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| Going Supersonic at NBAA | back to top |  |
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This is the second of three special editions of AVwebBiz covering the NBAA Convention in Orlando,
Florida. Regular AVwebFlash issues will resume Friday with Friday Features, and the regular AVwebBiz will resume next week.
Aerion Enters New Test Phase
Aerion Corporation says the next phase of testing toward its ultimate goal of facilitating the creation of a supersonic business jet will get under way at Edwards Air Force Base in November. The company will mount a prototype wing section under a NASA F-15 to see how it works. In a podcast interview at NBAA 2012 in Orlando, Aerion COO Doug Nicols said there is still plenty of interest in the aircraft and lots of work going on to make it a reality.
He said Aerion has done a lot of computer modeling to determine the function of the wing while strapped to the F-15 and it's another milestone on the path to getting an actual airplane built. He said the company is sticking to its plan to work with an experienced manufacturer to build the aircraft in a partnership that shares Aerion's intellectual property. He said there is no shortage of customers but the technical work is the company's focus for now.
Podcast: Aerion Keeps WorkingFile Size 6.2 MB / Running Time 6:43Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
Building the world's fastest business jet is a slow process, but work is proceeding on the Aerion Mach 1.6 aircraft. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Aerion COO Doug Nichols at NBAA 2012.
This podcast is brought to you by Avidyne
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| After the Storm | back to top | |
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Sandy Aftermath: Relief Efforts Crowd NY Airspace
The effects of hurricane Sandy continued to disrupt travel in the northeast on Tuesday, with more than 15,000 scheduled airline flights cancelled, which may be a new record for one event. But while airlines may be grounded for a while yet, that doesn't mean the skies aren't crowded. The FAA on Tuesday afternoon asked all aircraft operators to avoid New York's Class B airspace, 1,500 feet and below, due to extensive disaster relief, recovery and reconstitution efforts, search and rescue, law enforcement and medevac operations being conducted in and around the New York City and Newark metropolitan areas. "Pilots should exercise extreme caution due to low-flying aircraft," the FAA said.
"Flight crews should remain in contact with the appropriate ATC facility for the area where their operations are being conducted to the maximum extent possible. … Pilots should also be particularly alert for possible additional airspace restrictions that may be implemented and check NOTAMs often," the FAA said. About one-quarter of all U.S. flights move through New York's airspace, so the disruptions there will affect traffic across the country for at least the next few days, according to The Associated Press. Flooding also affected coastal airports across the region. On Tuesday, the remnants of the storm continued to move northwestward, affecting airports as far west as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.
Thanks to better technology and changes in the law that fine airlines for extensive delays, most airports in the affected areas are deserted, rather than crowded with delayed travelers. Airlines are quicker to cancel flights in advance and avoid all the problems of stranded and angry passengers. "The last few major storms created such gridlock, and such bad will with their best customers, they just had to shift their behavior," Kate Hanni, head of the advocacy group Flyers Rights, told The Associated Press. "The flying public would rather have their flights pre-cancelled than be sleeping in Chicago on a cot." |
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| HondaJet Leaps from Paper to Reality | back to top | |
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HondaJet In Production
Honda Aircraft has started production of the first customer HondaJet and will have three or four ready for delivery by the time the small jet is certified at the end of 2013. Problems with the fan blades prompted a delay in the certification of the GE Honda Aero engines that are fundamental to the efficiency of the design and set back the test schedule, but President Michimasa Fujino told a news conference on Monday at NBAA 2012 that the engine is now close to certification and the rest of the schedule is catching up. Despite the delays (certification was originally planned for late 2012) and changes in the market, Fujino was typically upbeat about the project, which is more than 25 years old.
Fujino said Honda expected the process to be difficult and anticipated there might be delays, but it hasn't lost sight of the original goal. "Honda is known for its methodical approach in engineering and processes," said Fujino. "To this end, our commitment to deliver the best possible product that will bring new value to aviation remains. We have taken the necessary time and effort with the HondaJet program to do it right and give our customers the finest product with the best ownership experience possible." |
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| Boeing Goes Big with New BBJs | back to top | |
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Boeing Adds To Bizjet Line
Boeing will expand its line of 737-based business jets with the BBJ Max 8 and the BBJ Max 9, the company announced at the NBAA Convention in Orlando this week. The Max 8 will use CFM International's new Leap-1B engines and Boeing's new two-surface winglet for a 13-percent boost in fuel efficiency. The changes also will increase range by 14 percent, to 6,325 nm. The Max 9 plan is still in the works, but "similar performance improvements are anticipated," Boeing said.
