Emissions Plans Could Hobble Bizav, de Decker Says Conklin & de Decker cofounder and president Bill de Decker is warning that the proposed cap-and-trade legislation intended to reduce CO2 emissions could have serious effects on the business aviation industry, and as early as 2012. Under proposed H.R.2454, the goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2050, with intermediate goals of 97 percent in 2012, 80 percent in 2020 and 58 percent in 2030. Employing his company’s new CO2 calculator, de Decker estimated business aircraft emissions out to 2050 using forecasts and a 1-percent fuel efficiency gain per year driven by technology advances. De Decker’s calculations are shocking: in 2012, business aviation’s emissions are expected to be 15 million tons, but the allowable limit will be 10.97 million tons; in 2020, 19.52 versus 9.05 million tons; in 2030, 33.63 versus 6.56 million tons; and in 2050, 33.29 versus 1.92 million tons. “To meet the 2050 target will require an improvement in efficiency for the fleet of 8 percent for each year of the next 40 years if we keep on using jet-A,” de Decker told AIN. “That is three to four times the average annual improvement in efficiency we have actually experienced between 1965 and today.”
TSA Backtracks on Some Airport Badging
Following growing objections from the general aviation community, the Transportation Security Administration relaxed some security restrictions that went into effect yesterday for transient pilots flying into commercial-service airports. Late last week, the TSA said transient pilots who fly into commercial-service airports no longer need to get an airport badge or background check. However, they are advised to remain in the footprint of their aircraft, leaving it only to walk to and from the FBO, service provider or airport exit. The TSA has also said that it will make provisions for self-fueling operations and grant allowances for emergency situations. Pilots who are based at commercial-service airports will still need to get a badge to have unescorted access to the airport. GA groups are supporting a measure in Congress that would require the TSA to secure the aircraft operating area of commercial airports by issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking instead of taking unilateral action through a security directive.
FAA Issues Proposed Tire AD for Learjet 60 France-based Dassault is working to have ready for entry into service in 2020 technologies that would reduce Falcon business jet fuel burn by 40 percent from current in-production Falcons. Ten percent of the improvement would come from the engines’ specific fuel consumption, Dassault head of research Bruno Stoufflet said yesterday during a press briefing at the company’s Bordeaux factory. Carbon dioxide emissions, which are proportional to the aircraft’s fuel consumption, would thus also be cut by 40 percent. One area being explored by Dassault is an all-electric system architecture–eliminating pneumatic and hydraulic systems–that uses smaller power generators. Meanwhile, the noise footprint could also be halved, possibly by locating the engines above the horizontal tailplane. Additionally, Dassault is endeavoring to make production more efficient. Stoufflet said that manufacturing one Falcon 2000 creates 15 times its weight in waste, which has to be either recycled or scrapped.
FAA-Industry Safety Program Needs Work, DOT Says
The FAA is proposing to issue an Airworthiness Directive requiring insertion of “revised procedures for servicing tires and checking for proper tire inflation” in Learjet 60/60XR maintenance and flight manuals. The AD would allow manuals that have already been updated with the latest information to meet the requirements, provided that information matches Learjet Temporary Revision 12-16 and Temporary Flight Manual Change 2009-03. Comments on the AD are due by July 13. The proposed AD appears to be a result of the Sept. 19, 2008, overrun crash of a Learjet 60. In that accident, the Learjet 60’s pilots attempted to abort the takeoff after reaching a speed of 136 knots, according to the NTSB. “The first piece of tire debris was observed at 2,300 feet from the departure end of the runway,” the NTSB reported. “Before reaching about 3,400 foot of remaining runway, the left and right main gear tire rims scarred the runway surface.” Since that accident, the FAA has not issued any advice to pilots about aborted-takeoff procedures. The NTSB has not released any information linking tire inflation problems with that accident. “This proposed AD results from a report of the main landing gear tires blowing out during a takeoff roll,” the FAA said.
