchamber.org December 1 UNICEF SNOWFLAKE BALL New York City. One of the most notable black-tie galas in Manhattan with upwards of 700 guests, this event supports UNICEF’s work in more than 190 countries and territories. Info: unicefsnowflake.org December 2–January 3 ALVIN AILEY New York City. Alvin Ailey will heat up New York with a month of modern dance performances when the dance troupe takes up its annual holiday residence at New York City Center. Info: alvinailey.org For a long-range events calendar, please visit bjtonline.com/calendar.

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Examining the data, the committee has devised 33 “safety enhancements” that are either now in place or under way to tackle general aviation safety, including LOC-I accidents. Chief among them is the Fly Safe Campaign, a massive community outreach initiative deployed by nearly 2,500 volunteers to disseminate safety messages. He estimated that these efforts have reached 1.6 million people. GA-JSC participants have looked at safety outreach as the quickest, easiest way to reach the pilot community. While it might rank as low-hanging fruit, it is important as a mechanism to change pilot habits and culture. “At its core, loss of control is a human performance issue,” Weener said. “It takes only one moment of inattention, a miscalculation or a mistake to precipitate a loss of control in flight.” Participants agreed that the bedrock culture of pilots has to change if the tide of LOC-I accidents is to be turned. “This is our biggest challenge,” said Sean Elliott, vice president of advocacy and safety for the EAA. “The way to change behavior is to change the culture. That is what we have ahead of us,” he said. In the commercial arena pilots must follow standard operating procedures and a level of requirements set by both their employers and the FAA, but recreational pilots do not have such a formal operating environment and are more focused on the passion and freedom of flight, he said. A number of researchers have studied the human-factors role involved with use of various technologies in the cockpit and how it could play into accidents such as LOC-I. Frederic Dehais, professor with the Institut Superieur de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace, cited studies showing that pilots who get aural warnings do exactly the opposite of what they are expected to. “They are supposed to pull on the stick and they push.” (Or vice versa.) Other studies show pilots simply ignoring the warnings. Colorado State University professor Christopher Wickens said aural warnings can create a “startle” effect, introducing or intensifying stress and impairing decision-making, particularly in the context of LOC-I. He favors a command-based system rather than a simple aural warning. Training Updates

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The general aviation community, through the General Aviation-Joint Steering Committee (GA-JSC), began to take a data-driven approach to analyzing accidents in 2011, similar to that taken by the Commercial Aviation Safety Team. “But we are at the very beginning of the journey,” said Wendell Griffin, director of the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation & Prevention and co-chair of the GA-JSC.

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66 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Panelists at the NTSB forum suggested a fresh approach to training. “Pilot training is stuck in the 1970s,” said George Perry, senior v-p at AOPA and head of the association’s Air Safety Institute, noting a lack of simulator training and absence of attention to angle of attack (AOA) and a stabilized approach in training documents. 9/10/15 2:27 PM

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“A stabilized approach is just as important to a general aviation pilot as it is to a commercial pilot,” Perry said. The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has launched a “Learn to Turn” initiative because “pilots remain unconsciously incompetent with regard to flight,” said Rich Stowell, a master aerobatic instructor with SAFE. “[Pilots] believed their training would teach them how to maneuver an airplane and we failed them. We have a training delivery problem,” Stowell said, noting that LOC-I frequently occurs in maneuvering phases. In surveys, pilots were asked what happens while an airplane turns. One-quarter answered that the rudder makes the airplane turn, even though core pilot training publications make it clear that the rudder does not turn the airplane. “It’s no wonder that loss of control while maneuvering is the top reason for fatal accidents. The pilot is miscommunicating with the airplane,” Stowell said. Stasi Poulos, president of simulation and training specialist Mindstar Aviation, noted that the company established a simulation experience to show pilots how to recognize the potential for LOC-I in an inadvertent transition from VMC into IMC. “We found that 80 percent of the pilots failed to turn around early in the flight even as conditions deteriorated. Fewer than 30 percent called for help on the radio,” he said. Pilots have shown reluctance to use the radio, and many are not prepared for secondary failure, he said. “We should be getting people to recognize these problems in simulators long before they get into the real airplane,” Poulos said. The FAA and industry have been drafting new airman certification standards to reflect the evolving environment, said David Oord, vice president of regulatory affairs for AOPA. Officials hope to release those standards next year.

While the FAA collaborates with industry on cultural and training changes, Weener sees technology improvements as “the most desired” approach to solving loss of control. Pointing to other technological successes such as ground proximity warning systems, he said, “If you can solve the issue with technology, then you don’t have to change behavior.” The ASTM F44 international standards committee is

turning its attention to followon technologies for stall warning, now that the FAA has paved the way for easier installation of AOA indicators. ASTM F44 member Jeffrey Pierson said the committee is looking at “version two,” which might include some tactile warning for stall warning. The committee is exploring concepts

such as low-cost vibration technologies that could either augment an AOA or be incorporated as a multi-mode stall warning system. As for the AOA indications, attendees at the forum discussed a need to standardize the displays. Dennis Berringer, senior scientist for flightcrew performance research

in the FAA’s CAMI Human Factors Laboratory, noted a lack of specific display standards for AOAs in the aftermarket. “We need to put into place display standards for these things to make sure they are effective across the board,” he said, noting that pilots should know how to calibrate and effectively use them. Steve Jacobson,

senior v-p for product development at Avidyne, said he could see avionics manufacturers making AOAs standard equipment in their avionics suites. While AOPA’s Perry agrees that technological solutions are important in addressing LOCI, he emphasizes that they must be simple, affordable and clearly worth having on board. o

