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FAA to Reinstate ADS-B Use in Alaska
The FAA will put the ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) images back on air traffic controller's screens at the Anchorage Center on June 15, after unexpectedly halting its use there in March.  The agency's action caused an uproar among a number of aviation groups.

FAA Improves Traffic Flow in Great Lakes Region
The FAA has implemented airspace changes over the northern Midwest region of the U.S. that is expected to increase efficiency by reducing complexity for both pilots and controllers.

FAA Initiating New Airspace Flow-Control Program Over Parts of U.S.
The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) has initiated a new airspace-specific program to mitigate the effects of thunderstorms that will replace its ground-delay procedures that were airport defined.

Iridium Names AirSatCom as Value-Added Developer
Iridium Satellite named AirSatCom to its global network of value-added developers (VADs).

AirCell Wins Bidding for Air-Ground Broadband Spectrum
AirCell was the high bidder in the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction for air-to-ground broadband frequencies.  The win gives the global telecommunications company an exclusive license to provide wireless broadband services to airlines and business aircraft in the United States.

FAA's JRC Approves Funding for Gulf of Mexico ADS-B
The FAA's Joint Resource Council (JRC) has approved the investment and funding decisions necessary to deploy ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance- broadcast) in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Helicopter Association International (HAI).

Boeing Selects Teledyne Controls' Health Monitoring for Navy P-8As
Boeing has selected Teledyne Controls' aircraft health monitoring system (AHMS) for the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) it is supplying to the U.S. Navy.  The P-8A is a military version of the B-737-800 that replaces the Lockheed P-3C Orion.

Porter Airlines Opts for Flight Deck Resources' EFBs
Toronto-based Porter Airlines has opted to equip its entire fleet of Bombardier Q400s with Flight Deck Resources (FDR) EFBs (electronic flight bags), and have their operational data updated by FDR as well.

Pentastar Aviation Receives STC for CMC EFB
The FAA has awarded Pentastar Aviation a STC (supplemental type certificate) for the installation of a CMC Electronics' EFB (electronic flight bag) on approved aircraft including the Falcon 2000 and 2000EX.

TSA Deploys Reveal EDS at Kansas City

Two Canadian Provinces Approve Skytrac to Track Fire-Fighting Flights
The forest services of British Columbia and Alberta have approved the use of SkyTrac Systems to automatically track their helicopters and fixed-wing air tankers used for fire fighting and other missions.

AOPA: Airport WAAS Requirements Should Match User Aircraft
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is urging the FAA to avoid applying commercial airport standards to small GA (general aviation) airports that want to offer WAAS (wide area augmentation system) instrument approaches.

ARINC Deploys VHF Datalink Stations at Four Airports in India
ARINC, together with its regional communications partner Bird Consultancy Services (BCS), have deployed new airport VHF air-ground stations at New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai.

Check Out Current Fleet Changes

IATA's Director General Expresses Cautious Optimism on Airline Recovery
Giovanni Bisignani, The director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed optimism about the state of the airline industry at the opening of the organization's annual general Meeting in Paris recently.

Check Out Additional Industry Trends

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FAA to Reinstate ADS-B Use in Alaska

The FAA will put the ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) images back on air traffic controller's screens at the Anchorage Center on June 15, after unexpectedly halting its use there in March.  The agency's action caused an uproar among a number of aviation groups.

For several years, the ADS-B has been used in the Alaska's Bethel region and its southeastern costal area as part of the FAA's Capstone Program.

The problem, according to a May 8 letter from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to the Alaska Aviation Coordination Council, was that Anchorage controllers were improperly using the system to separate aircraft with ADS-B avionics from planes without ADS-B equipment, and therefore reliant on radar.  Apparently, air traffic controllers expressed concerns about aircraft separation because of "ghosting images" of transponder and ADS-B equipped aircraft in the same airspace.

The FAA turned off all ADS-B services in Alaska on March 24, but three days later restored all but the air traffic portion of the "bundled" technology services that offer pilots situational awareness.

Nevertheless, after frustrated Alaskan pilots, who have strongly endorsed the technology, vented their concerns publicly, the agency said it would not only reinstate, but expand, the use of ADS-B in the state.  On August 15, ADS-B will be introduced in the Dillingham and King Salmon areas for the first time.

A coalition of Alaskan aviation groups made up of the Alaska Airmen's Association, Alaska Air Carrier's Association, Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the Seaplane Pilots Association, apparently played an important role in the FAA's reinstatement action.  The group has been a strong supporter of the Capstone Program, which has reduced accidents in Alaska by more than 47 percent according to a MITRE, University of Alaska, Anchorage, and Embry-Riddle study.

