Last month, Russ Alan Prince wrote an article for Forbes that suggests eight trends in private jet travel. One was a move toward eco-friendly ways of designing and manufacturing private jets, which is a trend that should bring some exciting innovations to the industry. Today’s aircraft are up to 70% more efficient than their 1970s predecessors when it comes to fuel burn.
But innovators aren’t satisfied with just fuel efficiency.
Reducing emissions
The aviation industry has taken on a daunting goal of reducing current carbon emissions by 50% by 2050. In order to do this, manufacturers are looking at simple changes that can create big fuel savings. The Airbus Concept Plane uses a curved tail and wing that move while in flight to create less drag and attain greater fuel efficiency. Their design mimics movement seen in nature, from the inspiration for many new innovations.
Ecological interiors
The interior of private jets will become more eco-friendly in the years to come, too. The Airbus Concept Plane imagines using all renewable plant fibers in the interior. Using more environmentally friendly materials won’t cut down on the style and comfort, though. Manufacturers are upping the refinement of materials, style, comfort, and technology while creating spaces that aren’t taxing the environment.
Earth-friendly manufacturing
Dassault claims to have the “most eco-friendly jets on the planet.” The manufacturer is committed to making the entire process eco-friendly, from mining the resources that build their planes to the recycling process at the very end of the jet’s lifecycle. Even Dassault’s manufacturing plant is constantly working to use fewer resources. It’s reduced industrial gas by 30% and water by 70%, even though overall production has increased.
Looking forward with NACRE
NACRE, the E.U.’s New Aircraft Concept’s Research project, is working to create new concepts in aircraft design that will lower fuel and other costs while increasing eco-friendliness and performance. The group predicts air travel will double in the next 20 years, which could be tremendously damaging to the environment if aircraft efficiency isn’t improved. Their goal is to create new concepts that can be used on a range of aircraft that “improve quality and affordability, whilst meeting the tightening environmental constraints.”
These certainly won’t be the last we see in eco-friendly improvements. Consumers are demanding their products use fewer resources and have smaller carbon footprints. That includes private jets. The industry is only predicted to grow, and we’re always excited to see innovative ideas in jet design and manufacturing.
Drones are an unavoidable news topic right now. There are massive privacy concerns involved with the flight and use of these unmanned vehicles. There is also plenty of good that can come from UMVs in the private sector. Because of this, there are numerous groups, including the Federal Aviation Administration, that are dedicated to trying to figure out policies, rules, and procedures for drones of all types. Integrating drones into established American aviation policies and infrastructure will be challenging—but necessary.
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 took on the challenge of integrating drones into current FAA policy. They have a target date of September 2015 to complete the task. The main issue will be safety, but other issues will be addressed including the legal gray area that drones are currently operating in.
One of those legal issues is the flight of drones over private property and whether that will that be considered a violation of privacy. Manned commercial and private flights can currently fly over private property, but government and civilian drones may require a separate rule. It could even be seen as a violation of constitutional rights, depending on the purpose and capabilities of the drone.
Despite the potential for abuse, civilian drones are presenting an opportunity for some industries to run safer, more efficient operations. Some creative uses for UMVs are already in the works:
- Farmers monitoring crops, quickly responding to disease or other conditions
- Conductors easily completing mandated safety checks
- Detectives investigating crime scenes with no risk for contamination or interference
The FAA is expecting 30,000 operational drones by 2020, and the drone industry could be an $11.3 billion industry by 2021. There is no doubt more drones are coming to our airspace. Staying informed about the rules of drones will be important, especially for the general aviation industry.
iPads have pretty much swept the skies. Sure, other tablets are working on apps and usability, but right now, most pilots choose to use iPads in their cockpits. And with good reason. iPads are known for being intuitive, and that is just as true in the skies as it is in the airport bar.
iPads offer serious advantages to pilots:
- The FAA requires maps to be updated every 28 days; this is much faster with an iPad.
- The mandatory flight bag containing paper maps and charts weighs 45 pounds; an iPad weighs 1.44 pounds.
- Pilots have instant access to current, local weather and gate information as well as the flight data.