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The FAA, under criticism from a government watchdog for its staffing and approach to monitoring the Organization Delegation Authorization (ODA) program, has been developing a new riskbased oversight process that it hopes to put in place in upcoming months. The Department of Transportation Inspector General (IG) released a report in late October finding the FAA’s staffing and approach to ODA oversight lacking. The IG conducted the investigation at the behest of Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The report also comes as a joint government/industry advisory group is recommending that the agency expand the ODA program to make its certification efforts more efficient. Under the ODA program, the FAA delegates to authorized individuals certain functions, such as approving new designs and other certifications. The IG noted that one manufacturer with ODA recognition “approved about 90 percent of the design decisions for all of its own aircraft.” The IG estimates that 80 organizations are authorized under the ODA program to approve work for the FAA at airlines, manufacturers and repair stations. Data-driven Approach

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The program has continued to evolve, the IG said. But as it has grown, the agency has not established a comprehensive process for determining the resources it needs to provide ODA oversight. The agency’s oversight staffing model does not take into account factors such as a company’s size and location, type of work performed, past performance, and project complexity and volume, the IG said. “Without a comprehensive, data-driven approach, the FAA cannot be assured that it has the right number of people in the right places to oversee the ODA program.”

The IG also faulted the FAA’s “program controls” for ODA, saying the agency does not use a risk-based approach. Instead, it employs “minimum requirements in program guidance,” that primarily involve a checklist completed annually along with a biennial audit. The guidance provides little direction on how to accomplish the checklist. In addition, the FAA’s teams have not been given tools or guidance on data to identify high-risk areas. “As a result, the FAA’s oversight is not datadriven and fully targeted toward the areas of highest risk.” In response, the FAA told the IG it is “committed to continuously enhancing its oversight of the program” and is currently putting in place policy and training improvements to enhance oversight. “These changes include a greater emphasis upon risk-based approaches to the surveillance of ODA holders, which will result in better use of FAA inspector resources and more effective oversight,” the agency said. The FAA is prototyping the new process in one oversight office, but the IG added, “it will not be implemented until next year at the earliest.” In its report the IG expressed concerns about potential problems the FAA may face in implementing such a system, noting that the agency is still finding “barriers” in training and policy adoption and that “transitioning to a risk-based oversight process presents cultural challenges and paradigm shifts.” The IG recognized the importance of an efficient certification process and acknowledged that delegation is an essential part of meeting the agency’s certification goals. “However, robust FAA oversight that is systems-based and targeted to high-risk areas is necessary to ensure that ODA companies maintain high standards and comply with FAA safety regulations,” the IG said. The watchdog made nine recommendations for strengthened staffing and oversight models. o

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68 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

The FAA remains on track to deliver its new Data Communications (Data Comm) system to more than 50 ATC towers and Tracons next year, followed by the en route centers in 2019, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told attendees of an October Aero Club meeting in Washington, D.C. The agency, which has been testing the system in Newark and Memphis for the past two years, expanded Data Comm to Salt Lake City in August and then to Houston last month. The trials in Newark and Memphis “are delivering great results,” Huerta added. Considered a key part of the FAA’s NextGen efforts, Data Comm transitions pilot/controller communications from the current analog voice system to primarily digital text. “Data Comm promises to ease congestion on our frequencies and to reduce

the potential for misunderstanding critical safety information,” he said. While the FAA expands Data Comm, Huerta noted a number of other key milestones the agency has reached as part of the NextGen efforts, including deployment of the En Route Automation Modernization (Eram) in March and completion last year of the installation of 634 ground transceivers that make up ADS-B core technology. He also noted that the agency has implemented numerous new satellite procedures in Houston, Washington, D.C., and Northern California, saying those efforts as well are saving millions of gallons of fuel. “NextGen is arguably the most ambitious project we have taken on as an agency,” he said. “It’s a commitment that the entire agency has embraced.” –K.L.

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Contractor pitches Eclipse 550 to fill Air Force trainer role by Chris Pocock U.S. defense contractor Science App lications International (SAIC) is pro posing that the U.S. Air Force replace its Beechcraft T-1A Jayhawk twinjet train ers with One Aviation (Booth C13216) Eclipse 550 very light jets (VLJs) that the company would provide on a turnkey, service contract basis. SAIC claims significant benefits for adoption of the VLJ: a 50-percent reduction in oper ating costs compared with the current trainer and a fifth-generation cockpit– the Innovative Solutions & Support Integrated Flight Management System with autothrottles–that is more relevant for training today’s multi-engine mil itary pilots. The Air Force has a fleet of more than 150 Jayhawks that it uses to train airlift and tanker pilots, and to support navigator training. John Parkes, SAIC’s Air Force busi ness development manager, told AIN at the recent AFA Convention in Washington, D.C., that the Eclipse burns only 70 gallons of fuel per hour, compared with 225 gallons per hour for the T-1. The Jayhawk entered service more than 20 years ago and to com ply with FAA airspace mandates requires an upgrade that will cost $300 million, he claimed; the Eclipse is RVSM, ADS-B and GPS approach compliant. Further, the Eclipse has an all-glass cockpit with smart reconfigurable displays and can offer “live virtual constructive” training. It is also the only light jet with autothrottles as used on current USAF tankers and airlifters, according to SAIC.

