Airnews Round Up May 2010
FOURTH 787
Everett, Wash. — Boeing has added the fourth 787 Dreamliner to its flight-test fleet with the completion of the first flight of ZA003. This aircraft is the only 787 in the flight test fleet that includes elements of the passenger interior features including cabin and crew support systems.
The 787 is introducing new passenger amenities and provisions among which are improved lighting, bigger stowage bins, larger windows with electro-chromatic shades and redesigned lavatories with easier access.
In addition to demonstrating that the interior meets certification requirements, ZA003 will be used to conduct tests on systems, noise performance, flight-deck operations, avionics, electro-magnetic effects, high-intensity radio frequency response and ETOPS.
MAIDEN FLIGHT OF SECOND S-76D
West Palm Beach, Florida – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has successfully completed the first flight of its second S-76D helicopter. “The first flight of D2 is extremely important to the S-76D programme as it allows us to begin testing the engines for certification credit.
The team will run D2 through a series of rigorous tests to validate the performance of the new PW210S engines. “Having two aircraft in flight test also provides the team more flexibility, and is critical to achieving our overall FAA certification of the S-76D helicopter,” said Jesse Bavaro, S-76D helicopter deputy programme manager.
Among the S-76D’s features are allcomposite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual rotor speed for quiet mode operation with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S engines; a quiet mode; and an optional rotor ice protection system (RIPS) for all-weather capability.
ACCOLADE FOR EXECUJET SA
Johannesburg – One of South Africa’s leading general aviation avionics firm, STEC / Cobham, has named ExecuJet South Africa yet again as one of its top ten international dealers for 2009 – for the ninth consecutive year.
The accolade is in recognition of exceptional sales levels, as an international distributor for S-TEC / Cobham products and also exceptionally high commitment to customer support and satisfaction. Vince Goncalves and his avionics team at ExecuJet South Africa have supplied and installed many different autopilots in a vast amount of aircraft including Piper PA-23-XXX, Piper PA-28-XXX, Piper PA-32- XXX, Cessna C172, C182, C210, C402, C425, C441 and Beechcraft King Air B200s to mention but a few.
ExecuJet South Africa is based at Lanseria International Airport, near Johannesburg, and at Cape Town International Airport.
HI-FLY REPRESENTS AEROCONSEIL
Cape Town – Hi-Fly Marketing has signed a representation contract with Aeroconseil Aviation Engineering and Services, which provides a comprehensive range of services to airlines, maintenance centres, aircraft owners / lessors, and aircraft and equipment manufacturers with expertise in maintenance and engineering, asset management and modifications.
Aeroconseil provides airlines with operational and technical audits and consultation regarding training, preparation for IOSA or support in obtaining AOC. Aeroconseil is certified Part 145 and can support airlines with technical services including power plant management and engine trend monitoring, as well as supporting airlines’ fuel consumption optimisation by working on aircraft performance and route studies. The company’s range of products and service systems is widespread and comprehensive.
ROTAX 914 SERIES ENGINES
Gunskirchen, Austria – BRP-Powertrain has received authorisation from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to extend the period of operation of its Rotax 914 series piston aviation aircraft engines from 1 200 to 2 000 hours of time between overhauls (TBO). The TBO increase also applies to the 914 series engines currently in the field, subject to the performance of applicable service bulletins. The engines of the Rotax 912 and 914 series have carried out more than 20 000 flight hours already.
ECLIPSE GETS SINGLE PILOT TICKET
Charleston, SC – The USA-based North American Jet Charter Group (NAJet) announced recently that it had become the first aircraft charter operator to receive Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 charter approval for operation of its fleet of Eclipse 500 very light jets in a singlepilot charter configuration. In June 2007, the company became the first charter operator in the world to operate the Eclipse 500.The ability to operate the Eclipse 500 VLJ single pilot in commercial charter operations was made possible by the recent delivery of fully upgraded Eclipse 500 aircraft from the new Eclipse Aerospace company.
The Eclipse is now certified and approved for flight into known icing conditions. In addition, the AvioNG system, exclusive to the Eclipse 500 VLJ, provides the aircraft with centralised control of virtually all Eclipse 500 systems and avionics functions. AvioNG comes complete with ILS and GPS-coupled autopilot functions that significantly reduce pilot workloads by simplifying tasks, generating useful information and acting as a virtual co-pilot.
With a fleet of 10 aircraft and growing in multiple cities, NAJet expects to add additional Eclipse Jets to its fleet as they are made available through the upgrade and refurbishment programme of Eclipse Aerospace.
TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC AIRPORT
Toulouse, France – One of the busiest regional airports in France, Toulouse- Blagnac, home to Airbus, Avions Transport Regional and other major European aerospace companies, recently opened its new passenger terminal, Hall D. The first flight from the new terminal was operated by Air Austral to Saint Denis in Reunion Island. With the opening of Hall D, Toulouse- Blagnac Airport has almost doubled its surface area and brought its passenger capacity level to 8,5-million passengers. Construction of the new terminal took four years to complete. Hall D will handle European and international destinations. During its long history, the airport has witnessed many first flights, such as the Concorde SST and most Airbus types, including more recently the giant A380.
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