Aviation International News Monthly

Preliminary Report: Cheyenne Crashes on Go-around

Switzerland-based Solar Impulse is planning “Across America” flights this spring to showcase its sun-powered aircraft to the U.S. public and demonstrate and develop the possibilities of solar energy. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the company is developing a second, larger aircraft that it hopes to fly around the world in 2015.

Never known for hiding his light under a bushel, former American Airlines chairman and CEO Bob Crandall kicked off a panel session of aviation manufacturing executives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual aviation conference in late March by asking them, “Why are you guys always late and over budget?” on delivering products.

Eastern Europe ground handler Euro Jet is setting up a crew lounge to serve growing volumes of traffic at Tivat in Montenegro. The Adriatic Sea resort is fast becoming a favorite with wealthy Russians, and its airport currently has no dedicated facilities for private jet operators. Parking space is limited at Tivat Airport, so operators commonly have to drop off passengers.

In response to the closure of Madrid Torrejon Airport to general aviation traffic, and the relocation of private aviation operations to Madrid-Barajas Airport, 20 minutes from the city center, Spain-based ground handler Gestair won the tender from the Spanish airport authority to establish a 24-hour FBO at the airport in the executive terminal it will share along with ground services provider Multiservicios Aeroportuarios. The new terminal will feature passenger lounges, meeting rooms and dedicated parking.

Richmor Aviation is preparing to build a $1.2 million hangar at its facility at Schenectady County Airport in New York’s capital region. According to company president Mahlon Richards, the 20,000-sq-ft hangar will be divided into four bays (the inner two to accommodate aircraft up to Challenger 600-series size, while the outer pair can shelter aircraft up to Learjet 60 size) and is intended to attract more business jet tenants to join the six turbine aircraft already based there. Richmor expects to break ground on the new structure this summer and complete it before year-end.

An Environmental Good Conduct Code is now in place at popular Cannes Mandelieu Airport and signed by multiple stakeholders, including the French DGAC, numerous civil aircraft operators, air traffic controllers, airport tenants and various local environmental groups.

The code is voluntary, addresses primarily noise-control issues and calls for the signers to “respect the quality of the environment at and around l’Aéroport Cannes Mandelieu.”

Britain’s skies are filled not so much with aircraft noise as with the sound of grinding axes, as regional airports vie for audibility during the latest UK government reconsideration of aviation strategy. Forever perceiving themselves as poor relations to major London-area facilities, some of Britain’s local airports (especially in central and southwestern regions) have taken to denigrating competitors, all the while proclaiming their respective “connectivity” to airline networks.

LightSquared is slated to exit bankruptcy on May 31, and is required to have its future reorganization plan complete by July15.

Three business aircraft manufacturers have selected Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems EmPower dual-use AC/USB outlets for passengers and crew. The dual-use 1295-8-XX outlet provides both a 115-VAC, 60-Hz and a 5-VDC, 2.1-amp USB socket, which can be used simultaneously. The 115 VAC socket accepts plugs from more than 155 countries and features a third ground to the aircraft structure. Internal LEDs make the plugs easy to find in a dark cabin or cockpit, and status lights indicate whether power is available for each socket.

Emteq has introduced a universal USB charging device for aircraft cabins. The new IntelliUSB SR can charge most portable devices by detecting the initial voltage when the device is plugged in, then selecting the proper charging technology. The three technologies supported are Apple’s iOS, Samsung (for Android devices) and Battery Charging 1.2 (used on many phones in Asia).

Century Flight Systems has ramped up autopilot certification activities and recently received STCs for Century 4000 installations in most Piper Cherokees and Saratogas. The company also received STCs for most Cessna 182s as well as the 421B and 421C twins. Prices for the C4000 start at $19,995.

MD Helicopters’ selection of Selection of Universal Avionics to design and build a next-generation flight deck for the MD Explorer twin-engine helicopter represents a major milestone in the avionics maker’s 32-year history–the company’s first integrated flight deck to be delivered as original equipment from an OEM’s aircraft assembly line–but Universal’s main revenue source will continue to be retrofitting the flight decks of business aircraft, helicopters and

Deohako’s iPad mounting system offers a solid and secure method of protecting and attaching iPads in the cockpit. But the Austin, Texas-based company’s iPad mini product needs some refinements to make it more suitable for cockpits.

