October 8, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Fly With Bose Aviation Headset X® Enjoy an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, clearer audio, and comfortable fit. Voted the #1 headset for the seventh consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2007 Headset Preference Survey. Also rated "Best ANR Headset: The Aviation Consumer Product of the Year" by Aviation Consumer. Learn more and order. Quotes reprinted with permission: Professional Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/07; Aviation Consumer, 8/07. » Bose Corporation is an official sponsor of AVweb's NBAA 2008 coverage. Please visit them at booth #4918 to see the Bose Aviation Headset X® in action! Twin Otter Marks a Return at NBAA Convention ... back to top  A New Twin Otter In its element (and that's pretty varied) there is no more highly-respected aircraft than the deHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. Made famous by the Antarctic rescue of a sick scientist in -75° temperatures, the high-wing twin has toiled for almost 40 years in some of the harshest (and most idyllic) environments on Earth. But the fleet is getting old, and there is really nothing to replace it, except a new Twin Otter. Viking Air, of Sidney (near Victoria), British Columbia, has brought the irreplaceable design into the 21st Century and, as we profile in an AVweb Exclusive Video, it's an idea whose time has come. A few years ago, Viking bought the type certificates for all early deHavilland aircraft, from the Chipmunk to the Twin Otter. The Twin Otter obviously offered the best opportunity for immediate sales and, within a year, a proof-of-concept model was at NBAA in Orlando. Orders are steadily mounting for the aircraft. The U.S. Army bought three for use by its skydiving team, and an airline that serves the myriad of islands in the Maldives recently ordered two of the $4 million aircraft. Inflight. Every Flight. XM WX Satellite Weather has quickly become the leading way to fly for pilots across the country. And now, with Aviator Pro, the brand-new weather data package from XM WX, pilots have an even better reason to fly with the datalink weather leader — inflight and every flight. See the new suite of weather data at the NBAA Convention & Trade Show (booth #962), or click here to learn more about XM WX and Aviator Pro. » XM WX Satellite Weather, the top provider of pilot wx data, is an official sponsor of AVweb's NBAA 2008 coverage Please visit them at booth #962 to learn more. ... SJ30 to Follow? back to top  Sino Swearingen Is Now Emivest It seems likely that Ed Swearingen's dream will come true as the SJ30 that he's devoted much of his life to has caught the eye of some folks with practically bottomless pockets. Officials of Emivest, the United Arab Emirates company that bought 80 percent of Sino Swearingen in a deal that closed two months ago, declined to discuss the financial details of the rescue but left little doubt that mere money wasn't going to get in the way of bringing the speedy little jet to market. "The most important thing to discuss is fulfilling the potential of this aircraft," Ali Rashid Al Mazrouei, chairman of the board of directors of Emivest told a news conference at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando. He said the company is still digesting its acquisition but insisted the aircraft will be put into production and could be the foundation for a family of aircraft. The SJ30 was certified in 2006, and two aircraft were delivered before the former lead investor, the Taiwanese government, withdrew support and started shopping for a buyer. Taiwan remains a small shareholder, along with a list of other investors, including Ed Swearingen, who was on hand for the NBAA press event. NEW! Zulu with Panel Power! With the new Zulu: P (Panel Power) headset, Lightspeed has raised the bar in performance, comfort and crystal-clear audio quality, with more total noise cancellation than any other headset — and no batteries needed! The Zulu: P uses the same LEMO plug that a Bose headset uses. The Zulu: P also comes with built-in Bluetooth. No one else offers this much in a total headset package. Click here for more information. Diamond Names D-Jet Training Partner back to top  Diamond, ATP Ink Training Agreement One of Diamond Aircraft's biggest customers for its D-Jet single-engine jet has been named its training partner for customers of the new jet. ATP (Air Transport Professionals), which has ordered 20 of the five-passenger aircraft, will do the transition training and type ratings for D-Jet customers. "The D-Jet is designed primarily for the owner/pilot market and, as such, the type rating training needs to be different than conventional business jet type training," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft. "ATP has a well-proven track record of transitioning piston pilots to jet aircraft ... ." ATP spokesman Phil Cooper told AVweb there will be two distinct courses for D-Jet customers, one for pilots already type rated on jets and one for those making the leap to jets. Experienced pilots will get a six-day course with a combination of stick and flight time, and the transition pilots will be there for nine days and get more time in both environments. The training programs are already well-developed and will be fully ready for owners as they take delivery of the jets. Piper Matrix — Piper Compelling Click here for more information on the new Matrix, Piper's next generation of cabin-class sophistication. Compellingly priced at $757,000. » Piper Aircraft is at the NBAA Convention & Trade Show. Learn more about the Matrix and other offerings at booth #5152. Cutting-Edge Heads-Up Display for Your Cockpit back to top  Aftermarket HUD With Enhanced Vision It's a window on the world when the world isn't cooperating and now it's available as an after market enhancement for business, commercial and military aircraft. Elbit Kollsman has developed an add-on HUD that displays flight instrument information against an infrared image of the world outside when darkness and weather obscure that. Several customers are using the already-certified system and Elbit is marketing the system as an aftermarket device until original equipment manufacturers incorporate them into their designs. As our AVweb Exclusive Video shows, the visibility enhancement, set up to deliver a normal field of vision for the pilots, is striking. The system has been tested in numerous adverse flight conditions and shows a clear image of the runway for pilots coping with the muck. Elbit says the FAA has recognized the value of the enhanced vision system, which shows conditions in real time, and allows aircraft equipped with the system to fly to 100-foot minimums. New! Jeppesen Avionics Knowledge Library — Garmin G1000 IFR Training The Jeppesen Garmin G1000 — IFR Procedures training is an advanced, extensive computer-based training program developed with Garmin teaching skills to master the operation of and confidently fly the G1000 in IFR conditions. Learn: How to pull up and fly instrument procedures; how to load and activate approaches including RNAV and GPS; all the new