In an official statement regarding it decision, the FAA made the following points:

• On June 15, it will resume air traffic control separation and advisory services by Anchorage ARTCC using ADS-B information.  ADS-B targets will be separated by a minimum of 5 NM.  Non-radar separation will be applied between an ADS-B target and a radar target.

• On July 15, it will begin an operational validation of a minimum separation standard between an ADS-B target and a radar target (known as mixed environment) in the Bethel, Aniak, and St. Mary's areas.

• On or about August 15, it plans to expand the operational validation of mixed environment to the Dillingham and King Salmon areas.

• All other ADS-B services will continue to be available, including FIS-B (flight information services-broadcast) services, support for flight and rescue, fleet monitoring and advisory information to the Bethel's control tower.

06-10-2006.  (Top)

FAA Improves Traffic Flow in Great Lakes Region

The FAA has implemented airspace changes over the northern Midwest region of the U.S. that is expected to increase efficiency by reducing complexity for both pilots and controllers.

The changes, called MASE (Midwest airspace enhancement), reroutes aircraft in the Great Lakes area, where major airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati, are located.  Before MASE, congestion in that area adversely affected many flights passing through the airspace, even though they were heading elsewhere.

MASE added SIDs (standard instrument departures) and STARs (standard terminal arrival routes) at Detroit's Metro and Cleveland Hopkins, uncrossed some routes, provided additional preferred routes, and redesigned existing preferred routes.  It also added new sectors and modified existing ones.

The goal was to simply the airspace controlled by Indianapolis and Cleveland Centers, thus allowing controllers to manage traffic more straightforwardly and planes to move more fluidly.

Based on 2004 traffic volume statistics, the FAA's Air Traffic Organization estimates MASE will save airlines flying out of Detroit $1.39 million per year.  And if departures increase by 15 percent, those savings will increase to $2.43 million.  For airlines arriving at Detroit, MASE should cut costs by $4.63 million using numbers from 2003; if arrivals increase by 9 percent, those savings should increase by nearly another million dollars.

MASE also is expected to reduce in-trail restrictions at Detroit, located within Cleveland Center's airspace, which are often passed back through several adjacent en route centers.

Additional information is available on the ATO's Website.  06-09-2006.  (Top)

FAA Initiating New Airspace Flow-Control Program Over Parts of U.S.

The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) has initiated a new airspace-specific program to mitigate the effects of thunderstorms that will replace its ground-delay procedures that were airport defined.

According to the FAA's Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Website, until now, traffic managers at ATCSCC only had the use of GDPs (ground delay programs) to deal with the problems caused by severe weather.  A GDP adjusts the departure times of flights going to an affected airport to reduce the level of traffic.  These procedures are collectively known as SWAP (severe weather avoidance program).

The problem is that when GDPs are used to reduce the number of flights in areas of severe weather, some flights wanting to operate in the general area are delayed even if their particular path doesn't take them through thunderstorm activity.  GDPs also fail to distribute delays equitably to all users because when they are initiated at a busy airport they also affect flights that are using nearby smaller airports that have relatively little traffic.

As of June 5, Command Center traffic managers can now use new AFPs (airspace flow programs) which should help solve this problem in some parts of the country.

AFPs control flights through a specific section of airspace rather than flights headed to a particular airport.  Thus, for example, with an AFP in place over the Ohio Valley, planes headed across Ohio to Philadelphia would be delayed, but flights going to Philadelphia from Miami (not over Ohio) wouldn't be impeded.

AFPs also will give users choices, such as rerouting around thunderstorm areas, which GDPs couldn't do.

Currently, the FAA is using AFPs in six "flow constrained" areas all located in the eastern half of the United States.  One group covers parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia before ending over the Southeast Atlantic coast of North Carolina.  The other group starts over the New York shore of Lake Ontario, extends south to the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania, and then stretches southeast over Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean.

Details of the program are available in an FAA Advisory Circular (90-102) that outlines how it works and how operators are expected to comply with its procedures.

When an AFP is issued, the FAA will send an advisory to operators that is accessible at http://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/advAdvisoryForm.jsp.  An AFP will also appear in graphic and text formats on the ATCSCC Operational Information System page at http://www.fly.faa.gov/ois.  06-07-2006.  (Top)

Iridium Names AirSatCom as Value-Added Developer

Iridium Satellite named AirSatCom to its global network of value-added developers (VADs).

