Latest from Stephen Pope
Avionics
Iridium To Replace Lost Satellite
Iridium said it has begun taking steps to replace a lost communication satellite with one of eight in-orbit spares.
Avionics
Building a Better Nexrad Radar
While it might be a name unfamiliar to many pilots, Baron Services is well known in meteorology circles.
Avionics
Cockpit Datalink Weather
Pilots who have grown accustomed to flying with up-to-the- minute weather graphics and information broadcast to the cockpit through the XM or Sirius satell
Industry perspective: Eurocopter
The fundamentals driving the helicopter industry remain intact, even as tight credit and a global recession compound to put the brakes on helicopter sal
FAA Warns of Lithium Battery Fire Hazard in EFBs
An FAA policy memo issued last week highlights the potential safety hazards associated with the rechargeable lithium batteries in electronic flight bag (EF
Avionics
TAWS, TCAS Coming to More Helicopters
As part of an effort to reduce the number of fatal helicopter crashes, safety experts are promoting widespread use of terrain and traffic alert systems tha
Cabin Interior and Electronics
ICG Gains PMA Approval for NxtLink Systems
International Communications Group of Newport News, Va., has received parts manufacturer authority (PMA) for the NxtLink ICS-120A and ICS-220A communicatio
Avionics
Inmarsat Begins I-4 Satellite Repositioning Effort
Inmarsat last month began repositioning its I-4 satellite constellation in an effort aimed at providing full global SwiftBroadband coverage and improving n
Avionics
Gulfstream addresses EVS overhaul concerns
Overhauling the cryogenically cooled enhanced-vision system (EVS) installed in many newer Gulfstreams will set an operator back around $30,000–a cost many
Rotorcraft
Heli-Expo 2009 Preview
Attendees who make their way to Anaheim, Calif., for the Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Heli-Expo later this month will encounter the usual c
Avionics
TrueNorth sees growth even in a down economy
It’s been less than two years since startup airborne telecommunications firm TrueNorth Avionics of Canada introduced its first products–the Simphone (prono
Avionics
CMC planning Pro Line, Epic challenger
In the next few years, CMC Electronics, Canada’s largest avionics maker and an important player in a number of niche markets, plans to develop an integrate
Sat Monitoring of 121.5 ELTs Ending
As of February 1, search-and-rescue satellites will stop monitoring 121.5 MHz, one of the frequencies used by emergency locator transmitters.
ATC
WAAS LPV Approvals Picking Up
A number of WAAS LPV (lateral precision with vertical guidance) equipment approvals for business jets have been completed recently or will be finished soon
ATC
Go Direct helps users achieve RNP approval
For most flight department managers, the thought of navigating the maze of FAA rules to fly required navigation performance (RNP) approach procedures is en
Avionics
Jury: No infringement of TAWS patent
A federal jury last month rejected a claim by Honeywell that Sandel Avionics of Vista, Calif., violated its patents, ending more than six years of legal ba
Avionics
New players follow Garmin into SVS market for GA
It didn’t take long for competitors to introduce synthetic-vision system (SVS) avionics enhancements after Garmin last spring removed the cloak of secrecy
Regulations and Government
Honeywell Loses TAWS Patent Case Against Sandel
A federal jury rejected a claim by Honeywell that Sandel Avionics of Vista, Calif., violated its patents, ending more than six years of legal battles over
Avidyne Starts Shipping MLX770 Wx Transceiver
Avidyne last month began shipping the first production versions of the MLX770 two-way datalink transceiver after receiving FAA technical standard order (TS
Avionics
EFB Maker Paperless Cockpit Closes Its Doors
Owners of electronic flight bag (EFB) portable computers sold by Paperless Cockpit are searching for alternative vendors after the Tennessee company went o
Avionics
Jury to decide Honeywell’s TAWS lawsuit
Lawyers for Universal Avionics, Sandel and Honeywell are scheduled to return to a Delaware federal courtroom this month in the companies’ long-running disp
Avionics
West Star Adds EVS to Challenger 604
West Star Aviation announced the completion of flight testing in a customer Challenger 604 of a Kollsman enhanced-vision system at the company’s Grand Junc
ATC
Fans flight paves the way for CPDLC from Gulfstream
Gulfstream said it has completed a full future air navigation system (Fans) flight across the Atlantic Ocean using controller-pilot datalink communication
ATC
Universal urges FAA flexibility on WAAS
What’s up with WAAS? That’s the question countless business jet pilots have been asking since the FAA announced plans to publish thousands of WAAS LPV (lat
Avionics
Pro Line Fusion under way, Collins studies next technology
The launch of the super-midsize Gulfstream G250 at October’s NBAA Convention added yet another program to the growing list of contract wins for the Rockwel
Aircraft
Visibility tests complete for SSBJs
NASA and Gulfstream last month wrapped up six weeks of flight testing at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB in California aimed at proving wh
Flight Activity Declining; Backlogs May Be Next
Business aviation consultancy Brian Foley Associates believes the peak for business jet backlogs likely occurred in the third quarter and will now begin sh
Avionics
Honeywell TAWS Lawsuit Headed Back to Court
Lawyers for Universal Avionics, Sandel and Honeywell are scheduled to return to a Delaware federal courtroom next month in the long-running dispute over te
Business Jet Brokers Warned of Fraud Scam
An elaborate scam originating in South Africa threatens to bilk business aviation interests out of substantial sums of money, according to Canadian consult
Saudi 400XP deal boosts Hawker sales
Hawker Beechcraft yesterday inked a deal with Saudi Arabia Airlines for six Hawker 400XP twinjets worth a combined total of about $50 million.
