ADS-B Symposium from SEA

FreeFlight Systems participated in an ADS-B symposium hosted by Southeast Aerospace. The symposium was held recently at SEA’s Melbourne, Fla. location. Jamie Luster attended the event.

The symposium featured presentations on ADS-B information, product lines, and ideas. There were five original equipment manufacturers who presented during the three-day event, as well as three presentations given by representatives from the FAA. More than 35 individuals from avionics shops, OEMs, aircraft operators and the FAA attended the symposium.

During the event- which also included an open forum- many different aspects of the ADS-B system and technology were brought up for discussion.

One, more broad, question of interest to the attendees was why an ADS-B system is needed.

The FAA has mandated that all aircraft be compliant with the ADS-B Out mandate by 2020. This is because the current air traffic control system used in the United States is outdated and less effective in tracking, surveillance and other aspects than the ADS-B NextGen system. ADS-B provides a higher level of safety.

Another question that was discussed, was whether the 2020 FAA mandate includes ADS-B In. The answer is that the mandate only covers ADS-B Out. However, with ADS-B In, comes many, many additional advantages, including free traffic and weather. Tim Taylor, FreeFlight Systems president and CEO talks more about the advantages of equipping with ADS-B now in the video found HERE.

Also brought up during the symposium was whether or not an STC is required for an ADS-B system installation. As of 2011, the FAA is requiring that you obtain an STC for ADS-B Out installation on an aircraft. FreeFlight has prepared for this, however.

“We are going to get STCs for ourselves, for our equipment,” said Taylor in a video interview, “and we’ll make those STCs available free of charge.”

Luster says the symposium was successful and provided an open forum for discussion with many different industry professionals.

Have ADS-B or NextGen questions? Drop us a line!

NextGen ADS-B solutions are affordable. That’s the message FreeFlight Systems gave during the AEA International Convention and Trade Show earlier this year.

Jamie Luster, FreeFlight Systems director of sales and marketing, presented during the New Product Introductions at the event. She was later interviewed by Aero-TV.

The early numbers are in, and social media is flourishing in connection with this week’s Paris Air Show.

The Air Show is in full swing at Le Bourget, and not only are there an estimated 331,000 visitors in attendance, the rest of the world is following along on Facebook and Twitter.

FlightGlobal.com tracked those tweets which contained the hashtag #PAS11 and were sent the first day of the air show. During that time span, the site counted more than 500 tweets sent with that marker alone, many more were sent without the tag.

The highest number of tweets came from @Paulo_Archie_GP, an aviation enthusiast in South Africa. Second and third places were taken by @harrycat007 and @niekvdz respectively. You can find the infographic HERE.

Day two tweeters were topped by @GEAviation, @jetcitystar, and @boeing787tweets. Those tweets correspond with scheduled events at the air show. As news outlets covered announcements made at the show, the aviation community gave feedback via social media.

eezeer Data Lab follows social media trends in the aviation industry. According to their Paris Air Show special edition report, 196 airlines have created 232 Twitter accounts over the last four years. While the majority of airlines operate one account, there are a few exceptions such as Air France which holds 16 accounts, and KLM which operates 11. These airlines are reaching a large audience. For example, every tweet JetBlue sends out is followed by nearly 2,000,000 users.

Over the last three months, the company reports, the number of tweets sent between airlines and consumers has nearly doubled. And according to eezeer’s May report, Delta Airlines – @delta -  wins first place in listening and talking, as well as overall best in class. Delta was also the first airline to begin tweeting in 2007.

You can find the latest edition of eezeer’s monthly report HERE. You can find us on Twitter at @FreeFlightSys and on Facebook at Facebook.com/FreeFlightSystems!

The Paris Air Show starts tomorrow and NextGen, avionics developments, aircraft news and more are on the agenda. The air show is the longest-standing event in the world dedicated to aerospace.

Since 1909, industry players from around the world have gathered at the site in Paris to showcase the latest advances in aerospace. This year, 2000 international exhibitors, 138,000 trade visitors, 193,00 general public visitors are expected to attend.

The first four days of the show – June 20- 23- are dedicated to the industry, with admission being granted only to trade visitors. The airshow is then opened to the general public for three days – June 24- 26.

Products from avionics suppliers that are NextGen or SESAR compatible are expected to be showcased. SESAR is the European version of NextGen, and stands for Single European Sky ATM Research. Both programs are built on technology such as ADS-B.

ITT Corporation will focus highlighting its ADS-B, Wide-Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS) system, ALQ-136 and AIDEWS capabilities, among others.

“Our capabilities, proven technologies and reputation to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations have positioned ITT favorably in both the defense and civil aerospace markets. We look forward to strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones during this important global event,” said Dave Melcher, president of ITT Defense & Information Solutions, in a press release.

