The ever-increasing use of composites in aerospace has given rise to technological advances not only in aerodynamics but in so-called green disciplines. Engineers have studied different processes for decades, and recycled composites from Boeing 787s have already found their way onto recreational products such as kayak paddles.
Environment
November 3, 2012 - 2:10am
The owner of a new $4 million FBO due to open on the Isle of Man by the middle of this month is promising substantial savings for aircraft operators using it as a transit point in and out of the European Union (EU). Private Jet Company (PJC) claims it can provide savings of up to 60 percent from reduced exposure to the cost of the EU emissions trading scheme (see box). The British Crown Dependency is outside the EU so its operators can also avoid value-added tax (typically around 20 percent in Europe) on aircraft importation, as well as on fuel and services such as handling.
November 3, 2012 - 12:10am
Commodities trading specialist CF Partners is offering what it says will be an easy way for aircraft operators to buy and sell carbon credits as part of their obligations under the European Union’s emissions trading scheme (ETS). The service has been launched in partnership with ETS Aviation, which already helps operators with the carbon emissions monitoring, reporting and verification aspects of ETS compliance, with its Aviation Footprinter and Support Services products.
October 31, 2012 - 4:35pm
As pounding rain and wind exceeding 90 mph heralded the arrival of Hurricane Sandy along the Eastern seaboard earlier this week, companies and operators participating in NBAA’s Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (Hero) database were already working with national emergency agencies and personnel to assist with post-storm relief efforts using business aircraft.
October 31, 2012 - 3:10pm
UOP, a Honeywell company, has announced that Honeywell Green Jet Fuel was used in a 50/50 blend with petroleum-derived jet fuel to propel all five of Gulfstream’s demonstration aircraft to this year’s NBAA convention on October 27 and 28.
The renewable fuel was made from natural oils extracted from camelina, an inedible plant that grows in conditions where food crops cannot survive.
October 31, 2012 - 11:00am
The Solar Impulse project recently received a burst of sunshine in the form of financial support from a commercial insurance firm, bolstering the team’s plans to complete the world’s first global circumnavigation by a piloted, solar-powered aircraft.
October 31, 2012 - 9:20am
The FAA released details of a new ADS-B-based oceanic airspace trial that began October 26 to reduce longitudinal separation between participating aircraft in Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center’s oceanic control area. The current trial applies to aircraft climbing and descending and is designed to prove that more aircraft will be able to fly at their requested altitudes using the ADS-B-enabled reduced separation standards.
October 30, 2012 - 3:15pm
Signaling its commitment to sustainability, Gulfstream flew its entire demonstration aircraft fleet–a G150, G280, G450, G550 and G650–to the NBAA Convention this week in Orlando, Fla., with both engines on each airplane burning a 50-50 blend of biofuel and jet-A. Each gallon of camelina-based Honeywell UOP Green Jet Fuel burned instead of petroleum-derived jet fuel reduces the carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by 68 percent, based on life-cycle analysis, Gulfstream said.
October 30, 2012 - 2:50pm
Ship It AOG, the Addison, Texas-based international parts distribution company, will offer visitors to Booth No. 682 an opportunity to see the new Fire-Fighter and the Fire-Fighter II fire-containment bags. The bags are designed to provide inflight containment for lithium-ion battery-operated devices in the event of a thermal runaway of the battery packs.
October 29, 2012 - 12:50pm
The busy North Sea oil and gas rig transportation sector lost nearly a third of its capacity on October 23, after CHC Helicopter suspended all flight operations using the Eurocopter EC 225. The ban, pending further investigation, came after a company Super Puma ditched in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland the day before. CHC competitors Bond and Bristow also grounded their Super Pumas after the incident.
The aircraft suffered a cracked gearbox shaft, according to the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch.