Parkes said that SAIC would pro vide a fleet of Eclipse VLJs for no upfront investment by the government, at a fee per flight hour that is one-third of the current flying hour cost to the Air Force of operating the T-1A fleet. The VLJ could have more applications, according to the company. It could also cost-effectively replace the Learjet 35As (C-21) the Air Force uses for opera tional support. Those aircraft are being retired without any obvious replace ment, he noted. Another application could be as an “adversary trainer.” Parkes told AIN that SAIC is evaluat ing the use of a digital radio-frequency jamming system that could be carried by the VLJ. SAIC is also suggesting that the Air Force replace its remaining T-38A com panion trainers with VLJs. These are original versions of the Northrop super sonic jet trainers, which did not get an avionics upgrade to T-38C standard for continued service as advanced jet train ers. The T-38As are flown by the Air Force’s B-2 and U-2 wings at Whiteman and Beale AFBs, respectively. The service is seeking to replace the much larger fleet of T-38Cs via the T-X acquisition pro gram. But SAIC asserts that the Eclipse would be a more cost-effective replace ment for the T-38A companion trainers, with an annual saving of $14.5 million at the U-2 wing alone, stemming from the fuel cost savings and the opportunity to train multiple pilots per sortie. o

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www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 69

Readers’ Choice Survey uContinued from page 60

WISHED-FOR AIRCRAFT Light single-turbine helicopter Bell Helicopter 407

37.7 %

AgustaWestland AW119

15.5 %

Airbus Helicopters AS350 series

12.4 %

Bell Helicopter 206 series

11.4 %

Airbus Helicopters EC130

8.8 %

MD Helicopters MD 500 series

7.2 %

Robinson R66

4.0 %

Airbus Helicopters EC120

Bell 429

1.9 %

Enstrom 480 or 480B

1.1 %

Light twin-turbine helicopter 10

RESPONSE PERCENT

Bell Helicopter 427 or 429

36.2 %

AgustaWestland AW109 series

21.0 %

Bell Helicopter 222/230/430*

Airbus Helicopters AS350

16.2 %

Airbus Helicopters EC135

12.0 %

Airbus Helicopters AS355 Twin Squirrel/TwinStar

7.9 %

MD Helicopters MD Explorer (900, 902)

6.7 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

Medium twin-turbine helicopter Sikorsky S-76 series

40.0 %

Bell Helicopter 222/230/430*

23.6 %

AgustaWestland AW139 or AW169

15.7 %

Bell Helicopter 212/412

AgustaWestland AW169

7.6 %

Airbus Helicopters SA365/EC155

6.7 %

Airbus Helicopters EC145 6.4 % 0

RESPONSE PERCENT

Large twin-turbine helicopter Sikorsky S-92

45.2 %

AgustaWestland AW189

Sikorsky S-76D

15.1 %

Airbus Helicopters AS332/Super Puma EC225

11.2 %

Airbus Helicopters EC175

9.7 %

Sikorsky S-61

9.3 %

Sikorsky S-58 6.4 % AgustaWestland AW101

3.2 %

RESPONSE PERCENT

* Bell 222/230/430 are variously regarded as light and medium; they are rated here in both categories.

70 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

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Signature keeps DCA open to business aviation by Kerry Lynch Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is marking the 10th anniversary of the return of business aviation following the 9/11 attacks, but business aviation operations remain far below peak, and one of the chief barriers–the requirement for an armed security officer (ASO)–remains unresolved. DCA once stood as the flagship of Signature Flight Support, the sole fixed-base operation at the airport that in 2000 handled 44,592 general aviation flights, for an average of 122 a day. Now, the FBO handles just seven arrivals a day on average, and a busy day might see two dozen. But Mary Miller, vice president of industry and government affairs for Signature parent BBA Aviation (Booth N3505), said the facility remains a central base for its network. “It’s such a high-profile location for us, where you have industry leaders, government leaders and congressmen pass through,” she said, adding that D.C. is a center of power and an important place to have visibility. Following the 9/11 attacks, the nation’s security chiefs banned business aircraft operations. With the exception of a few mostly government flights that operated under a waiver, Signature’s FBO sat empty. Signature relocated most of its equipment to neighboring facilities and moved all but two employees to other bases. Those two, Adam Cope and Mark Bruch, essentially became caretakers of the mostly deserted base. But at no point did Signature consider shuttering its doors, Miller said. Several factors played into this. “We took the position that there should always be a general aviation presence at the airport,” she said, adding, “It was not just a Signature position. This was an industry position.” A second factor was the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which shortly after 9/11 renegotiated its lease agreement with Signature to make it possible for the FBO to keep its doors open. A third factor was the U.S. government itself. U.S. Customs and Border Protection became a tenant, basing helicopters in Signature’s hangar for surveillance of the 17-mile restricted-flight-zone ring. Customs later handed the responsibility to the U.S. Coast Guard. The business aviation community spent the next four years working with lawmakers and security chiefs to develop a protocol that would address security concerns and enable the return of business aviation. There were false starts. In 2003, hopes were raised that the doors would reopen. “But then we got a phone call saying ‘you are not opening,’” said Miller. It took two more years for the efforts to culminate in the roll-out of the DCA Access Standard Security Plan (DASSP), a strict security protocol