Expectations for the show are good, says John McHale, executive editor at Military & Aerospace Electronics. He says that although the mood at the Air Show two years ago was “gloomy,” due to the Air France crash over the Atlantic and low numbers of aircraft orders. He’s predicting a much different show this year, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to be in operation before the year’s end, and strong airplane order announcements.

The event looks to be a strong one for Airbus. According to the Wall Street Journal, Airbus announced deals in India and the Philippines last week, with a catalog value of approximately $10 billion.

“Expect a flurry of news around the revamped version of Airbus’s best-selling A320 single-aisle model, the “new engine option” or A320neo. Several big Airbus customers have already indicated they will be announcing A320neo deals,” reports the story.

Bombardier Aerospace is scheduled to attend the show. “The midsize Learjet 60 XR aircraft, super midsize Challenger 300 jet, ultra long-range Global 6000 jet, Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner and CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet” are scheduled to be on static display at the show.

You can find the complete 2011 Exhibitor’s List HERE.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner should be in operation before the year’s end.

That’s according to an Avionics Intelligence news story. Launch operator All Nippon Airlines (ANA) has completed flight training and validation of the aircraft.

“Ten ANA pilots concluded their training after each pilot performed flights in ZA001 – the first 787 flight test airplane – over Washington state,” a Boeing spokesperson announced in a press release.

“These initial crews to go through training are ANA’s senior training pilots and check airmen and will conduct both simulator and airplane line training for ANA in Japan. They will be the first pilots on 787 commercial flights for ANA.”

Sherry Carbary, vice president, Boeing Flight Services, commented in the release, “We’ve been putting in some long hours to get to this point, and seeing the completion of the first set of training is a testament to our team and to the dedication of our partners at ANA.”

The flights help provide further validation that the overall Boeing training program, and the 787 simulators are accurately replicating the operation and handling of the 787. The flights are also part of the Japan Civil Aviation Board mandated training.

Two companies provide the components for the interior of the 787. Rockwell Collins produces the flight deck and the majority of the aircrafts avionics. None of the avionics are unique to the 787. The electronic flight bag, or EFB, comes from the Astronautics Corporation of America in Milwaukee.

According to Michael Carrol, director of Boeing Business Development at Honeywell, Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix provides a number of the internal components as well. Those include the flight management system, Earth reference system, and integrated navigation radio, among others.

All three companies are scheduled to attend the Paris Airshow at Le Bourget airport next week.

In further 787 news this week, Boeing announced the 787 Dreamliner final assembly building to be open in South Carolina.

When at full production capacity, the facility will produce three 787 aircraft each month.

Why equip with ADS-B now? FreeFlight Systems President and CEO Tim Taylor answers.

You can find more information about ADS-B here, on our blog, as well as at our website, www.freeflightsystems.com.

Source: ITT

The RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee made its most recent recommendations to the FAA after meeting last month in New York.

The U.S. industry and government committee recommended that three capability areas be prioritized in the rolling out of the NextGen Air Transportation System. Those areas all require operators to equip their aircraft with ADS-B, RNP and data communications.

The NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) was created to develop an understanding of  NextGen priorities as the system is rolled out and implemented. The NAC is made up of top-level executives who represent manufacturers, air traffic management, operators, aviation safety, airports and environmental, domestic and international, civil and military.

This cross-discipline committee focuses on implementation issues, prioritization criteria and more. The NAC is chaired by Dave Barger of Jet Blue Airways.

The approach recommended by the committee is for an incremental NextGen deployment, requiring nearly all air carrier and general aviation operators to achieve a minimum capability level. In the process, they would become eligible for operational or financial incentives.

The NAC is recommending the FAA deploy infrastructure and supporting procedures in order to support ADS-B, RNP and data comm regionally. This approach would allow benefits to be seen and reaped in the near term.

According to news story by AINOnline.com, the committee is recommending the following packages to the FAA:

• Package A: All air carrier aircraft would be brought to a baseline of GPS and RNP 0.3 capability minimum, and all GA aircraft be brought to GPS-WAAS-LPV capability.

• Package B: All aircraft would be equipped for ADS-B Out.

• Package C: Equip all aircraft with VDL-2, FANS 1/A+ or ATN Baseline One data communications.

The next full NAC meeting is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The subject of that meeting is scheduled to be consideration of financial or operational incentives to help operators in the adoption of the NextGen system.

Aviation Today posted an ADS-B related poll on their main page earlier today.

FreeFlight Systems President and CEO Tim Taylor responds to that poll in the following editorial.

ADS-B is a program that is being rolled out by the FAA to replace old fashioned Radar based Air Traffic Surveillance with a modern, aircraft centric network solution.

