President Obama Gives BizAv A Black Eye, BARR Becomes Focus Of A Major Lobbying Effort

The Obama administration rode roughshod over business aviation this year, holding up corporate aircraft, and jets in particular, as the very symbol of those it thinks do not pay enough in taxes ... and the industry spent a great deal of the year working to tell the story of its successes in helping businesses grow and prosper.

While some small jet projects were placed on the shelves, a bright spot for the entry-level end of the BizAv spectrum was Eclipse, which announced it would re-enter production. Here, then, are the top business aviation stories from 2011.

January 

Transport Canada granted approval to allow Gulfstream G450 and G350 aircraft to operate at their maximum cruise altitude of 45,000 feet. Transport Canada normally restricts flight to 41,000 feet or below, unless special conditions have been met to ensure against rapid depressurization of the aircraft cabin.

Civil aviation authorities have certified the use of Synthetic Vision Technology in Embraer’s Phenom 300 executive jet. The FAA, EASA, and the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC) have all issued certifications for using Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) aboard the Phenom 300. Embraer says that makes the aircraft the first in the light jet category to offer this advanced cockpit feature.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. test pilots and flight-test engineers made business-aviation history when they flew the Gulfstream G650 flight-test aircraft for the first time using only an electrically powered, fly-by-wire backup flight-control actuation system. Gulfstream's Serial Number (S/N) 6001 flew for a total of 3 hours and 33 minutes on Dec. 21, 2010.

The Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA) has issued an open letter to newly-elected Governor Rick Scott (pictured), who announced he was making good on a campaign promise and putting the state's two airplanes up for sale. The Beech King Air 350 and Cessna Citation Bravo were expected to bring about $6 million on the open market, and save the state $2.5 million per year in ongoing costs, according to the Governor, a long-time business executive. He said that he would use his personal jet to transport him around the state, and not bill the taxpayers for its use.

As NTSB Prelims go, this one is a little on the unusual side... and could have gone a lot worse than circumstances permitted. However; a medical helo flight went awry when its pilot suffered a scenario in which he suddenly lost the use of his right arm.

Randy Rowles, Vice President Business Development and NVG Training Programs was the first individual to receive the new Master CFI-Helicopter (MCFI-H) accreditation introduced by Master Instructors LLC of Longmont, Colorado. The achievement was noted in a news release Monday from Night Flight Concepts.

The NBAA welcomed a bipartisan letter signed by 116 members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging President Obama to keep user fees out of the administration's fiscal year 2012 budget.

An internal memo released by Bell Helicopter's Mirabel, Canada division said the company's 'Project X' has been re-named 'Magellan', and will result in a new helicopter. Larry Roberts, Senior Vice President for Communications at Bell, said in the memo that "Magellan, formerly known as Project X, represents the collaboration of a dedicated cross-functional team of internal and external resources.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. handed down a decision in favor of the FAA's position that the most recent attempt by the officials with the City of Santa Monica to ban "Category C and D" aircraft from SMO violates terms of a grant agreement made when accepting federal funds for the airport.

The fifth and final Gulfstream G650 flight-test aircraft took to the skies Jan. 24, flying for 2 hours and 46 minutes. Serial Number (S/N) 6005 launched from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 12:07 p.m. local time with experimental test pilots Bill Dobbs and Al Moros at the controls and flight-test engineers Heather Burke and Nathaniel Rutland in the cabin.

February

The deal that set everyone abuzz at NBAA2010, namely an investment in the reinvigorated Eclipse program by industry behemoth Sikorsky, has been completed. The program allows Eclipse to draw upon "the vast resources and expertise of Sikorsky," as well as take on an undisclosed monetary interest.

A business jet belonging to the family of deposed Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was seized by French officials near Paris. The move was part of the EU's effort to freeze the assets of Ben Ali and his wife after being ousted in a popular revolt.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Indonesia certified Embraer's Phenom 100 and 300, making Indonesia the first Asia-Pacific country to have the Phenom 300 light jet certified and increases the list of the Phenom 100 certificates to 21 agencies, worldwide.

The FAA certified Embraer's Legacy 650 large executive jet, following previous certifications from Brazil's ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

March

Speaking to a major aviation policy forum in Washington, DC Monday, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen (pictured) said aviation would be key to defining America's leadership in an increasingly global economy, and outlined five priorities to ensure the industry's continued success.

