Local Operators Feel Process of Air Tour Management Plans Failed to Consider Much
Helicopter Association International members aren't too happy with recent rulemaking by the National Park Service and the FAA, and they're heading to Congress to voice their displeasure. The recent rules regarding air tourism near Mount Rushmore National Park have not been great news for those operating in the area, who feel the FAA overstepped its bounds by "limiting and in some cases eliminating air park tours without consideration of the economic, environmental, and access issues for the public and air tour operators."
Embraer Making Inroads to Asian Market with Smaller, Lighter Jet
Embraer tendered the first Praetor 600 to South Korea's Flight Inspection Services Center, a government office that undertakes a range of airborne survey, inspection, and assessments. The Flight Inspection Center takes on tasks like site survey, surveillance, procedure validation, ADS-B checks, inspections for commissionings, periodic reviews, and the like. The Praetor was equipped with German outfit Aerodata AG's AeroFIS flight inspection system.
After Some Last-Minute Changes, the Big Bird is Ready for Showtime
Right at the tail end of November Dassault put the finishing touches on its Falcon 6X, thanks to some post-certification changes made to its demonstrator aircraft. Now, with approvals from the FAA and EASA fresh in hand, Dassault is ready to take orders for its long-legged, quick little bizjet. Well, perhaps by larger aircraft standards, it's small, but among its Falcon siblings the 6x tops the scales. It's the largest and heaviest bird in the family, though every test report seems to say the same: Dassault taught this one how to dance, too.
Also: Rolls Royce Nixes Electrics, 3rd RS-25 Test, Eve Air Mobility and Flynas, ArianeSpace
Skyworks Aeronautics has been busy in recent months, announcing sales, developments and patents in a matter of weeks. Its most recent was an issued US patent for its Precision Airdrop System, an airborne vehicle designed to deliver payloads much like a standoff munition. The PAS offers intermediate-distance deliveries with a gliding stage to target before autorotating down to ensure precise landings. ZeroAvia found a like-minded partner abroad, finding a deal with up-and-comer Ecojet. Ecojet, a nascent carrier promising to be the "flag carrier for green Britain", will be open for business in 2024 using a fleet of standard transport aircraft for its routes to and from Edinburgh. Not long after, thanks to a deal with ZeroAvia, the carrier hopes to retrofit the entire fleet with the firm's ZA600 engines. Airbus finalized a dea
The death of Warren Buffett's right-hand man Charlie Munger has rippled across the investment industry, providing the disgruntled NetJets union another chance to take aim at their company's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) has been in a long-running back-and-forth with their employer, publishing candid statements speaking to the overall drop in prestige they feel the brand has suffered in recent years. The dwindling pilot base seems to agree, with reports of 270 NetJets pilots leaving the company this year alone - in a pilot base of 3,000, that's a pretty significant portion.
Academy Proves Popular Thanks to Full-Motion Bell 429 Sim
Bell Training Academy in Valencia, Spain welcomed around 200 students to training using its nifty facilities, its crown jewel being a fully certified Bell 429 Level D Full Flight Simulator. The sim has been a hot commodity, with more than 1,000 hours logged this year alone. The school offers rotary-wing students a chance to experience 'flight' conditions that would otherwise be untenable in real-world operations, whether instrument weather, disorientation, or equipment failure.
Also: Bell Training, FAA Reauthorization, Coulson Aviation, More Pegasus Tankers
A Piper PA-28R-201 crashed in Conway, South Carolina on September 14, 2022, causing fatal injuries to 2. "Shortly after departure, on the first flight following maintenance, the pilot reported a loss of engine power," reads the NTSB report. "The pilot attempted a forced landing onto a gravel road, but the airplane impacted trees and powerlines on final approach. The airplane came to rest against a berm and a post crash fire ensued." During their investigation, the NTSB found a good deal of engine damage, oil, and heat discoloration. Rolls-Royce's recent strategy release showed a minor pivot in the firm's plans to shore up its cash base over the coming years, even to the point of selling off their electric aviation wing to third parties. "We are creating a high performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce that wi
Lack of Long-Term Confidence Harms Industry, Says Stakeholder
A handful of GA advocacy groups have taken issue with the "continued short-term extensions of authorization for the FAA", telling Congress that they could "challenge the certainty that industry and the FAA depend on to enable long-term planning and investment in many critical areas required to ensure the safety of the NAS and America's global leadership in aviation." The FAA is only authorized through December 31st of this year, despite months of negotiations. Last July, the House passed bipartisan reauthorization legislation that would see the FAA set through 2028, but the Senate has yet to act on the bill. Patience, it seems, is wearing thin in the industry.
Honda's work with ForeFlight has borne fruit for the clientele of both brands, with HondaJet operators now able to integrate accurate "Runway Analysis" into their everyday flights. The tool "transforms the tedious task of calculating takeoff and landing performance into an integral and effortless part of any jet pilot’s preflight workflow", saving pilots some trouble in their flight planning. Of course, nothing comes free with ForeFlight - the addition must be purchased as an add-on to an existing ForeFlight subscription.
Breadth of 500, 550, 560 Series Covered with Backup EFIS
Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies has obtained the STC for the retrofitment of the GI-275 Electronic Standby Instrument System for Cessna Citation aircraft. The models included in the STC vary, including all serial number aircraft for 500,501,550,S550,560,560XL series Citations. As usual, the GI-275 is a fave for those running older, less reliable systems - a well-placed unit can be a very affordable way to have faithful standby instruments that operators can go the distance with minimal fuss. A Blackhawk Aerospace PMA kit rounds out the ease of installation.
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