Its primary purpose is to improve and simplify management of air traffic – more information means better control options.  It is indeed a mandated install, which nobody likes – but opting out is not really possible – its like deciding  you don’t want to drive on the right any more because the government says you have to.  Similarly, everybody has to be equipped in the same time frame. For example, think “we are going to phase in making everybody drive on the left  – first the buses”

So ADS-B is a good thing and it needs to implemented uniformly for it to work.  No news there, and grumbling is allowed and expected.  But here the point that is being missed: If you are in the GA world, ADS-B equipage has significant and immediate benefit today.  If you make the modest, one time, investment to equip, you get in return a free daltalink feed of traffic, graphical weather and a bunch of other flight critical data.

Plus you are immediately under enhanced surveillance from ATC – better flight following, less identification confusion and, worst case, very enhanced search and rescue.

www.AviationToday.com poll 6/3/2011

In the survey the option “equip today and get benefit today” is missing.  Why is that?  Are we just FAA bashing?  Significant, life saving benefits are available today for anyone who equips.  It is inappropriate for our community to completely ignore this.  Time to stop grumbling and to start thinking.

If you have ADS-B or NextGen-related questions, let us know! We’d love to talk with you.

Cessna Aircraft Co. has named General Electric Company veteran Scott Ernest as CEO.

Ernest assumes the role after Jack Pelton left May 2 of this year. He will report to Textron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Donnelly.

“Scott is a talented global business leader who has strong expertise in the aviation industry,” said Donnelly in a press release.

“Accelerating Cessna’s new product and service development, strengthening its manufacturing and sourcing operations, and intensifying its global expansion efforts are key to moving Cessna forward,” Donnelly continued.

He says Ernest has an extensive track record of success in those areas, as well as the reputation of being an outstanding leader.

Ernest is a 29-year veteran of GE. Most recently, he served as that company’s vice president and general manager, global supply chain for GE Aviation. Before that, Ernest was vice president and general manager, global services operations for GE Aviation’s services business.

While at GE Aviation, he also filled several general manager roles, everything from overseeing sourcing organization to responsibility for large aviation services in Singapore, Strother, Kan. as well as other tasks.

Donnelly affirmed his confidence that Ernest is right for the job, saying that he is the ideal person to position Cessna for growth as the business jet market gains back momentum.

According to Providence Business News, Cessna’s operating losses widened to $38 million in the first three months of the year, as orders rose at a slower pace than parent company Textron- which is based in Providence- expected. Nonetheless, Donnelly told reporters he does see a pickup.

Ernest takes over the role from Donnelly who had been filling in during the interim since Pelton’s departure.

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen commented on the appointment in a press release.

“Cessna has always been a leader in general aviation and a company known for its grasp of challenges and opportunities in the marketplace and the policy arena,” he said.

“Scott Ernest’s background in aviation and his experience in the global business environment suit him well for his new role as Cessna president and CEO.”

Bolen said the NBAA is looking forward to working with Ernest on issues facing the GA community.

Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business. The company is headquartered in Wichita, Kan.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood attended the Regional Airline Association’s annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. on May 17. He spoke primarily on safety and improvements in airline travel, including ADS-B implementation.

By “retrofitting aircraft and air traffic control centers with ADS-B, advanced communications systems, real-time weather reports, and other technologies, NextGen will cut travel times, reduce congestion, and alleviate delays,” LaHood said.

“We’ve been testing ADS-B capability in airspace around the country and we’re seeing consistently improved taxi times.”

He said the RAA’s 30 airline members account for more than half of the nation’s commercial flights, with 75 percent of the U.S. communities with airline service relying on them.

“My message is simple,” said LaHood as he opened his keynote address.

“As long as I’m Secretary of Transportation you’ll have a seat at the table when we make aviation policy.”

“The success of the aviation industry hinges on the confidence of the American people that they will fly from one origin to their destination as safety as possible,” said LaHood. “Thousands of people got up today, went to an airport, got on a regional jet, got to their destinations safely, and didn’t think that much about the safety, because all of us are thinking about it–all of you are thinking about it… We have the safest form of transportation right here in the United States, thanks to all of you and thanks to the dedicated people that work for you.”

During his speech, LaHood stressed a need for continued diligence as air traffic grows in the future. Experts predict that travel by air will grow by 50 percent over the next 10 years.

He said the RAA is a leader and has stepped up in its contributions to safety.

He praised the organization for its partnership with the DOT and FAA. He cited the development of a Strategic Safety Initiative, as well the adoption of voluntary “gold standard” safety programs.

LaHood said the DOT looks forward to continuing to partner with the RAA in future efforts.

It was the first time in the 36-year history of the RAA that a sitting DOT Secretary visited the convention.

You can go here to get AINonline coverage.