that included vetting of the pilots, passengers, baggage and itineraries. One and Done?

And on Oct. 18, 2005, amid much fanfare, business aviation officially returned with the landing of a Hawker 1000 operated by New World Jet for Jet Aviation. James Coyne, at the time president of the National Air Transportation Association, was the first business aircraft passenger to arrive at DCA since 9/11 under the DASSP plan. While hailed as a “giant first step” in reopening the airport to business aviation, that operation was in fact the only DASSP flight that year, Miller said. Flight departments began working toward obtaining DASSP clearance to return to the airport, which is situated across the river from the nation’s capital. But the process was extensive and lengthy, averaging about six months. Trailblazers in the program included IBM’s and Raytheon’s flight departments, Miller said. Executives from those flight departments in turn worked with numerous other operators to assist them through the process. Flights initially were required to transit through one of 12 “gateway” airports. While the airports were high profile for business aircraft travel, the lengthy DASSP process, restrictions on travel and limitations of gateways discouraged frequent use. By the end of 2006, Signature had hosted 95 DASSP operations, not quite two a week. A Bizav-savvy TSA Influence

Over the next few years, arrivals inched up to an average barely past two a day. But then, in 2009, former TSA administrator Kip Hawley asked the Jacksonville, Fla. federal security director, Brian Delauter, to move to Washington, D.C. to take over as general manager of the agency’s general aviation branch. Delauter, a former NetJets pilot, brought with him an understanding of business aviation. “He had a great perspective of business aviation,” Miller said, as well as a grasp on why some of the original DASSP requirements did not work for the sector. He worked with Hawley and Hawley’s successor, John Pistole, to lift some of the more restrictive aspects of DCA ops. These revolved around the ability to change passengers and crew with two hours’ notice, and changes to the prohibited items list. The changes had a notable effect. From 2010 to 2011, traffic doubled. By early 2011 there were 44 gateways. While daily arrivals still averaged a handful, a doubling of traffic was considered significant, Miller noted. Delauter, meanwhile, moved to Nashville to take a security position with Nissan Americas shortly

72 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Once the flagship location for Signature’s massive FBO network, Reagan Washington National Airport is still a vital link in the chain. Though pre-9/11 numbers are unlikely to ever return, relaxation of some key restrictions could boost traffic at the site just across the Potomac from the nation’s capital.

after the March implementation of the DASSP changes. Signature hosted a session at the NBAA Convention after those changes were implemented to discuss the “demystifying” of the DASSP process and offer assistance to flight departments seeking approval. The process was moving more smoothly and had been condensed to a best case of about six weeks. In subsequent years, the number of gateways continued to grow and currently stands at 112 airports. But Miller notes that many more key locations could be added, such as Peachtree DeKalb Airport and Fulton County in Georgia. The TSA, however, has not had the resources for those expansions, she said. Aside from gateways, the single largest stumbling block has been the requirement for “the guy with the gun.” Many corporations have been reluctant to fly with an armed person–sometimes a stranger– aboard their aircraft. Additionally, the requirement has been prohibitive for travel to international locations, which forbid the entry of armed people. With international destinations now accounting for 50 percent of travel, Miller said, “it’s a global concern.” Earlier this year, the business aviation community was encouraged after the industry-based Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) sent a formal recommendation to the TSA to eliminate the ASO requirement altogether. The ASAC moved quickly on the recommendation at the urging of TSA officials, who stressed that ASAC support would help with interagency coordination, according to meeting minutes. But despite the apparent urgency on the issue earlier this year, the TSA missed its congressionally set deadline for making a formal response to an ASAC recommendation to eliminate the ASO

requirement. The TSA has a 90-day deadline to respond to the ASAC recommendations and is required to provide either “an implementation plan or justification for rejection.” The TSA briefed the ASAC in a closed-session meeting last month. While the agency had not yet released minutes by press time, Miller did say, “We continue to partner with TSA and look forward to positive results.” But should the ASO requirement change, Miller is guarded about how much business aircraft operations at DCA might grow. She doubts they will return to pre-9/11 levels since so much traffic has relocated to surrounding airports, including Baltimore-Washington International, Washington Dulles International, Leesburg and Manassas. In fact, since 9/11, Dulles has remained ranked among the top airports hosting business aviation traffic. Signature, one of two FBOs there, estimates it handles between 100 and 120 operations a day. In the interim, though, DCA now is up to about seven operations a day (on average) and the staff has grown to 13–including both Cope, who is duty manager, and Bruch, who is lead line technician. The Coast Guard, which kept Airbus AS365 Dauphins in Signature’s hangar, has moved out. Signature is looking for new base tenants. o