Aviation research, consulting and education specialist Conklin & de Decker has announced an addition to its seminar line-up titled Exploring Aircraft Operating Costs. The inaugural program is scheduled for May 14-15 in Dallas. The two-day seminar is an NBAA-approved Certified Aviation Manager program, allowing attendees to receive CAM credit for participating. For more information, visit www.conklindd.com or phone (508) 255-5975.

Europe’s continued–and in some respects worsening–economic troubles give little grounds for optimism, and yet industry mood ahead of the 13th annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) appeared to be surprisingly bullish. This may be due in part to the success of the show (May 21 to 23) in attracting both exhibitors and visitors from well beyond the cash-strapped continent.

The 2013 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) at Shanghai’s second airport, Hongqiao International, held from April 16 to 18, served as a reminder of how far China and the rest of Asia still have to go to reap the benefits of business aviation.

Nextant Aviation has started to enjoy success in Asia. The U.S.-based remanufacturer of Beechjet 400s brought a Nextant 400XT to Hongqiao and used ABACE to announce that it has appointed China Great Wall Industry (CGWIC) as its dealer for China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Later, Nextant announced that CGWIC made its first sale at the event–to someone who saw the aircraft on display in the static and quickly become CGWIC’s first sales success. With all the talk of how long business deals take to come to fruition in China, the deal was of particular note for showgoers.

The strong business aviation presence at Malaysia’s LIMA airshow held last month on the island of Langkawi was evidence that the industry’s growth in the Asia-Pacific region extends well beyond China.

At the LIMA show, Dassault signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a local partnership with Strand Aerospace Malaysia. The aircraft components company, which was founded in 2006, is expected to support Dassault in engineering projects. The alliance will see a group of Strand engineers deployed to Dassault’s facility in Bordeaux, France, to get involved in design work for Falcons. “The business jet technology from Dassault Aviation is opening the door for us and will add a further feather in our cap,” said Strand Aerospace Malaysia CEO Naguib Mohd Nor.

An old French proverb reminds us “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” For international flight departments, planning a trip outside the U.S. means focusing on many of the same topics crews consider for a flight inside the U.S.: weather, navigation, customs and immigration, air traffic control, security, medical and a half dozen more.

Cessna has begun manufacturing engineering test articles of the Citation Latitude and expects first flight in next year’s first quarter. “We’ve moved from engineering, analysis and modeling to cutting metal and driving rivets,” said Terry Shriner, business leader for the Latitude. “The team is always energized when we see an airplane begin to take shape for the first time.” These first airframes are being built using tooling intended for production, and the tooling and assembly procedures will be refined to prepare for line production, which begins next year.

Cessna has begun manufacturing engineering test articles of the Citation Latitude and expects first flight in next year’s first quarter. “We’ve moved from engineering, analysis and modeling to cutting metal and driving rivets,” said Terry Shriner, business leader for the Latitude. “The team is always energized when we see an airplane begin to take shape for the first time.” These first airframes are being built using tooling intended for production, and the tooling and assembly procedures will be refined to prepare for line production, which begins next year.

As France-based Daher-Socata considers whether to add a twin-engine aircraft to a line that includes its TBM 850 turboprop single, it remains active as an aerostructure specialist in still-under-wraps business jet programs.

The first quarter proved a mixed bag for Bell and Cessna, according to numbers released last month by parent company Textron.

Bell delivered 40 commercial helicopters in the first quarter, compared with 30 during the same period last year. Sales were also strong, with signing of orders for 50 new commercial helicopters, including an agreement with Air Medical Group to deliver 30 helicopters over the next several years.

In a bid to simultaneously reduce both fuel consumption and all pollutant emissions–goals that are often at odds–French aerospace research center Onera and engine manufacturer Snecma are working on the next generation of low-NOx combustors

Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) and tier-one cabin components supplier OHS Aviation Services have delivered their largest-ever single aircraft maintenance and refurbishment project.