The Piaggio P180 Avanti II was certified by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The company made the announcement at Avalon 2011, the Australian International Air Show. The company said that it would begin sales of the aircraft in the country with first deliveries expected in 2011.

EC145 T2

A comprehensive evolution of Eurocopter’s helicopter product line was announced at the Heli-Expo 2011 exposition, providing enhanced operating capabilities, improved mission effectiveness and increased efficiency across four families in the company’s light, medium and heavy rotary-wing aircraft categories. The company also unveiled its EC145 T2 – an evolved version of the popular twin-engine EC145 that incorporates new Arriel 2E engines, along with the company’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, upgraded main and tail rotor gear boxes, an innovative new digital avionics suite and a 4-axis autopilot.

Sikorsky said that the FAA has approved the expansion of the S-92A helicopter’s operating envelope to execute Category A vertical takeoffs and landings from ground-level helipads. To receive this certification, a helicopter must, among other requirements, be able to continue operating safely in the event of a single engine failure, either by landing or continuing to fly to safety from the helipad.

The FAA issued a mandatory safety directive which limited operation of the Eclipse jet to no higher than FL300. The move is prompted by engine surges caused by carbon buildup which increases along with altitude. The Eclipse was originally certified to FL410, but the carbon buildup at high altitudes caused th FAA to limit the airplanes maximum ceiling to FL370 in 2008.

The AIA said it was very concerned that a new rule proposed by the Transportation Department would constitute an unnecessary and undesirable invasion of privacy, hampering the mobility of citizens and companies.

The FAA partnered with HAI and the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) in developing safety briefing material tailored to helicopter operations.

The Sikorsky X2 Technology demonstrator team was named the winner of the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded annually to recognize the greatest achievements in aeronautics or astronautics in America. It is the 100th Collier Trophy to be awarded since the inception of the prize.

The first FAA-conforming HondaJet light business jet achieved a maximum speed of 425 KTAS (489 mph) at 30,000 ft. and a maximum Mach number of 0.72 above 30,000 ft. This achievement surpassed the company's performance commitment of 420 KTAS for the production HondaJet.

Legislation filed with the House Rules Committee included language to preserve the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. At the request of U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Leonard Boswell (D-3-IA), the language has been included by Rep. John Mica (R-7-FL), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, in the manager's amendment to the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 658), which was filed with the Rules Committee.

April

Gulfstream G650

A Gulfstream G650 test aircraft was lost in what appears to have been a takeoff accident. The four people listed as being onboard were killed in an accident that took place at approximately 0930 MT, in Roswell, NM. Crewed by two test pilots and two flight test engineers, reports indicate that the aircraft suffered some mode of failure of takeoff, whereupon the aircraft's gear collapsed and a fire ensued, consuming the stricken aircraft. Two days later, the NTSB investigator in charge of the probe into the accident involving one of the G650 test aircraft gave an initial report Monday at the Roswell Airport where the accident occurred. Tom Latson said that the investigators have found a wingtip scrape about 5,000 feet from the end of the runway. The plane came to rest about 3,000 feet from that spot.

The FAA issued an STC to Eclipse Aerospace for an Integrated Flight Management System (IFMS) for the Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet. The IFMS system was developed by Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. specifically for integration in the advanced cockpit of the Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet. Eclipse Aerospace, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, provides engineering, service, and support for the fleet of 260 Eclipse twin-engine jets.

Representatives from Sikorsky Aircraft and the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) organization announced details of a joint initiative that continues the historic relationship between the Sikorsky and Lindbergh namesakes, during a news conference Thursday at the AERO Friedrichshafen air show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Cessna observed the 20th anniversary of the maiden flight of the CitationJet prototype. On April 29, 1991, pilots Bob Leonard and Bob Carnahan took off from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport, reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and checked handling and trim characteristics, engine response and more.

May

The NTSB Tuesday released identical recommendations concerning some model Eurocotpers to the FAA and EASA. The board said the two bodies should require Eurocopter to revise its aircraft maintenance manual for all helicopters equipped with part number 355A11-0020 and/or 355A11-0030 main rotor blades to include, as part of the daily flight-related check, specific visual inspections of the trailing edge of the blades, upper and lower skin surfaces for cracks and surface deterioration and/or disfiguration.
 
Connecticut will continue to be an important location for business aviation, as the state's legislature passed a budget that did not contain the potentially devastating tax increases for aviation that were proposed in earlier versions. The final budget, Senate Bill 1239 has been transmitted to Governor Dannel Malloy (pictured) for his signature. NBAA members, as well as the Connecticut Legislative Aviation Caucus and the Connecticut Business Aviation Group all strongly opposed the new taxes.