Bell 429 Light Twin Nears Certification
Bell Helicopter anticipates receiving Transport Canada type certification for the 429 twin-turbine light helicopter by the end of June, followed swiftly by FAA validation and, a few weeks farther out, EASA approval. Company officials told AIN that all component testing and flight testing is complete, with just software approval remaining for Canadian certification. The flight-test program has accumulated more than 1,800 hours using two prototypes and three pre-production aircraft. When it announced the 429 in February 2005, Bell estimated TC and FAA certification in the first quarter of 2007 and first deliveries later that year. The delayed certification of the 429 “has been a talking point for the last year or so,” said Neil Marshall, Bell Helicopter program director for the Model 429 and modular affordable product line (MAPL). “We wanted to hit the mark with this aircraft–to underpromise and overdeliver–and I think the only area we missed was the schedule.” Bell currently holds letters of intent for 301 of the multi-mission rotorcraft, which the company will begin converting to purchase agreements as soon as it receives the type certificate.
NTSB Expands Release of Accident Public Dockets The NTSB yesterday began to release all accident investigation public dockets to its public Web site in accordance with the NTSB Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Improvement plan. According to the Safety Board, this effort further brings the agency into compliance with legislative and executive mandates aimed at improving the U.S. government’s use of electronic media to foster a more open and transparent government. “I am proud that the NTSB is…making all accident investigation documents contained in our public dockets available to NTSB Web site visitors,” said acting chairman Mark Rosenker. “The Safety Board’s reputation for comprehensive and thorough investigations can only be further enhanced by providing such easy access to the materials related to the accidents we investigate.” To access the NTSB’s public dockets, visit the FOIA Electronic Reading Room on the agency’s Web site and select the list of dockets, which are organized by transportation mode.
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Aircraft Wreckage Found in Rio-Paris Flight Path
Brazilian search teams this morning found aircraft debris, such as seats, floating in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 nm northeast of the Brazilian coastline more than a day after an Air France A330-200 disappeared while on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.... More...
Also Noted...
Emivest Aerospace said SJ30 S/N 008 flew yesterday for the first time, marking a “significant step in moving forward with production and establishing a regular delivery schedule.” S/N 008 is the first customer aircraft to be flown since Emirate Investment Development Corporation acquired former Sino Swearingen Aircraft last year. The light jet will continue production checks, and then be completed at Jet Works Air Center in Denton, Texas, before being delivered this summer.
Ontario-based Goderich Aircraft late last week received an FAA multi-aircraft STC for the conversion of Dornier 328 Jets to a VIP floorplan. The aircraft completions and modification shop has been in the process of converting four Dornier 328 Jets into VIP-configured aircraft in conjunction with this certification process. According to Goderich v-p of sales Andy Orr, the STC approval “provides us with an opportunity to streamline the production process, allowing clients to minimize aircraft downtime.”
Volo Aviation today appointed Stephen Clyne as vice president of aircraft management and Rita Berlin as regional sales director for aircraft charter, management and acquisition services. Clyne had been with JetDirect Aviation/TAG Aviation USA since 2000, serving most recently as vice president for client services. Berlin–who will be responsible for Volo’s sales in the Northeastern U.S., Europe and the Middle East–has worked with several charter and fractional aircraft ownership companies, including Virgin Charter, Flight Options and Jet Aviation.
Embraer today announced the delivery of the 1,100th aircraft in the ERJ 145 series last week in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The airplane is a Legacy 600 executive jet, joining more than 160 of the type now operating in 25 countries. The Legacy 600 first entered service in 2002. The milestone aircraft will be managed on behalf of its owner by charter and management firm London Executive Aviation, which already has two Legacy 600s, as well as 23 other aircraft, in its fleet.
Daher Socata yesterday announced that a new TBM 850 flight training device (FTD) is now fully operational at SimCom’s Orlando, Fla. training center. The new FTD has a high-resolution visual system and is configured with the TBM 850’s Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite. The simulator’s location on the south Atlantic coast centrally positions the simulator for TBM 850 operators throughout North America, which is the single largest geographic market for the turboprop single, according to Daher Socata.
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All the latest news from the 2009 Paris Air Show will be available from AIN, which will be producing four daily on-site publications (June 15-18) and fresh online content at www.ainonline.com. Exhibitors with news for the Paris show should contact Charles Alcock as soon as possible. News embargoes will be strictly honored. Information and photos can be sent to CAlcockAIN@aol.com or call +44 1252 727758.
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