Avinode further hones its role as tech partner for charter sales by Ian Sheppard Avinode has worked over recent years to consolidate its position among the largest providers of charter information for brokers. The online charter portal comes to NBAA this year with a growing presence in the U.S., based in Miami and with a development center in Portland, Ore. Its headquarters is in Gothenburg, Sweden, though since December 2014 it has been majority-owned by Multi Service Technology Solutions (a subsidiary of World Fuel). Niklas Berg, Avinode co-founder and CEO, said at the time: “Multi Service Technology Solutions is the perfect fit for Avinode. The company’s expertise in business-to-business payment and transaction processing and aviation software development will help us further strengthen Avinode’s product offering, maintaining our position as the indispensable technology partner for air charter sales.”

Oliver King, managing director of Avinode (Booth N5222), told AIN that the company is retaining its identity under the new owner and that it will continue its focus on the charter market (for example it sold Wyvern Consulting in October 2014 as part of this focusing strategy). However its new owner does have broad capabilities in information technology and the Internet so is able to assist Avinode in developing further. The company is currently developing an Android app for its Avinode Marketplace app, which it launched on the iOS platform in July. Avinode has plans to enhance the app to allow payments. “You don’t need a glass ball to guess where we’re going,” he said. “Marketplace has been around for 10 years, but now we have a whole generation that wants to do business on a mobile [device]. So we have been building a messaging platform that allows people

AOPA’s Giving Back Program funds trio of charitable groups by Harry Weisberger Again this year, the AOPA Foundation’s Giving Back Program has awarded grants of up to $10,000 to nonprofit groups performing charitable work with general aviation. This year’s recipients are Build A Plane, Hope Flight Foundation and Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth. Each received a $10,000 grant. The Foundation is the charitable arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA, Booth C10610). Build A Plane promotes aviation and aerospace by giving young people an opportunity to build real light airplanes,

and helps them understand aviation through a real-world application of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles. The group, in formal partnership with the FAA and the Wathen Foundation National Center for Aviation Education, will use AOPA Foundation grant funds for a gang intervention program at the Flabob Airport in Riverside, Calif. Over a 12-month period, participants will rebuild and refurbish an Aeronca Champ, and when the job is done, the students will be

Oliver King, Avinode managing director, cites the needs of a new generation of business aviation professionals who prefer their mobile devices.

to send a request out and deal with them; we call it Trips. It will let brokers and operators do business 24/7, support their clients in real time and show everything to do with your trip as it happens.” The company has also “released a whole set of API products,” he said, as eligible to receive flight training in the Champ, which qualifies as a Light Sport Aircraft. Dozens of Build A Plane projects are under way across the U.S. and in several other countries. Hope Flight Foundation will use its AOPA Foundation grant funding to provide life-saving flights for seriously ill children, for whose families costly ambulance rides and commercial transportation are not an option. The grant funds will cover the cost of upcoming flights in California, Nevada and Oregon. AOPA Foundation grant funds to Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth will allow more than 30 low-income students from New York middle schools to attend a week-long aviation and space camp at the New York City Center for Space Science Education. There, students will explore

ESI-500 Joins L-3 Aviation Products Standby Family L-3 Aviation Products (Booth C8145) introduced its newest Electronic Standby Instrument (ESI), the ESI-500, designed for Part 23 airplanes (Class I, II and III pistons, turboprops and jets) and Part 27 helicopters. The ESI-500 fits in a three-inch round case so it can be installed in a standard instrument cutout. The high-resolution display is 24-bit color and offers optional synthetic vision with terrain alerting and obstacles, driven by L-3’s own database. Other features that can be displayed on the ESI-500 include altitude, attitude, slip/skid, aircraft track, airspeed awareness cues and vertical speed. An Arinc 429 interface accepts navigation data to drive vertical and horizontal nav indicators. Metric altitude and altimeter setting can be selected by the pilot.

An optional magnetometer, newly developed by L-3 Aviation, is available for magnetic heading display. During installation, the ESI-500’s airspeed tape can be programmed for Vne and Vmo airspeed limitations. Battery life of the unit’s internal lithium-ion battery is guaranteed for one hour, but normally lasts up to three hours. The ESI-500 is priced at $5,600, plus $200 for the data configuration module and $336 for the installation kit. Options include: synthetic vision, $1,333; nav data, $667; and magnetometer and install kit, $1,567. The ESI-500 has received FAA technical standard order (TSO) approval, and L-3 Aviation Products expects the unit to be installable under an approved model list STC for a variety of aircraft models. –M.T.