There are benefits for airlines and owners, too. After United Airlines adopted iPads in the cockpit, it saved 16 million sheets of paper a year and 326,000 gallons of fuel.
Flight students can get in on the goodness, too. If they’re in the U.S. Air Force, they will get on-the-job training: The USAF has purchased some 18,000 iPads to replace 200 pounds of paper on each flight in a six-month test of the technology. Additionally, students should use FlightLink to record the audio of their lessons.
Yay, innovation! Of course, there are some concerns about adopting Electronic Flight Bag systems, mainly involving complying with FAA regulations. The agency just released an updated Advisory Circular about EFBs in June. Make sure you stay up to date.
Safety is the primary concern of every aircraft operator, and nothing is more essential than establishing a comprehensive safety management system (SMS).
PRISM, a subsidiary of Argus International, is a market leader in SMS services and solutions. PRISM’s mission is to dramatically simplify the SMS process for its clients by providing a framework and expertise to help flight operators stay abreast of constantly shifting safety standards and regulations.
PRISM support is wide-ranging:
- Design, implementation and documentation of SMS plans
- FAA-endorsed certification
- Safety training for business, air-carrier and helicopter aviation
- Executive coaching, including Six Sigma Black Belt project leadership consulting
Released last month and free to PRISM customers is the safety app for the iPad. The app provides access to PRISM’s flight risk analysis tool (FRAT) from which users can document flight risk factors and update customized reports. The flight data can be saved in offline mode or uploaded to the organization’s SMS website for further analysis. The app also triggers the appropriate risk notifications to the operator.
When it comes to SMS, it’s critical to seek out expertise and experience from a partner with a comprehensive set of services. PRISM provides customized SMS packages for a variety of aviation needs, and it delivers support and guidance that will keep your flight operations running smoothly and safely.
Air travel is exhausting enough without having to move from your seat to manage settings for lighting, audio and more. That’s why products like Select CMS allow private aircraft travelers to control the cabin experience — including lighting, temperature, window shades, galley equipment and more — all from a user-friendly, touch-screen display.
Flight Display Systems, the makers of Select CMS, recently took a big leap into the future with the announcement of its Select CMS Platinum upgraded cabin management system. The most significant improvement in the Platinum product is found in the entertainment controls, which connect wirelessly to an iPad and feature hi-definition Blu-Ray video and audio controls.
Each Select CMS system is fully customizable and installs easily on smaller prop-planes as well as wide-body jets. The system also features Remote Support Access to identify and troubleshoot technical issues from the ground.
Flight Display Systems launched in 2001 with the popular Flight Display Moving Map, an in-flight graphic map that displays altitude, air speed and distance. Today, Flight Display Systems’ products are installed on private planes used by presidents, CEOs and dignitaries around the world. The company also produces video components used by the military for surveillance and reconnaissance functions.
For information about Select CMS and videos featuring the company’s products, visit www.selectcms.com.
Just a few of the important aviation stories in the news this week.
Consistent Improvement in Pre-owned Aircraft Market
The numbers keep demonstrating that the private, pre-owned aircraft market is slowly regaining ground. Inventories fell, number of transactions increased and days on market decreased in February 2012.
Lasers a Growing Concern
Put the laser down. Ground-to-air laser events have grown astronomically: 20 reported in 2005, nearly 2,000 in 2010. That’s just in the U.K. The numbers are increasing, and lasers focused on aircraft nearing an airport are a growing concern.
Tokyo Takes Major Step in Bizav Infrastructure
Tokyo has opened its first dedicated business jet terminal. Tokyo has fallen behind other cities in the region in developing infrastructure around business jet travel, so this terminal marks a turning point in the attitude toward private aircraft.
Embraer and Boeing Partnership
This new cooperation includes three areas of emphasis: safety and efficiency; research and technology; and sustainable aviation biofuels. The announcement comes the same day that the U.S. and Brazil signed an agreement to deepen cooperation between the two nations over civil aviation.
What do you think is the most important news item? Tell us.
Remember that Jerry Seinfeld joke years ago about “making up time” on an airplane? The captain apologizes for the late start, but he is sure they will make up time en route and land on time. Jerry wonders why jets don’t go as fast as possible all of the time. (This isn’t that clip, but it’s pretty funny!)