The NBAA joined with other general aviation operator groups Friday in a letter urging Congress to complete reauthorization legislation for the FAA that also would maintain the current FAA Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. NBAA joined with the AOPA and EAA in signing the letter which points out that together the groups "represent nearly all of the general aviation aircraft operators in the United States - including thousands who participate in the BARR program for legitimate privacy, security and competitive reasons."

The pilots who were involved in a collision between the Embraer Legacy jet they were flying and a Gol B737-800 in 2006 were sentenced by a Brazilian judge to a prison term of four years and four months. The judge then commuted the sentence to Community Service to be performed in the United States. Joseph Lepore and Jan Paul Paladino had been flying the Legacy over the Amazon rain forest when the accident occurred.

Eurocopter’s X3 hybrid helicopter demonstrator has surpassed its original speed target of 220 kts, demonstrating the compound aircraft’s performance, capabilities and maturity. The X3’s speed milestone was reached during stable, level flight – with the hybrid demonstrator maintaining a true airspeed of 232 kts for several minutes.

Newly-elected conservatives in the Canadian federal government declined Diamond Aircraft Industries' request for a 35-million-dollar loan to recall furloughed workers and resume the D-Jet program. The immediate effect will be the continued furlough of about 200 workers laid off at the end of March.

With the first five aircraft completed and another ten in final assembly, Viking Air Limited of Sidney, BC, Canada received Transport Canada final “Production” approval for the manufacture of the Series 400 Twin Otter.

The EASA issued an emergency AD grounding the Falcon 7X fleet worldwide due to a problem with pitch trim. The document states that "no person may operate an aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD unless otherwise specified by the Agency ... or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry."

Gulfstream resumed the G650 flight-test program, following a temporary suspension of flying after an April 2 accident. The first flight since the accident took place May 28, with Serial Number 6001 flying for 1 hour and 39 minutes. The crew included senior experimental test pilots Jake Howard and Tom Horne and Flight Test Engineer Bill Osborne.

June

One of Goodyear's blimps operating in Germany suffered fires in both engines, and the pilot of the airship was fatally injured in the accident, but three journalists who had been taking aerial photographs of a local music festival were able to jump to safety.

Having more than its share of trials and tribulations, ANN was pleased to confirm that the Diamond D-Jet is getting back on track. Following layoffs and other reluctant steps taken to maximize cash flow while searching for enough funding to complete the program, it now appears that the D-Jet program can throttle up once again.

The owners of The National Test Pilot School and Flight Research, both based at Mojave Airport (KMHV) in California, pleaded guilty to income tax fraud in U.S. District Court in Fresno, CA. Sean and Nadia Roberts have operated what they say is the only civilian test pilot school in the world. They pleaded guilty to filing false income tax returns and defrauding the government of over $700,000 in taxes.

In a news conference Wednesday, President Obama seemed to distance himself from the NLRB's position on where Boeing should build Dreamliners, but a line about tax breaks for "Jet Owners" drew an immediate, strident response from the NBAA.

The Aviation Trade associations have rapidly responded ... and in a very negative way ... to remarks made by President Obama during a news conference Wednesday in which he proposed ending accelerated depreciation for business aircraft, and took what many viewed as a swipe at the industry by referring to tax breaks for "corporate jet owners."

July

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen sent a strongly worded letter to President Barak Obama expressing dismay at the disparaging remarks about business aviation made by the president in a June 29 press conference, and vowing to oppose any White House policy that harms the industry. AEA, AIA Also responded, saying the President's remarks during his White House news conference are " damaging to the industry."

Embraer Executive Jets facility in Melbourne, FL welcomed the fuselage and wing parts of the first Phenom 100 entry level jet to be assembled in the United States on June 10. The arrival of the fuselage confirms that the Company remains on target for the production of the first Embraer aircraft scheduled to be delivered to its customer before the end of 2011.

The NBAA welcomed a letter sent by 33 lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday, expressing "serious concerns" with the government's proposal to severely curtail the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program.

In an open letter to the membership of NBAA, president and CEO Ed Bolen urged the organization's members to contact their members of Congress to let them know they oppose any increase in aviation user fees.