74 NBAA Convention News • November 19, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

L-3’s ESI-500 electronic standby instrument features a high-resolution display, synthetic vision and terrain alerts.

users of Avinode’s data “want access to the raw information and the logic to embed it in their own applications.” King said that the U.S. market has been robust and growing. “In the U.S. it’s the operator side leading, for example Kenny [Dichter, of Wheels Up] with the King Airs, Surf Air with turboprops, trying different business models. It will be interesting to see how they develop.” Per Marthinson, managing director Avinode Americas, said that business aviation flying in the U.S. was up 5 percent in July compared to July 2014. He noted that the North American industry was becoming “more familiar with Avinode Marketplace and the benefits it brings.” He added, “One notable development in the North American market, for example, is the increasing number of users utilizing Avinode Marketplace as their primary communication channel with business partners. Historically, users would search the system for information and then call to make the actual arrangements, rather than sending the request through electronically. Now, however, we are processing more requests than ever before. In August 2015 [this increased] by 30 percent versus August 2014. And the trend is set to continue,” he predicted. o the principles of flight, train in flight simulators, build and fly model airplanes and take part in simulated space missions. Each year The AOPA Foundation also awards flight training scholarships to individuals who wish to learn to fly or pursue aviation careers. Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded such scholarships to Able Flight and the Flying-Hogs Aero Club as well as 24 student pilots. The winners included 10 female pilots, three helicopter pilots, 11 high schooland college-age student pilots and one pilot in her 60s. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $12,000. “We recognize that the cost of learning to fly can sometimes be a barrier for student pilots,” said AOPA Foundation vice president Stephanie Kenyon. “And with generous contributions to the AOPA Foundation, our donors are helping us provide scholarships to these deserving, aspiring pilots.” AOPA also announced the locations of its 2016 Fly-Ins: May 21, Michael J. Smith Field (MRH) in Beaufort, N.C.; August 20, Bremerton National Airport (PWT) in Bremerton, Wash.; September 17, WK Kellogg Airport (BTL) in Battle Creek, Mich.; October 1, Earnest A. Love Field (PRC) in Prescott, Ariz. Events planned for the Fly-Ins include a Friday night barnstorming party, free on-field camping, pancake breakfast, food trucks, aircraft displays and exhibitors, Pilot Town Hall with AOPA president Mark Baker and free AOPA Rusty Pilots seminar. o

NBAA 2015 Schedule

MARK WAGNER

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

EXHIBIT HOURS Las Vegas Convention Center, Henderson Executive Airport Exhibit Halls & Indoor Static Display Hours: Nov. 17 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Nov. 18 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Nov. 19 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Static Display Hours: Nov. 17 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Nov. 18 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Nov. 19 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 19, 2015 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Attendee, Exhibitor & Press Registration Location: Henderson Executive Airport 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Attendee, Exhibitor & Press Registration Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Grand Concourse between the North and Central Halls 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friends & Partners in Aviation Weather (Day 2 of 2) Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N101/102 The goal of this meeting is to give the opportunity for the community of aviation weather information providers to hear directly from the user community what their major short-term issues are and to motivate action on these issues after this meeting.

Careers in Business Aviation Day General Session Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N245/247 (#1) Education Track: Career and Leadership Development Presented by: Peter Korns, NBAA NBAA will once again opens its doors to future leaders of the industry by welcoming middle school, high school and college students interested in exploring careers in business aviation. Attending the NBAA Convention is a great way to gain exposure and learn about this growing industry and how you can be a part of it. Begin your 2015 Careers in Business Aviation Day by joining us in Las Vegas at this General Session where you will hear presentations from keynote speakers about exciting opportunities, the growing talent demand, and resources available for developing your career. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

2015 NBAA National Safety Forum Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N250 This Session is eligible for CAM application and recertification credit. In business aviation, one accident is one too many. While business aviation’s safety record for two-pilot flight operations has been comparable to that of the commercial airlines for many years, more can be done to further improve our safety record. The NBAA Safety Committee’s Inaugural National Safety Forum will feature opportunities to dialogue with top safety thought leaders about issues of importance to your operation, and in-depth discussions related to the Safety Committee’s Top Safety Focus Areas for 2015. Attendees will enhance their awareness of the significant risks facing business aviation over the next two to five years, and leave with practical strategies for addressing these issues within their operations and sharing this information with other operators. Sit-down networking lunch: $40. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Social Media Strategies for Trade Shows Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Innovation Zone, Booth N704 Education Track: Industry Update How can social media help your company achieve its sales goals? This interactive panel will address ways to use social media and tradeshow apps to promote your booth, your brand, and your product before, during and after a trade show.

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Attendees will see examples of measurable results from tradeshow-related social media campaigns and learn how to add social media activities to their tradeshow marketing strategy. Learn how to research “most wanted” clients, connect with potential partners, and keep an eye on what competitors are doing during trade shows using simple tools like hashtag searches and common metrics. 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Careers in Business Aviation Day NBAA/UAA Career Seminar for College Students Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N249/251 (#2) Education Track: Career and Leadership Development College and University students are encouraged to come explore the many faces of this industry and hear from experts from a variety of fields. Round-table discussions will be hosted to provide you with an opportunity to talk face-to-face with professional leaders from all across the business aviation industry. Gain valuable insight into how you can get the most out of your education to launch your chosen career path. This session is open to all students attending University Aviation Association (UAA) schools.

