Monthly Archives: May 2017

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for March 2017 showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 6.8%, compared to the same month a year ago. Middle East carriers' traffic growth slowed to 4.9% in March compared to a year ago, which was a considerable slowing from January and February year-over-year demand growth. Capacity grew 6.1% and load factor climbed by half a percentage point to 80.4%, which was a record for the month. March demand growth represented a moderate slowdown relative to performance in February after adjusting for the distortion in the year-to-year comparisons owing to the extra day in February 2016. The imposition of the ban on large electronics in the cabin on certain routes to the US and UK occurred too late in March to have an effect on traffic figures. “Strong traffic demand continued throughout the first quarter, supported by a combination of lower fares and a broad-based upturn in global economic conditions. The price of air travel has fallen by around 10% in real terms over the past year and that has contributed to record load factors. We will have to wait another month to see the impact of the laptop ban on demand,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. March international passenger demand rose 6.4% compared to March 2016, which was a slight deceleration compared to February, after adjusting for the leap year distortion in February. Airlines in all regions recorded growth. Total capacity climbed 6.1%, and load factor improved 0.2% percentage points to 78.8%. Middle East Carriers This is related more to developments seen last year, while any impacts from the laptop ban will be visible

Legacy 500 We took a night flight on the Legacy 500 to test the EFVS (Enhanced Flight Vision System). The EFVS is the name given to the incorporation of an EVS (Enhanced Vision System) image on an HUD (Head Up Display). The system frequently found on higher-end aircraft is a new feature in one more ways than one. It was designed and developed by Rockwell Collins. Our system is in part composed of the HGS3500, a HUD system used in the Legacy family and one of the most compact systems on the market. It directly displays the most important flight information in the pilot’s visual field and unlike traditional systems is not made up of a projector and a display system but rather is an all-in-one information display system. The reduced complexity, weight and volume allows it to be integrated in the “mid” and mid-light” aircraft, which is a first for these segments. The device also includes the EVS-3000 system composed of 3 cameras that provide clear images of the visual field at the front of the aircraft on the HUD and on the engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS) screen. The system functions regardless of the conditions, whether in rain storms or low visibility (fog). This new EVS has increased detection capacities of runway lighting systems using short-wave infrared and visible frequencies, as well as, technically challenging, LED lighting and sources of incandescent and halogen lighting (which in the context may cause glare for the pilot). The component uses electronic processing to represent an image surpassing the human eye. Moreover the system is the most light-weight and compact on the market. Since 2004, the FAA has allowed certain operators using the system to begin an approach regardless of the minimum RVR (Runway Visual Range) in line with the published approach minima. Pilots could continue their approach until 100 ft if the

g500 Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G500 flight-test program continues to make significant progress toward the aircraft’s anticipated 2017 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The five G500 test aircraft, including a fully outfitted production aircraft, have surpassed 2,600 flying hours and accumulated more than 600 flights. “Development testing is complete; company testing is well under way, and FAA certification has started, putting us right on track for certification and customer deliveries later this year,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. Gulfstream designed the G500 interior after extensive customer feedback, and that collaboration continues. Recently, members of Gulfstream’s Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team (ATCAT) spent an hour flying in the fully outfitted production aircraft, which serves as the test bed for the cabin. “The feedback during and after these flights was extremely positive,” Burns said. “Our customers tell us that the added flexibility of the cabin, the comfort of our newly designed seats and the enhanced satellite communications will ensure that the G500 customer experience is second to none.” The flight was an unforgettable one for ATCAT member Peter Zeeb, the director of maintenance for Oregon-based Ochoco Administrative Services, which operates three Gulfstream aircraft. “Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to be part of the ATCAT program for the last six years,” Zeeb said. “I truly believe the G500 will be a game-changer for business aviation. The flight was a ‘career’ moment for me. I will never forget it!” Source: ULTIMATEJET  

  The G500 recently marked its longest flight on a mission from Savannah, Ga., out past San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean and back to Savannah. (Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace) Gulfstream continues to check off milestones for its G500 and G600 programs with a G500 recently logging its longest test flight and a third G600 set to fly today for the first time. The G500 has remained on track for service entry this year, with five flight-test aircraft amassing 2,750 hours and more the 640 flights by mid-April. The program earlier this month logged its longest endurance flight when a G500 flew 10 hours, six minutes across the U.S. The flight, which was used to test the onboard satellite communications system, took off from Savannah, Georgia, flew 300 miles west of San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean and headed back to Savannah. The route covered 4,808 nm. Gulfstream flew the fifth of five test G500s—a production aircraft being used for cabin evaluation—on the mission. Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told analysts during the company’s first-quarter earnings call today that Gulfstream expects to wrap up certification flight tests for the G500 in October, with certification and initial deliveries still anticipated by year-end. The G500 is designed to fly 5,000 nm at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm at Mach 0.90. Once the aircraft is certified, Novakovic expects the ramp-up of the G500 to happen more quickly than that of the G650, saying the aircraft will be more mature by the time it reaches market. As for the longer-range G600, Novakovic said the third aircraft is expected to join the flight-test program today. The certification timeline for the G600 is expected to follow about