Toulouse-based AirSatCom provides customized satellite communications and tracking applications and accessories for both civilian and military users.  It is adding Iridium capability to its satellite terminals for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.  06-10-2006.  (Top)

AirCell Wins Bidding for Air-Ground Broadband Spectrum

AirCell was the high bidder in the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction for air-to-ground broadband frequencies.  The win gives the global telecommunications company an exclusive license to provide wireless broadband services to airlines and business aircraft in the United States.

AirCell says it expects to begin commercial deployment in 2007, and while its network will initially cover only the continental U.S., it intends to expand its service across the rest of North America, including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

"As we move forward and complete the official licensing process, AirCell will be accelerating its discussions with a number of airlines, and we look forward to working with them to plan for the introduction of broadband service," said Jack Blumenstein, AirCell's president and CEO.

The broadband service will enable airline passengers to use their own Wi-Fi enabled laptops, PDA's (personal digital assistants), and other devices, in an integrated wireless cabin to connect to AirCell's air-to-ground link.  AirCell's Website indicates that the system could be used with EFBs (electronic flight bags) as well.

The company says it will now initiate discussions with wireless carriers on how to seamlessly use their wireless devices while in the air in the same way they now use those devices on the ground.  Further regulatory approvals will be required to permit use of the cellular frequencies aboard aircraft.

AirCell became an Iridium hardware and service provider in September 2002.  In 2003, the U.S. Patent Office granted the company a patent on technology that will permit passengers to use their personal cell phones while an aircraft is in-flight.

In a post-auction restructuring to be formally completed in the coming months, AirCell says it will add Ripplewood Holdings, LLC, as a major new investor and recognize a significant new investment by entities affiliated with Blumenstein/Thorne Information Investors, a current AirCell shareholder.  06-08-2006.  (Top)

FAA's JRC Approves Funding for Gulf of Mexico ADS-B

The FAA's Joint Resource Council (JRC) has approved the investment and funding decisions necessary to deploy ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance- broadcast) in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Helicopter Association International (HAI).

The FAA, HAI, and other representatives of platform and helicopter owners in the Gulf of Mexico, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in May to formally establish a cooperative government and industry business relationship to facilitate the implementation of ADS-B over the Gulf region.

The Air Transportation Association (ATA) also recently endorsed ADS-B deployment there.  06-09-2006.  (Top)

Boeing Selects Teledyne Controls' Health Monitoring for Navy P-8As

Boeing has selected Teledyne Controls' aircraft health monitoring system (AHMS) for the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) it is supplying to the U.S. Navy.  The P-8A is a military version of the B-737-800 that replaces the Lockheed P-3C Orion.

The P-8A's AHMS will be an enhanced version of Teledyne's standard commercial DFDAU (digital flight data acquisition unit) that is already on approximately half of the B-737NGs flying worldwide.  The DFDAU and its ACMS (aircraft condition monitoring system) software will allow Navy technicians to specify the parameters they need for data monitoring, maintenance, and operational efficiency, without some of the constraints imposed by other software systems, according to Teledyne.  06-09-2006.  (Top)

Porter Airlines Opts for Flight Deck Resources' EFBs

Toronto-based Porter Airlines has opted to equip its entire fleet of Bombardier Q400s with Flight Deck Resources (FDR) EFBs (electronic flight bags), and have their operational data updated by FDR as well.

FDR will provide the Canadian regional carrier with class-2 EFBs for its Q400s along with its FlightLine suite of applications including FliControl and FliView.  On the ground, FDR will implement its FGSserv update system to deliver operational data both to Porter's aircraft and its centers for operations and maintenance.

Class 2 EFBs are considered "portable" devices (not integrated into the aircraft's other systems) that may be used to display flight critical information such as en route navigation and approach charts.  06-08-2006.  (Top)

Pentastar Aviation Receives STC for CMC EFB

The FAA has awarded Pentastar Aviation a STC (supplemental type certificate) for the installation of a CMC Electronics' EFB (electronic flight bag) on approved aircraft including the Falcon 2000 and 2000EX.