Saturday-Friday, November 20-21, 2015 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

NBAA PDP Course: Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N247 This Session is eligible for CAM application and recertification credit. This two-day workshop gives flight department managers key information about safe operations, regulatory compliance, basic management practices, budgeting and accounting, cost controls, vendor selection and tracking, records and reports, planning for the future and other issues. Other topics covered in the workshop include: personnel issues, internal and external communications, case studies, templates and forms and checklists that are useful in daily flight management. Held in conjunction with the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015) Registration for this PDP course includes complimentary registration to NBAA2015.

NBAA Announces 2016 Regional Forum Schedule NBAA signed an agreement to hold its Southeast business aviation regional forum at Atlantic Aviation at Palm Beach (Fla.) International Airport for the next five years. South Florida has proven to be a key location for its regional forums, the association said. “South Florida continues to be a major market for business aviation and that is not projected to change,” said Mike Nichols, vice president of operational excellence and professional development for NBAA. “The Atlantic facility is a perfect regional forum location, as it has sufficient ramp space and room to grow year after year.” The Southeast Regional Forum, to be held next on January 28, is one of three regional forums that NBAA has announced for 2016. Other forums are planned for June 9 in Van Nuys, Calif., and September 15 in White Plains, N.Y. “Our regional forums present a number of unique opportunities,” said Nichols. “In addition to bringing operators and vendors together to conduct business, regional forums expose companies that don’t currently use aircraft to the benefits of business aviation, bringing new entrants to the industry.” –C.T.

Located in the North Hall, Room N111

NEWS CLIPS

BARRY AMBROSE

z Astronics Debuts Low-drag Radome

GATHERING UNDER THE LIGHTS NBAA 2015 visitors’ aircraft at North Las Vegas Airport include aircraft of all types, sizes and nationalities. In the light of day, they sparkle with the excitement of the promise of flight. After sundown, however, they still seem to glow with their own energy, resting silently for another day.

Robinson is introducing new two-seat R44 Cadet by Mark Huber Robinson Helicopter (Indoor Static) developed a version of its R44 piston helicopter geared specifically for the training market. The R44 Cadet will be available in the first quarter of

2016 and be priced less than an R44 Raven I. The Cadet retains the same basic airframe, rotor system and Lycoming O-540-F1B5 engine as the R44 Raven I; however,

Robinson Helicopter is pitching a new R44 variant as a trainer.

Eclipse 550 wins Euro ticket uContinued from page 1

Klapmeier spoke approvingly of EASA’s certification methods, and expects the award will help the company win wider approval for the jet. “Now the rest of the world will look and say this is a good template to follow, so it will be easier for us to get certification in other parts of the world.” One Aviation is also developing the Kestrel single-engine turboprop. o

MARIANO ROSALES

altitude and a 375-knot max cruise speed burning an efficient 48 gph. It includes autothrottles and an anti-skid brake system, making this the first Part 23 aircraft with autothrottles approved by the safety agency.

the rear seats have been removed and the aft compartment has been reconfigured for cargo. Maximum gross weight is 2,200 pounds, 200 pounds less than the Raven I. Engine power is derated to 210-hp for takeoff and 185hp continuous, down from 225 hp and 205 hp, respectively, in the Raven I. The lower weight and derated power provide increased performance margins at high altitudes. A newly designed muffler lowers the Cadet’s flyover noise by more than three decibels. The Cadet will be available with a variety of options, including air-conditioning, autopilot and avionics packages optimized for IFR or VFR training. o

The Eclipse 550 in the One Aviation area at the indoor static display enables NBAA 2015 attendees to try the little jet on for size. Its recent acceptance by the European Aviation Safety Agency bodes well for future approvals by other countries’ aviation authorities.

Astronics (Booth C8543) introduced AeroShield, a low-drag radome and composite adapter plate for bizliners that offers reduced drag, simplified installation and a 78-percent weight savings over traditional metal designs, according to the New York state-based company. The fuselage-mounted AeroShield is also bird strikecompliant, can be mounted on any narrow- or widebody platform and can house any satcom system designed for such aircraft. It’s also Arinc 791-compliant, so customers will be able to upgrade to new satcom systems without changing the radome hardware. A Boeing 737 will be the launch platform, scheduled for installation early next year. The cost is comparable to current radomes, said Edward Popek, senior director of marketing.

z Guardian Launches Fully-integrated G4 Tracker Guardian Mobility’s new G4 tracker combines tracking, alert/mark, input/output, messaging, onboard sensors and more capabilities into a single device. It provides users with configurable tracking intervals, alerts, real-time status and the ability to send and receive text messages to and from the device via a Bluetooth connection with smartphones or tablets. “Our mobile app allows us to bring our customers new capabilities in a rapidly changing market. The all-in-one G4 design provides tracking plus the ability to add configuration management, messaging, forms and additional functionality via our mobile app without having to upgrade or purchase a new device,” said Stephanie Momy, chief operating officer of Guardian Mobility (Booth C13840).