The closed 405 freeway in California turned into an opportunity to make some money. For instance, Adventure Helicopter Tours offered a "Car-mageddon Helicopter Tour Package" to give those willing to pay for the ride a birds-eye view of the empty freeway, as well as the expected chaos as all those cars tried to find alternate routes to their destinations.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.'s X2 Technology demonstrator flew for the last time. In an early morning demonstration flight conducted from the company's new Sikorsky Innovations Center within its Development Flight Center, the X2 Technology demonstrator gave invited guests one last look at its technology in flight before officially being retired and transitioning to its first application, the S-97 Raider helicopter.

Gulfstream announced that it has renamed the super midsized Gulfstream G250 aircraft. The business jet is now called the Gulfstream G280. As demand for Gulfstream business jets grows around the world, the move was prompted by the company’s sensitivity to the varied cultures of its international customer base.

The NBAA praised the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation Committee for introducing legislation prohibiting U.S. participation in a European-led Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that would impose new fees on U.S. aircraft flying into and out of the European Union.

Eclipse Aerospace announced FAA approval for all Eclipse Jets to return to a maximum certified service ceiling of 41,000 feet upon the installation of the recently recertified engine combustion liners. Eclipse and Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) have both been strongly committed to resolving this issue which previously resulted in carbon buildup on the static vane on a limited number of P&WC PW610F engines.

During Monday's Cirrus Aircraft news conference at AirVenture, President and CEO Brent Wouters announced, while responding to a question, that the Cirrus SF50 Jet had to be moved to Williams International HQ until the engine is certified to be owned, and controlled by, China.

Daher-Socata celebrated its historic 100th anniversary with several notable exhibits at EAA AirVenture 2011. The company known today as Daher-Socata is descended from the Aeroplane Morane-Saulnier company, founded in 1911. Part of the celebration was the presentation of a replica of the Morane-Saulnier Type L, an iconic design representative of those early years.

August

As Congress and the White House finalized a package to raise the nation's debt ceiling, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said industry mobilization was important for keeping the bill free of proposals targeting industry – and that sustained vigilance would be needed as debt-ceiling developments continue to unfold.

The FAA granted approval and supplemental type certification of the Hawker 800XPR powered by the Honeywell TFE731-50R engines, according to a news release from Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS).

September

Diamond said that their single-engine jet development program resumed flight testing of their D-JET prototypes, following their temporary grounding after a funding shortfall and significant employee furloughs in March, 2011.

EASA modified an emergency AD that had grounded most Dassault Falcon 7X airplanes. The revision outlined the steps required to restore the full original certified flight envelope of the airplane. In May 2011, a Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X airplane experienced an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent.

A private experimenter working in France took on an assignment from a French company called Solution F to design, build and fly the world's first untethered electric helicopter ... and got the whole thing done in about 12 months. Pascal Chretien's first flight in his original design happened August 12.

Cessna officially launched the Citation M2, a new light business jet that 'fills the gap between the Citation Mustang and the Citation CJ family.'

The FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) saying that jet fuel made from hydroprocessed fatty acid esters and fatty acids (HEFA) or Fischer Tropsch (FT) synthetic blending components that meets the requirements of ASTM International Standard D7566 is acceptable for use on aircraft and engines certificated for operation with D1655 Jet A or Jet A-1 jet fuel, provided that it is re-identified as D1655 fuel.

October

One person was fatally injured in an accident in which a Bell 206B went down in New York's East River. NYPD divers recovered the body of a woman from the aircraft in about 50 feet of water. Three passengers and the pilot were pulled from the water shortly after the accident. The two women were in critical condition, and all were hospitalized.

The FAA certified the Nextant Aerospace 400XT aircraft. The first retail deliveries of the planes will begin in October 2011, part of a 40-plane order from Flight Options, the nation’s second-largest fractional jet company.

Eurocopter successfully tested a hybrid helicopter that combines a turboshaft internal combustion engine with an electric motor, using the supplemental electric system to increase maneuverability of a single-engine helicopter during an autorotation landing - which is performed by helicopters in the event of a main engine failure.

At a news conference during the NBAA conference in Las Vegas, China Business Aviation Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liao tried to convey a sense of the accelerating growth of aviation in China, claiming it is on track to displace the US as the world's largest business aviation market by about 2018.

A 65-year-old man delivering a Cessna 310 to Hawaii was forced to ditch the airplane in the Pacific Ocean 13 miles short of the coast of Hilo on Friday when he ran out of fuel.