The job, for an unidentified Asian client, included the first installation of Honeywell’s new Ovation Select cabin management system on a Bombardier airplane outside North America, according to LBAS parent company Lufthansa Technik.

Aerocon Engineering has signed a contract with an undisclosed customer to design a cabin noise-reduction system for a head-of-state 747-8i.

According to CEO Benny Younesi, the Van Nuys, Calif.-based company’s latest system upgrade will be “lighter, more efficient, more cost effective and easier to maintain.” The company intends to seek STC approval from both EASA and the FAA.

Leading Edge Composites of Oxford, Pa., has expanded its aircraft cabinetry capabilities, “combining the industry experience and success of our formidable composite parts production with innovative cabinet design and finishing,” according to Paul Norris, director of new product development.

Iacobucci HF’s seat division has won EASA and FAA STC approvals for its new 16-g executive seat, allowing for installation of the forward- and aft-facing variants in the Boeing Business Jet.

The oil burner tests on the premium leather and foam combination for the first ship-set have been completed and the first set is already in service.

The seat offers 23 inches between armrests, incorporates mechanical tracking and 360-degree swivel, and converts to a full-flat sleeping position (6 feet, 5 inches long).

International Communications Group (ICG) is scheduled to begin deliveries of its new eRouter in the second quarter.

The “customer-inspired” modifications to the design are expected to “enhance performance [and] make it easier for operators to perform maintenance, set up configuration and access Sim and memory cards without removing the unit from the aircraft.”

There’s always someone who’s just a little ahead of the technology curve, and Erica Da Veiga is one of these entrepreneurial spirits.

A co-founder of Switzerland-based business aviation services provider 28 East Group, Da Veiga introduced Web-based SkyDragon, a software application that allows owners and cabin completion managers and consultants to follow the project in real time from anywhere in the world, at last year’s EBACE.

Russia’s aircraft interiors industry achieved 15-percent growth in revenue last year, much of it from work on business and private aircraft. According to the country’s Association of Aviation Interiors Companies, its 17 members account for 90 percent of completions work for indigenously produced aircraft.

The Airbus Corporate Jet Center (ACJC), Airbus’s bizliner completion center in Toulouse, has found ways to cut cabin weight on the ACJ320s and ACJ319s it outfits with luxury interiors. It is also unveiling, this month at the EBACE 2013 show in Geneva, a new cabin concept.

The weight reduction, “on the order of 10 percent, or between 1,100 and 1,500 pounds,” according to CEO Benoît Defforge, was the result of “redesign[ed] furniture fittings,” solutions inspired by serial production (as opposed to customized cabins) and use of lighter composite materials for the furniture itself.

Seven winners emerged from the Crystal Cabin Awards judging last month, and some of them stand to find a market in business aviation.

The winners were announced at a gala dinner in Hamburg, Germany, on the eve of the opening of the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Candidates with winning entries included Boeing, Diehl Aircabin, Dornier Technologie Systems, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Meru, Thales and Zodiac Aerospace.

Building on 40 years of experience, Italian supplier Iacobucci expanded its presence this year at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) by announcing deliveries of its first executive seats and unveiling a new food and beverage trolley.

According to Pascal Jallier, head of sales and programs for Iacobucci HF Electronics, the seat has received EASA and FAA approval and the initial ship-set is in service on a Boeing Business Jet.

The aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) continues to grow and 2013 showed a “remarkable” 12-percent increase in the number of visitors as a total of 8,906 attendees passed through the doors during the three-day event, (April 9-11) in Hamburg, Germany. More than 500 exhibitors representing 26 countries covered a record 193,750 sq ft in Hamburg’s Messe Center exhibit halls, roughly 21,000 sq ft more than last year.

When oxygen is required, nothing else will do. The new Avia Pulse DE series emergency portable pulse oxygen system from Avia Technique is one answer.

Introduced at AIX last month, the system is “a major improvement over everything that has come before,” according to the Berkshire, UK-based company that developed it.

Aviation thrives on innovation, and Aerospace Technologies Group of Boca Raton, Fla., and Aviation Glass & Technology in the Netherlands are doing exactly that.