WAAS-enabled approaches; and how to perform course reversals, fly holding patterns, and execute missed approaches. Call Jeppesen at (303) 328-4274, or visit online for more information! » Jeppesen is at the NBAA Convention & Trade Show. For demos and more information, visit booth #3499. Sunny Outlook Prevalent at NBAA Convention back to top  Bombardier Predicts Continued Growth Bombardier executives have joined the chorus of optimism that seems to defy the headlines outside the confines of the Orange County Convention Center. In a briefing for the media and financial analysts Tuesday, Bombardier corner suite executives said that while some softening of the business aviation market will occur in the next year or two, the long-term prospects call for expansion and fleet replacement totaling 13,200 business jets, worth $300 billion over the next 10 years and the company expects to maintain or grow its 33 percent share of that revenue. Guy Hachey, CEO of Bombardier Aerospace, said the company will continue to deliver strong financials and maintain or improve market share. He also said he's adamant that the company address quality control and customer service issues. Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, said the company is constantly working on its product lineup, noting the introduction of the Learjet 85 at this show. He said the popularity of the lineup is a double-edged sword, with up to a 46-month backlog for Global Express models, long enough that some deals "have been left on the table" because the time lag is too long. James Hoblyn, president of customer services, said his focus is on streamlining parts inventory and delivery to maximize dispatch rates and minimize customer inconvenience. He said 18 recurring dispatch issues have been addressed and the dispatch rate of the fleet is now approaching 99.5 percent. Attention, Turboprop Operators! Reserve October 28-30 on Your Calendars Turboprop Expo 2008, October 28-30 in Scottsdale, AZ, will offer specialized programs including seminar tracks for airframe and turboprop engine topics as well as operational and ownership information. Dr. David Strahle will present his informative and acclaimed seminar: Understanding Nexrad Imagery. Enjoy the relaxing surroundings of a classic resort and network with industry leaders at Turboprop Expo 2008. For more information and to register, visit online. Hawker Beechcraft's Big Announcement back to top  Hawker Beechcraft Lands $200 Million Order NBAA is one of the shows where major sales announcements are made, but there haven't been that many at this year's show. Hawker Beechcraft stepped out of that mold today with a $200 million announcement. Brazilian-based Líder Signatures S.A. has ordered 23 aircraft, covering the cross-section of jet products from the Wichita company. The major sale is in Embraer's backyard and involves a long-time Beechcraft customer. Líder has been an authorized service center since 1996. Aircraft Financing to Fit Your Needs AirFleet Capital offers a competitive and experienced approach to each and every loan program by focusing exclusively on aircraft financing. AirFleet Capital provides exceptional terms coupled with personal service and a long-term commitment to support the business and shared passion of aviation. From Light Sport Aircraft to VLJs and Business Jets, AirFleet Capital has a loan program to fit your needs. Call an AirFleet Capital financing specialist at (800) 390-4324, or request a quote online. » AirFleet Capital is at the NBAA Convention & Trade Show. Stop by booth #2988 during the show for a complimentary quote. AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? back to top  AVweb's NBAA 2008 Podcast #5: The Next Generation of Gulfstream Promises to Be Even More Passenger-Friendly File Size 3.7 MB / Running Time 4:02 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Can the Gulfstream get any more passenger-oriented? At this year's NBAA Convention, Pres Henne (senior vice president for programs, engineering and testing) answered that question with a resounding yes, explaining how a bevy of new features in the G250 and a new "cabin-essential" power philosophy are making the airplane (expected in 2011) an even more welcoming environment that previous Gulfstreams. This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation Click here to listen. (3.7 MB, 4:02) AVweb's NBAA 2008 Podcast #6: Welcoming the Wichita Aero Club to the Aviation Community File Size 6.1 MB / Running Time 6:39 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS We reported last week on the formation of a new Wichita Aircraft Club, and this week's National Business Aviation Association Convention is serving as the group's gala coming-out party. Executive Director Dave Franson sat down to educate us about the group's goals and structure. This podcast is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather Click here to listen. (6.1 MB, 6:39) Join NAA and Help Shape the Next Century of Flight It's a great time to join the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the nation's oldest aviation organization. At $39 a year, NAA membership is a terrific value for any aviation enthusiast! Members receive the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine, plus access to aviation records and much more. To become an NAA member, sign up online or call (703) 416-4888 and press 4. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  AVweb's NBAA 2008 Video #5: Enhanced Vision System from Elbit-Kollsman Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Elbit Kollsman provides real-time, real-world vision enhancement for pilots flying in bad weather and low visibility conditions. AVweb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli just had to make time to see their display at the NBAA Convention, and Video Editor Glenn Pew brings you the details. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather ... . AVweb's NBAA 2008 Video #6: Viking Reinvents the Twin Otter Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos One of the best utility aircraft ever made has been reborn. Viking aircraft will produce the Twin Otter with upgrades that save weight and reduce complexity while enhancing safety and performance. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli goes inside the cockpit of the new Otter, and Glenn Pew has the video. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation ... . The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  AVweb's Newstips Address ... Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. Names Behind the News back to top  Meet the AVwebBiz Team AVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service. The AVwebBiz team is: Publisher Timothy Cole Editorial Director, Aviation Publications Paul Bertorelli Editor-in-Chief Russ Niles Contributing Editors Mary Grady Glenn Pew Features Editor Kevin Lane-Cummings Webmaster Scott Simmons Contributors Jeff van West Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.) Comments or questions about the news should be sent here. Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebBiz. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.