Mason Holland, CEO and chairman of Eclipse Aerospace announced at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas that the company has re-opened the order book for new airplanes, and will soon begin production of the the Eclipse 550, the new twin-­engine jet model in the Eclipse Jet family.

For the second time in 14 days, Cessna Aircraft Company introduced a new airplane. Plans for the new Citation Latitude mid-size business jet were unveiled at the start of the 64th NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention. Just two weeks earlier, the company launched the Citation M2 light business jet.

SuperJet International CEO Carlo Logli announced that a VIP version of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional airliner has found a launch customer, and it's none other than Comlux The Aviation Group.

The FAA granted certification to Bell Helicopter's new 407GX, the latest version of the popular Bell 407. Transport Canada certified the aircraft earlier this year.

Just days after touting its business jet project at NBAA 2011 in Las Vegas, Piper Aircraft has announced another turnover in top management, and a new interim CEO whose first statement is to question whether the Altaire development program is properly aligned with market forecasts and company goals. Piper later announced that they are 'indefinitely suspending further development' of the Piper Altaire business jet following a review to align the company's business goals with the light jet market outlook, investment strategies and overall economic forecasts.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) announced that all of its turbine-powered aircraft are now approved to use biofuels. To be used in HBC aircraft, they must meet American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) turbine fuel standards.

TSA officials told NBAA that they hope to issue a new proposed business aircraft security program by the end of this year. The new proposal, which is expected to be markedly different from the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) offered several years ago, will need to be reviewed and approved by the Department of Homeland Security and Office of Management and Budget before being published for public comment.

The government of Turkey said it was launching a program to develop its own light utility helicopter in the under-12,000-pound category. The head of the program says that they expect to have an aircraft in the air within five years.

At the request of Congressman Howard L. Berman’s (CA-28), the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee planned a roundtable to examine helicopter flight operations in metropolitan areas.

November

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors went on record supporting a bill proposed by Congressman Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys) which calls for the FAA to designate helicopter flight paths over the county and set minimum operational altitudes.

A helicopter accident fatally injured Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Blake and seven other people on board the aircraft. The helicopter went down on a hillside south of the Mexico City.

GAMA announced that its Board of Directors has voted to expand the Association’s membership to include rotorcraft manufacturers and to accept one of the world’s leading companies, Bell Helicopter, as the first GAMA member from this sector of general aviation products.

Robinson Helicopter delivered R44 S/N 13217, the company’s 10,000th helicopter to come off its production line. A celebration was held at the Torrance factory. Company employees along with representatives from the city, the FAA and many of Robinson’s vendors were in attendance.

Gulfstream Aerospace has received its Provisional Type Certificate (PTC) from the FAA for the G650. This clears the way for the company to begin interior completions of the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range business jet in preparation for customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2012, as originally planned.

Aircraft Industries completed the first flight test of the L410-UVP-E20 powered by two of GE's H80 turboprop engines. The 40-minute flight occurred in Kunovice in the Czech Republic.

The NTSB issued its probable cause report in the February, 2010 accident which resulted in the fatal injury of three employees of the Tesla automobile company and sparking fires in a residential neighborhood.

EASA certified the newest version of the Bell 407 ... dubbed the 407GX. The aircraft was introduced in March at the 2011 HELI-EXPO annual convention in Orlando, FL, and Bell has received more than 60 orders for the helo, with the first aircraft expected to deliver later this year.

December

The FAA announced that, effective immediately, general aviation or on-demand charter aircraft owners or operators seeking to keep their aircraft's registration number from being displayed over public data systems during flight no longer need to submit a Certified Security Concern to the FAA.

Avidyne received TSO and STC approval of the DFC90 autopilot for Entegra-equipped Piper PA-46 Matrix and Mirage aircraft, as well as TSO and STC approval of the DFC100 autopilot for Release 9 (R9)-equipped Piper PA-46 Matrix aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand released its preliminary report in a helicopter accident in November which was shown live on New Zealand television.

Honda Aircraft Company announced on the one-year anniversary of flight testing of its first FAA design-conforming HondaJet aircraft, that its third conforming aircraft, referred to as “F2,” joined flight test and has been conducting extensive flight testing since its first flight on November 18, 2011.

The first prototype of the AW189 twin engine helicopter successfully completed its first flight. The aircraft was launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year and AgustaWestland says this first prototype has made its maiden flight ahead of schedule.

FMI: www.aero-news.net