ATG is a leader in the design and manufacture of aircraft window treatments and shades, and Aviation Glass recently introduced a 1.7-mm clear glass that is up to 25-percent lighter than the typical 3-mm polycarbonate currently in use. The two companies formed a partnership and expect to “conquer new frontiers with its revolutionary glass solution.”

Introduced at AIX, the TravelChair for severely disabled children also won first prize in the Crystal Cabin Awards Passenger Comfort Hardware category, receiving the trophy on April 9, the opening day of the show.

Years in development, the 13.2-pound chair is designed for children between the ages of three and 11 and fits most aircraft seats by way of a strap around the seat-back. It is further anchored using the standard seat belt, meeting airline regulations.

The 328 Group returned to the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg with a new brand identity that splits the company into its two prime areas of expertise: “328” and “Jets.”

The move reflects 328 Group’s increasing portfolio of interior manufacture and design work on aircraft ranging from small helicopters to large airplanes such as the Airbus A340 and Boeing 767, and its expansion of maintenance expertise under the “Jets” brand. The change also comes following the recent acquisition of a new maintenance facility at London Biggin Hill Airport.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX)continues to grow and this year saw more than 500 exhibitors spread over 194,000 sq ft of space at the vast Messe Center in Hamburg, Germany. While the number of exhibitors has remained relatively consistent over the past several years, said event director Katie Murphy of Reed Exhibitions, the amount of floor space this year was 21,000 sq ft more than in 2012, the result of many exhibitors opting to expand their presence.

Inaer France received on March 22 what it claims is the first approval in that country for a commercial helicopter operator to use night-vision goggles (NVG). France is relatively late adopting NVG operations, as most Avincis group operators already had such an approval, Frédéric Goig, CEO of the Le Cannet des Maures-based company, told AIN. Avincis is the name chosen late last year for the merged Inaer and Bond.

Sikorsky Innovations has selected EvoLux Transportation the winner of its second “Entrepreneurial Challenge Competition” for its in-development helicopter reservation system, targeted at making helicopter flights more attractive for potential users and increasing revenues for operators.

EvoLux claims to be “building the world’s first helicopter charter marketplace.” Its software platform manages per-seat, on-demand reservation and dispatch. In August 2011, it began to test the prototype in the South Florida market. It generated “early revenues” that “validated” the model.

At press time a French-operated Falcon 50 was grounded in the Dominican Republic, according to a TV report by France’s TF1, after it was involved in a major drug bust in Punta Cana in March. The Dominican counter-drug police discovered about 1,500 pounds of cocaine (with a street value of approximately $26 million) packed in 26 suitcases placed in the hold and the cabin. The three French pilots and one French passenger were arrested just before takeoff, with the engines already running for a departure to Saint-Tropez Airport, France, according to TF1. All four people were jailed.

Singapore state-owned ST Aerospace, known for its MRO operation and its passenger-to-freighter conversions, also runs a small business jet charter operation. Subsidiary Pacific Flight Services (PFS) operates from Singapore, although its four jets are registered in Australia.

Business aviation traffic at Lagos International Airport has increased almost three-fold over the past couple of years, according to Evergreen Apple Nigeria, which opened the west African country’s first purpose-built FBO in 2011. According to managing director and CEO Segun Demuren, average monthly movements numbered 82 in 2011, but that number this year stands at 220. Now the company competes with ExecuJet Aviation, which opened its own facility at the airport last year.

Florida-based FBO chain Galaxy Aviation expects to break ground this month on a new hangar complex at its Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) facility. Known as Hangar 1, the 75,000-sq-ft concrete tilt-wall structure will have 28-foot-high doors capable of accommodating aircraft up to the size of a G650, and will be divided into two bays of approximately 33,000 sq ft each. Designed to provide shelter against the worst Florida weather, its construction will exceed hurricane wind code requirements, and the 16 private office suites will have hurricane impact glass storefront entries.