"We anticipate the BBJ Max 8 will be a very strong seller as a VIP aircraft," said Steve Taylor, BBJ president. "For VIP customers, extended range and exceptional comfort are equally important. The BBJ Max will ensure our customers get the best of both." The company also is studying plans for a BBJ Max 7, but is not ready to announce whether it will be added to the line. |
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| Encouraging Flight: NBAA's Role | back to top | |
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NBAA Offers Scholarships, New Private Pilot Awards
At its annual convention in Orlando on Monday, NBAA said that starting next year, it will for the first time recognize private pilots for outstanding safe-flying achievement. NBAA has recognized safe flying every year since 1953 with awards to business aviation operators and individuals who fly accident-free. The new Private Pilot Safety Award will recognize safety accomplishments by operators of light business aircraft who fly with a private pilot certificate. The association also will bestow this week a number of scholarships to help young people pursue careers in business aviation.
The scholarships will help students to pursue degrees in airport management, aviation safety, engineering, maintenance and technology. Students who have served as volunteers and in the military also were recognized for their contributions. |
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| Aviation Jobs: Where the Action Is | back to top | |
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Podcast: What's Hot in the Aviation Jobs Market?File Size 4.0 MB / Running Time 4:43Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
There's high demand out there for skilled, experienced aviation technicians in the refurb and repair market, according to JSfirm.com. AVweb spoke to JSfirm's Jeff Richards at the NBAA Convention in Orlando this week to get a snapshot of the aerospace employment market. Richards told us that hiring is picking up, even though OEMs remain in the doldrums. Skilled repairmen, A&Ps, and specialized trades are much in demand, however. JSfirm is a free résumé and job-matching service that considers itself the aviation version of Monster.com.
This podcast is brought to you by ForeFlight
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| A Different Approach to De-Icing | back to top | |
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Video: Cox Electromechanical De-Icing SystemOriginal, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
Pneumatic boots are probably the best known way to remove ice from an aircraft in flight. But there's another way: electromechanical pulse de-icing. In this video from NBAA, AVweb reports on the Cox system, which has gained some market traction.
This video is brought to you by ForeFlight |
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| Twin Otters Reincarnated | back to top | |
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Video: Ikhana's X2 Remanufactured Twin OtterOriginal, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
No other airplane does what de Havilland's famed Twin Otter does, which is why even though it hasn't been made for 40 years, it endures in the market. Ikhana Aircraft is remanufacturing the Twin Otter into virtually a new airplane. AVweb checks it out in this video from NBAA.
This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite
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| What Have You Missed on AVwebcom? | back to top | |
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AVweb Insider Blog: Saved by an iPad
So let's get this straight: The airlines stuff us to turn off cellphone and tablet computers, yet the pilots up in the pointy end are using them as plate readers? That's not all. We know of at least two incidents in which iPads have bailed out crews after complete avionics failures in modern jets. Paul Bertorelli digs into the contradictions on the AVweb Insider blog.
Read more and join the conversation.
AVweb Insider Blog: Hightower's EAA Departure -- What's Next?
In a surprising move that wasn't all that surprising, EAA's board dismissed Rod Hightower as the association's president. The good news? Jack Pelton will chair the board to get the association back on track. Paul Bertorelli runs down the plusses in his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog.
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
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AVweb's Newstips Address ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 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.
Who's Where? You Tell UsGet a promotion or a new job? Your colleagues want to know about it, and AVwebBiz can get the word out. Drop us a line about the staff appointment, with a nice recent photo, and we'll do our best to include it in our new section, "Who's Where." The items will be permanently archived on AVweb for future reference, too. |
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| Names Behind the News | back to top | |
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Meet the AVwebBiz Team
AVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.
The AVwebBiz team is:
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