zz JetSmarter Teams with Jetex for Luxury Charter JetSmarter, the mobile consumer charter marketplace platform, is partnering with handling services provider Jetex Flight Support (Booth C9424) to introduce a luxury experience to JetSmarter members, by providing access to Jetex lounges and deluxe FBOs. Anyone can use the JetSmarter platform to arrange charter flights, but members receive discounts and other perks. In addition to the benefits to its members, JetSmarter CEO Sergey Petrossov said there are “multiple synergies to be had on the business and operational front” in working with Jetex as the charter provider expands its offerings around the globe. Under the agreement, JetSmarter will schedule most of the worldwide charter flights it books out of Jetex facilities, while Jetex customers will be offered the opportunity “become part of the JetSmarter membership experience,” according to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based charter company. The roster of Jetex facilities–more than three dozen in 27 countries–has just expanded as the company added Mexico City Toluca International Airport to its list of locations.

z Women in Corporate Aviation Awards $50,000 Women in Corporate Aviation’s NBAA convention tradition is to hold a top-notch luncheon each year to celebrate its scholarship winners in style. This year the luncheon was the venue for awarding a large chunk of the nearly $80,000 in scholarship funds that the organization has solicited in 2015 from corporate aviation sponsors. “I am grateful to our leadership team, sponsors and volunteers because we could not have raised this much without them,” said Stacey Kotrla, president of Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA). Aviation scholarships went to Audeen Bashita, Stephanie Morriss, Ciara Peterson, Dawn Sharp, Sue Rusk, Nicola Hubert, Adamo Spring, Morgan Garlinge, Lauren Sherrick, Sandra Jimeson, Rachel Borsa, Nadine Meichsner, Kate Keogh, Christine Zavodnik, and Christine Young. Scholarships ranged in value from $1,122 for a MedAire two-day training course to $22,000 for CJ3 initial flight simulator training at CAE Simuflite. WCA plans to offer more scholarships at the 2016 International Women in Aviation Conference next March in Nashville, Tennessee. More information and applications can be found at www.wca-intl.org/scholarships.

www.ainonline.com • November 19, 2015 • NBAA Convention News 77

World’s smallest jet airline acquires a Citation Sovereign by Curt Epstein

VISIT US AT NBAA 2015 IN LAS VEGAS lma-assoc.net

Germany-based Hahn Air celebrated the acquisition of its first Citation Sovereign this week at NBAA 2015. The 2007 midsize twinjet, S/N 142, was formerly a part of Cessna’s CitationAir fractional fleet. Under the terms of the agreement, the OEM refurbished the twinjet to meet FAA and EASA standards for commercial air transport, with capacity for eight passengers, as well as two pilots and a flight attendant. According to captain Daniel Rudas, Hahn Air’s general manager and COO, the specific requirements for airline service, including a lockable cockpit door, modification of emergency path lighting, illuminated exit signage, caution markings on external protuberances such as the pitot tube and static discharge wicks, as well as the updating of the emergency information card at each of the seats, cost approximately $250,000. It will be delivered to Hahn Air’s hub at

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Dusseldorf International Airport later this month and will enter service in December. The Sovereign will join the company’s pair of CJ4s in scheduled and charter service and will support Hahn Air’s plans to further develop its flight operations to medium- and long-haul destinations. Its range of more than 3,200 miles allows the possibilities of non-stop charter flights to Canada and UAE. The purchase furthers Hahn’s more than decade-long relationship with Cessna, and the airline is proud of its role as a promoter of the company’s products to the airline world. Chris Hearne, Cessna’s vice president of jet and interior engineering, noted Hahn is the only operator of its aircraft to meet IATA standards. Hahn Air is building a new FBO hangar at its Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport headquarters which, when complete in April, will be able to accommodate three aircraft up to the size of a Citation Latitude. o

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“It may not be new, but it’s ours.” Left to right: Hahn Air’s Simon Riha and Daniel Rudas celebrate the acquisition of a refurbished and airline-configured 2007 Citation Sovereign with Textron Aviation’s Chris Hearne.

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FLYING SOFTWARE LABS OFFERS SEVEN AVIATION SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS After introducing its business software for flight training organizations just four years ago, Flying Software Labs (Booth C13337) is now offering a suite of seven software modules specifically developed for aviation in its MyFlightSolutions product line. The company’s first product, MyFlightTrain, is now in version six and is “very robust,” said CEO Jack Garzella. It now has some 70 users, with 43 implemented in the last 75 days. Based on current customer interest, he expects to have more than 300 by next summer. MyFlightMXShop has been available for two years, and MyFlightClubs is also available. MyFlight135 (also for Part 91K users), MyFlightFBO and MyFlightRecords were released at NBAA 2015. MyFlightAirports is still under development. All use the same software platform with additional features added as needed for the particular business; all are integrated, so a company with multiple businesses can obtain the specific modules for each. “All MyFlightSolutions modules use a value-based pricing model aligned to the customer’s revenue model,” said Garzella, who is a private pilot and software entrepreneur. Initially self-funded by Garzella, the company added some investors when sales of MyFlightTrain made a sharp increase in August this year, he said. –R.R.P.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED

Experience the HondaJet at our static display at Henderson Airport. And visit exhibit C11524 to meet one-on-one with the HondaJet team and learn about the innovations that went into making this the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced light jet. hondajet.com