Angola’s booming economy, which saw 10-percent growth in gross domestic product last year driven largely by new oil discoveries and reconstruction after the southwest African country’s long civil war, is driving a rapid expansion in business aviation activity. In response, local handling and aircraft management group Bestfly has opened the country’s first real FBO at Luanda International Airport. It is building a 21,500-sq-ft hangar that it expects will be ready in July.

While it may still be known officially as Lewis University Airport (LOT), the Chicago-area airport that has been owned by the Joliet Regional Port District since 1989 is continuing to shed its sleepy former image: the FBO on the field will be doubling hangar space to 42,000 sq ft and adding 11,000 sq ft of office space. The airport, which sees approximately 120,000 operations a year, is home to 15 jets and 10 turboprops. It has a 6,500-foot main runway with 130,000-pound capacity, as well as a 5,700-foot secondary runway.

Eastern Europe ground handler Euro Jet is setting up a crew lounge to serve growing volumes of traffic at Tivat in Montenegro. The Adriatic Sea resort is fast becoming a favorite with wealthy Russians, and its airport currently has no dedicated facilities for private jet operators. Parking space is limited at Tivat Airport, so operators commonly have to drop off passengers.

The head of the former Million Air franchise at California’s San Bernardino International Airport was arrested at the end of March on charges of conspiracy and perjury that claim he and a co-conspirator siphoned money from the airport.

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced last month that APP Jet Center at Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, Calif., is the first FBO to complete the requirements for its Safety 1st Ground Audit Standard. Introduced more than a year ago, the standard is intended to promote best practices in the aircraft service industry, and the association believes the program will eventually become the bar by which all FBOs are judged.

Bacacheri Airport in the city of Curitiba, approximately 150 miles south of São Paulo, has been named the third largest general aviation airport in Brazil. A survey conducted by ABAG (Associação Brasileira de Aviação Geral, Brazilian Association of General Aviation) showed the airport handled 52,786 movements in 2011, trailing only Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo and Jacarepauá Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

The current state of the global FBO sector is fairly easy to summarize: growth uncertainty, tight margins and blocked opportunities present challenges. Outside the Americas, Europe remains at best flat in terms of traffic volumes, while markets such as Asia and Africa continue to see strong growth. The Middle East is somewhere in the middle.

Within Six Months

May 23, 2013:

Interest in Restructure of Rotorcraft Airworthiness Standards

At the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Lufthansa Technik and Schott presented a new development in cabin lighting systems for aircraft. For the first time, aircraft owners can take advantage of LED technology while avoiding the color changes that occur when LEDs age. The new Nicemood system, which has already been approved for use in aircraft, mixes and regulates the light output of different diodes, for what the developers call significant cost savings compared with traditional lighting and a dramatic improvement in lighting quality.

Richmor Aviation began life as an FBO at Columbia County Airport in Hudson, N.Y., from where now CEO Mahlon Richards operated a Cessna 310 on behalf of his employer and on Part 135 charter through a lease-back program. In the mid-1980s Richards purchased Richmor Aviation and went into business for himself. The company obtained an FAR Part 145 air agency certificate as an approved repair station in March 1969 and in 1971 hired Sal Alessi as director of maintenance.

MRO specialist StandardAero has appointed Firoz Tarapore, director and member of the company’s executive committee, as interim president and CEO. He replaces Rob Mionis, who resigned from the company. The Dubai Aerospace Enterprise subsidiary also appointed David Smoot, CEO of Dubai International Capital, as vice chairman.

The head of the former Million Air franchise at California’s San Bernardino International Airport was arrested at the end of March on charges of conspiracy and perjury that claim he and a co-conspirator siphoned money from the airport.

Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group has rejoined the Regional Airline Association (RAA) after a 12-year absence. Mesa’s admission increases the RAA’s airline membership rolls to 27 carriers operating half of all U.S. commercial flights.

Virgin Australia completed its acquisition of Perth-based regional Skywest Airlines last month through a so-called scheme of arrangement governed by the laws of Singapore.

Bombardier Aerospace announced last month that Nordic Aviation Capital of Billund, Denmark, has signed a firm purchase agreement to acquire four Q400 turboprops. Bombardier places the value of the contact, based on list prices, at $134.77 million.