The Pentastar STC (ST02281CH) allows CMC's CMA-1100 EFB to be installed in aircraft covered under an AML (approved model list), which includes the Falcon models, which also included the first yoke mount for the Falcon 2000.  The AML also allows the CMA-1100 to be installed on other aircraft without requiring a complete STC process.  06-08-2006.  (Top)

TSA Deploys Reveal EDS at Kansas City

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed five smaller, less expensive Reveal CT-80 EDS (explosives detection systems) for screening checked baggage at Kansas City.  06-08-2006.  (Top)

Two Canadian Provinces Approve Skytrac to Track Fire-Fighting Flights

The forest services of British Columbia and Alberta have approved the use of SkyTrac Systems to automatically track their helicopters and fixed-wing air tankers used for fire fighting and other missions.

SkyTrac provides flight following as well as messaging and data transfer between an aircraft and ground stations via Iridium's SBD (short burst data) service.   06-06-2006.  (Top)

AOPA: Airport WAAS Requirements Should Match User Aircraft

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is urging the FAA to avoid applying commercial airport standards to small GA (general aviation) airports that want to offer WAAS (wide area augmentation system) instrument approaches.

The FAA "needs to find a way to tailor its design criteria for GA airports to the type of aircraft," said Andy Cebula, AOPA's executive vice president of government affairs, on the organization's Website.  Since GA aircraft have smaller wingspans and slower approach speeds than a typical air transport, it's "just not feasible" to require a 2,900-foot GA runway to meet the same criteria as a commercial runway, Mr. Cebula said.

AOPA has been a strong advocate of WAAS-based instrument approach procedures because they promise to offer virtually the same approach minima as an ILS (instrument landing system) - nominally a 200 foot DH (decision height) and one-half-mile visibility minimums.

While the FAA is implementing WAAS across the country, it is difficult for small GA airports to upgrade, AOPA complains, when they must have much of the ground infrastructure that an ILS requires, such as approach lights, precision runway markings, and a parallel taxiway.  As expensive as those changes would be, the most expensive investment would be purchasing tens of acres of land at the end of a runway to clear potential obstacles.  A safe approach to the runway is needed, AOPA says, but it should be sized appropriately.  06-09-2006.  (Top)

ARINC Deploys VHF Datalink Stations at Four Airports in India

ARINC, together with its regional communications partner Bird Consultancy Services (BCS), have deployed new airport VHF air-ground stations at New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai.

The launch represents ARINC's first GLOBALink VHF coverage in the sub-continent.

ARINC says it now has more than 190 VHF remote ground stations in the Asia Pacific region.  BCS helped coordinate the deployment of the four Indian VHF stations, and will assist in their operation, including providing "first call" maintenance.  06-07-2006.  (Top)

Airbus delivered its first of five A330 platforms to the facilities of EADS CASA in Madrid for conversion into a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the Royal Australian Air Force.  EADS CASA will supply these to airborne tankers and associated training and support systems to Royal Australian Air Force.  06-10-2006.

Technology Partners, a Polish applied research group, and Airbus signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) that will focus on projects in the field of material sciences, particularly in surface technologies, ergonomics and environmental technologies, mathematical modeling, measurement and testing.  The formal agreement will be valid for five years, but the research program will continue longer.  06-10-2006.  (Top)

IATA's Director General Expresses Cautious Optimism on Airline Recovery

Giovanni Bisignani, The director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed optimism about the state of the airline industry at the opening of the organization's annual general Meeting in Paris recently.

Noting "tremendous progress" since 2001, Mr. Bisignani noted that labor productivity has improved 33%, sales and distribution costs have dropped 10%, and non-fuel unit costs have been reduced by 13%.

"Oil remains the wild card, Mr. Bisignani said. "The break-even fuel price increased from US$14 per barrel to US$50 since 2001.  But in just one year, the fuel bill ballooned US$21 billion and is expected to top US$112 billion this year."

"While the fuel price continues to race ahead of efficiency gains, it is truly amazing that profitability has not deteriorated from last year.  Losses for 2006 will be US$3 billion, slightly less than the US$3.2 billion recorded for last year," said Bisignani.

"We must remember that the strong revenue environment - 10% annual growth over the last three years - is also fragile.  A weaker global economy could change our prospects dramatically.  Change is more important than ever," said Bisignani.  06-10-2006.  (Top)

Airbus received orders for two A318s, three A319s and one A330-200 in May, bringing its year-to-date sales to 105.  The company delivered 28 A320 family aircraft, two A300-600Rs, six A330-200s and an A340-600 in May.  06-10-2006.

Boeing received orders for 20 B-777s, nine B-737s and three B-747s in May, according to Reuters.  Its net orders in the first five months of 2006 are 259 B-737s, 59 B-787s, 20 B-777s, five B-747s and four B-767s. 06-10-2006.  (Top)

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