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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2522.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION REGULATION GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC FAA signals green light for RVSM Move to reduce vertical separation will result in fuel savings and fewer delays, outweighing implementation costs Reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) will take effect in US domes tic airspace as planned on 20 Jan uary 2005, under the final rule pub lished by the Federal Aviation Administration. Operators of out-of- production aircraft, mainly older business jets, had hoped for a reprieve, arguing there is insufficient time to modify their aircraft. The FAA says domestic RVSM, which will reduce vertical separa tion between aircraft from 2,000ft (610m) to 1,000ft for all aircraft fly ing between 29,000ft and 41,000ft, will result in fuel savings and delay reductions worth around $5.3 bil lion by 2016, outweighing the $870 million cost, which includes $530 million to fit aircraft with more- accurate altimeters and autopilots. Engineering firm CSSI says pilot and controller training will cost $8.5 million and monitoring altitude- keeping performance $4.2 million, while aircraft downtime costs for Part 135 charter operators will be over $74 million and fuel penalties incurred by non-RVSM aircraft for ced to operate below 29,000ft will be almost $104 million by 2016. RVSM in European airspace has resulted in fuel savings and emis sion reductions of 1-2%, says CSSI. Manufacturers are concerned that operators of older business jets are leaving it too late to upgrade their aircraft for RVSM. By the end of this year, with less than 13 months to go, Cessna will have upgraded only around 300 of the 1,500 Citations potentially affected by the rule. Cessna says operators have been holding off scheduling upgrades awaiting the FAA's delayed release of the final rule, hoping for a reprieve. Now the rule is final, and the deadline con firmed, the number of aircraft still to be modified could exceed the capability of avionics suppliers and modification centres, Cessna warns. START-UP ShareJet finally gets off the ground Asian fractional ownership and charter start-up ShareJet has begun operations nearly a year after the venture's planned launch. The Guam-based com pany, a joint venture between aviation services company ACI Pacific (ACIP) and Boeing's Japan-based agent Nissho Iwai (NIC), blames business and reg ulatory issues for the delay. ShareJet took delivery of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) last month and also has a Bombar dier Challenger and a Gulf- stream IV available for charter. The 18-seat BBJ will be oper ated under US Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135 to allow worldwide operations. The air craft features a lounge, conference/dining area, private office and private stateroom. ShareJet says the 11 h range of the aircraft makes non-stop travel possible between long dis tance city pairs. ShareJet is using 13 NIC offices throughout the region to market its charter and frac tional services. ACIP owns 75% of ShareJet and will manage the aircraft and control the overall operation from its base at Guam International Airport. Tokyo-based NIC owns the remaining share. CHARTER Executive Blue aims for December start with first Avanti twin pusher Italian charter company Executive Blue plans to begin operations in December with its first of two Pia- ggio Aero Industries P180 Avanti twin pusher turboprops. The second aircraft is scheduled to join the fleet in the second quarter of next year. The Rome-based operator, a cor porate aircraft subsidiary of Italian charter airline Blue Panorama, is tar geting high net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and corporate flight departments that are seeking a flex ible and convenient alternative to airline travel. Executive Blue plans to offer ad hoc and block charter packages and has reserved 10% of its traffic for tour operators. Blue Panorama says following a strong market response to Executive Blue it may expand its P180 fleet. Executive Blue's second P180 Avanti is set to join the fleet in 2004 Meanwhile, Piaggio's US-based subsidiary Piaggio America plans to relocate its North American head quarters in the first quarter of 2004, from Greenville, South Carolina, to Jet Aviation's West Palm Beach, Florida, facility. The decision follows the signing last month of a long- term tenant deal with Jet Aviation to occupy hangar and office space at their facility. As part of the deal, Jet Aviation will outfit Avanti aircraft for Piaggio America, the support arm for the PI 80 on the continent. MODIFICATION Raisbeck to consider Learjet 31 for ZR Technology Raisbeck Engineering says the next Learjet model likely to be consid ered for its ZR Technology perfor mance-enhancement package after launch on the 35/36-series is the 31, followed by the 55 and 60. The Seattle-based company has begun certification flight testing of the initial Learjet 35ZR after unveiling the aircraft at the National Business Aviation Association annual con vention, and expects supplemental type certification in the first quarter of 2004, with installations begin ning in the second quarter. The ZR modification reduces high-speed cruise drag by 10% and includes wing leading-edge gloves, reprofiled trailing-edge flaps and "horizontal winglets". The 45°- swept gloves and reflexed flaps slow the supersonic airflow between wing and nacelles, while the "bat- wing" winglets block formation of wingtip vortices. The upgrade all ows the turbofan-powered Learjet 35/36 to achieve the same Mach 0.81 cruise capability at 41,000ft (12,500m) as the original turbojet- powered 20-series aircraft. After cer tification, the company will sell the first five to 10 Learjet 35/36 modifi cations for around $200,000. 26 4-10 NOVEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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