Britain’s skies are filled not so much with aircraft noise as with the sound of grinding axes, as regional airports vie for audibility during the latest UK government reconsideration of aviation strategy. Forever perceiving themselves as poor relations to major London-area facilities, some of Britain’s local airports (especially in central and southwestern regions) have taken to denigrating competitors, all the while proclaiming their respective “connectivity” to airline networks.

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) recently filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals seeking to eliminate the mandatory North Shore Route for helicopters over New York’s Long Island. The FAA mandated the route in July last year after political pressure from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). HAI has long argued that the North Shore Route is unsafe and that its imposition violates several laws.

Russian Helicopters reported an increase in revenues, to RUB125.7 billion ($4 billion), for last year on the strength of a 10.7-percent increase in deliveries. “Last year we delivered 290 helicopters of nine different types to our clients from 19 countries,” said CEO Dmitry Petrov. The backlog stood at 817 helicopters, worth RUB350 billion ($11 billion) as of December 31.

Eurocopter Japan has delivered a Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin retrofitted with a high-speed, real-time satellite transmission system to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The helicopter satellite communication system enables direct transmission to relay satellites, without being interrupted by the helicopter’s moving rotor blades. Mitsubishi Electric developed the system, intended for use when ground-based networks are unavailable.

Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee has granted approval to the Robinson R66 turbine single, clearing the way for deliveries there. Russian customers have ordered nearly 50 copies of the model.

Researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), working at Turbomeca’s test facilities in Bordes, France, have managed to measure the noise inside a helicopter engine. They used new hot-gas microphone probes in an environment of high pressure (up to 12 bar) and high temperature (up to 1,200 degrees C). The microphones were installed at various places inside the engine and around the exhaust. Their signals were recorded simultaneously. Analysis of the noise field enabled the DLR to explain how noise is generated and how sound propagates.

Russian Helicopters has delivered two Mi-171s to Siberian operator Skol Airline. They are fitted with special lifting and transport equipment, including an on-board boom and winch able to lift loads of 330 pounds and an external hoist rated for 8,800 pounds. The new helicopters will “help Skol strengthen its position in the international air-freight market.”

The Columbus, Ohio police temporarily grounded its MD500 fleet and hired an independent maintenance company to inspect the helicopters in April after discovering “gaps” in maintenance records.

A federal judge has allowed buffalo herding by helicopter, in response to a lawsuit filed by an environmentalist group that had obtained a restraining order against such operations in Yellowstone National Park last year, alleging the practice adversely affects grizzly bears. Helicopters have been used for more than a decade to steer wandering bison back into Yellowstone each spring.

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) recently filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals seeking to eliminate the mandatory North Shore Route for helicopters over New York’s Long Island. The FAA mandated the route in July last year after political pressure from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). HAI has long argued that the North Shore Route is unsafe and that its imposition violates several laws.

Russian Helicopters reported an increase in revenues, to RUB125.7 billion ($4 billion), for last year on the strength of a 10.7-percent increase in deliveries. “Last year we delivered 290 helicopters of nine different types to our clients from 19 countries,” said CEO Dmitry Petrov. The backlog stood at 817 helicopters, worth RUB350 billion ($11 billion) as of December 31.

Eurocopter Japan has delivered a Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin retrofitted with a high-speed, real-time satellite transmission system to the country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The helicopter satellite communication system enables direct transmission to relay satellites, without being interrupted by the helicopter’s moving rotor blades. Mitsubishi Electric developed the system, intended for use when ground-based networks are unavailable.

Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee has granted approval to the Robinson R66 turbine single, clearing the way for deliveries there. Russian customers have ordered nearly 50 copies of the model.

Researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), working at Turbomeca’s test facilities in Bordes, France, have managed to measure the noise inside a helicopter engine. They used new hot-gas microphone probes in an environment of high pressure (up to 12 bar) and high temperature (up to 1,200 degrees C). The microphones were installed at various places inside the engine and around the exhaust. Their signals were recorded simultaneously. Analysis of the noise field enabled the DLR to explain how noise is generated and how sound propagates.