There are a lot of factors that affect jet travel speed and range. If you’re thinking of purchasing a jet, make sure you know the range that will work best for your frequent, routine trips. Then, keep in mind that the range given for an aircraft is a general estimate that can change depending on many external factors.
Basically, the range depends on the aircraft’s fuel economy — fuel is often the limiting factor on trips. Be aware of these factors that affect fuel economy:
You can read more details about considering the range of an aircraft in the most recent newsletter from our friends at Conklin and deDecker.
On Feb. 6, the U.S. Senate passed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill that will expedite moving the nation’s air-traffic control system from radar to global positioning system (GPS)-based technology. The House passed the bill the previous week, and now it moves to the White House for signing.
Among other things, the bill sets aside $11 billion of the $63.4 billion, four-year budget for modernization of the air traffic control system. It’s about time — this technological upgrade is overdue.
The U.S.has the most complicated air space in the world thanks to a vibrant and varied general aviation community, so the U.S. should definitely have the safest, most advanced control system possible.
GPS-based air traffic control has many advantages over the radar system:
- Positions are updated every second, rather than every six seconds.
- Closer together, more frequent take-offs and landings are possible.
- Pilots know exact locations of other aircraft and obstacles on the ground.
- Steeper descents use less fuel.
Also, the FAA predicts a 50 percent growth in air traffic over the next 10 years. Without GPS, that growth would be very difficult, if not impossible, to accommodate.
The FAA bill requires that a GPS-based landing program be in place at the 35 busiest airports by 2015. Onward and upward! After we get the GPS air traffic control in place, then we can start worrying about unmanned drones (airspace for them is also mandated in the bill) spying on us from above. Did someone say Overlord?
ADS-B, a surveillance technology for tracking aircraft as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, makes flying significantly safer for the aviation community. The FAA website features videos that explain how ADS-B technology provides pilots with information about weather and the location of other aircraft while simultaneously broadcasting their location to other aircraft and ground controllers.
The FAA has mandated that all aircraft must have this technology by 2020 to be allowed to fly.
This system is just the latest example of the type of advanced avionic systems that make air travel safer for all of us. When you purchase a private aircraft, it’s important to be sure that your aircraft has the required avionic equipment.
Avionics consist of the electronic systems on a jet that enable control of monitoring, communication, navigation and other systems. Naturally, if the aircraft has been in service recently, it should have all mandated avionic equipment. But it’s important to have your jet broker verify whether it’s compliant.
During the pre-sale inspection, the broker can require the inspector to note any equipment that is dated or that you can upgrade to newer technology.
Typical systems that you’ll want to consider include:
If you’re buying a pre-owned jet, it’s imperative to understand the upgrades the aircraft requires to ensure safety and meet government mandates — particularly those for avionics.
Lithium batteries, found in laptops and cellphones, have been known to spontaneously overheat and catch fire, creating potentially life-threatening situations during flight. As personal electronic device (PED) use has become commonplace for business air travel, equipping your aircraft with a firebag system is an essential safety precaution.
In the event of a lithium battery fire, the FAA recommends immediately following these steps in order:
- Spray the burning appliance with a fire extinguisher containing Halon to suppress the flames.
- Thoroughly douse the device with water to reduce the battery’s core temperature and prevent a hot lithium-ion cell from igniting other cells in the battery pack (a common occurrence called “thermal runaway”).
- Using heat-resistant gloves, place the device in a firebag for containment.
On-board firebag systems are supplied by these manufacturers:
- AirCare Access — The Aircare FireSock ™ Lithium Battery Risk Management System sells for $339.00 U.S. (includes bag, gloves and a sealable storage tube to hold 80 ounces of water)
- Ship It AOG — The Fire-Fighter firebag sells for $1075.00 U.S. (includes bag and gloves)
It’s important to note that firebags are only one weapon in an on-board fire arsenal and aren’t intended to replace fire extinguishers or water. The combined use of these tools, however, is essential to safe air travel in our electronic age.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at 877-453-8276 (+1.305.754.3313) or visit us online.