Russian Helicopters has delivered two Mi-171s to Siberian operator Skol Airline. They are fitted with special lifting and transport equipment, including an on-board boom and winch able to lift loads of 330 pounds and an external hoist rated for 8,800 pounds. The new helicopters will “help Skol strengthen its position in the international air-freight market.”

The Columbus, Ohio police temporarily grounded its MD500 fleet and hired an independent maintenance company to inspect the helicopters in April after discovering “gaps” in maintenance records.

A federal judge has allowed buffalo herding by helicopter, in response to a lawsuit filed by an environmentalist group that had obtained a restraining order against such operations in Yellowstone National Park last year, alleging the practice adversely affects grizzly bears. Helicopters have been used for more than a decade to steer wandering bison back into Yellowstone each spring.

On April 9, the NTSB held a public meeting to discuss the crash of a LifeNet helicopter in Mosby, Mo., on Aug. 26, 2011. The Eurocopter AS350B2 ran out of fuel, according to the NTSB, and the pilot failed “to successfully enter an autorotation when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.” What the pilot did not do, the Board explained, is move the cyclic control aft when the engine failed.

Maverick Helicopters in Las Vegas is preparing to receive its second Eurocopter EC130T2, part of a firm order for 10 new helicopters and options on another 40.

Inaer France received on March 22 what it claims is the first approval in that country for a commercial helicopter operator to use night-vision goggles (NVG). France is relatively late adopting NVG operations, as most Avincis group operators already had such an approval, Frédéric Goig, CEO of the Le Cannet des Maures-based company, told AIN. Avincis is the name chosen late last year for the merged Inaer and Bond.

Sikorsky Innovations has selected EvoLux Transportation the winner of its second “Entrepreneurial Challenge Competition” for its in-development helicopter reservation system, targeted at making helicopter flights more attractive for potential users and increasing revenues for operators.

EvoLux claims to be “building the world’s first helicopter charter marketplace.” Its software platform manages per-seat, on-demand reservation and dispatch. In August 2011, it began to test the prototype in the South Florida market. It generated “early revenues” that “validated” the model.

The first quarter proved a mixed bag for Bell and Cessna, according to numbers released last month by parent company Textron.

Bell delivered 40 commercial helicopters in the first quarter, compared with 30 during the same period last year. Sales were also strong, with signing of orders for 50 new commercial helicopters, including an agreement with Air Medical Group to deliver 30 helicopters over the next several years.

The 58th Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) safety seminar for business aviation was held in Montreal last month under a new name. What has long been known as CASS (corporate aviation safety seminar) is now called BASS (business aviation safety seminar), “to align us better with the business aviation community, which comprises 60 percent of the foundation’s membership,” according to FSF CEO Kevin Hiatt.

Although Francois Lassale, managing director at Vortex FSM, believes iPads are the future for every cockpit, he also thinks implementation of the new products has been rushed since deliveries began three years ago. Therein lies a threat. “I think the FAA and EASA have been caught off guard and simply rushed to catch up,” he said.

On April 9, the NTSB held a public meeting to discuss the crash of a LifeNet helicopter in Mosby, Mo., on Aug. 26, 2011. The Eurocopter AS350B2 ran out of fuel, according to the NTSB, and the pilot failed “to successfully enter an autorotation when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.” What the pilot did not do, the Board explained, is move the cyclic control aft when the engine failed.

At press time a French-operated Falcon 50 was grounded in the Dominican Republic, according to a TV report by France’s TF1, after it was involved in a major drug bust in Punta Cana in March. The Dominican counter-drug police discovered about 1,500 pounds of cocaine (with a street value of approximately $26 million) packed in 26 suitcases placed in the hold and the cabin. The three French pilots and one French passenger were arrested just before takeoff, with the engines already running for a departure to Saint-Tropez Airport, France, according to TF1. All four people were jailed.

Before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, a one-mile bubble of airspace used to follow the U.S. President around, theoretically protecting him and his entourage from airborne threats. That bubble has grown to a 10-nm diameter ring surrounded by a 30-nm restricted zone, raising a key question: Is the risk of an attack now that much greater than it was before 9/11?