Sukhoi Superjet 100 VNAV certified

The Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC AR) issued a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100), permitting the usage of Vertical Navigation (VNAV) functionality at all stages of flight.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 represents the first Russian built aircraft to achieve VNAV certification at all stages of flight. 

IAC AR confirmed that VNAV functionality can be used on Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in its Basic version. The VNAV will be possible at all stages of the SSJ100 flight, as well as in the airports with non-precision approach. 

The VNAV or vertical navigation is an aircraft function that calculates a vertical profile of the flight in accordance with the assigned path, considering aircraft performance, as well as all speed and height restrictions applied to a specific path. 

VNAV functionality provides vertical profile keeping recommendations to pilots during climb and cruising. It also ensures a fully automatic control during descend and approach. 

VNAV functionality of Sukhoi Superjet 100 significantly decreases crew workload and ensures compliance with all applicable restrictions. 

“At the moment, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company is working on VNAV certification at IAC AR for the SSJ100 Long Range version. Moreover, the Company plans to achieve validation by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of the VNAV functionality, certified by IAC AR, for the SSJ100 Basic and Long Range versions," said Igor Vinogradov, the First Vice-President for Quality and Certification. 

The SSJ100 VNAV functionality was tested on both “Electronic Bird” integration bench designed to test new equipment, software and aircraft systems, and during the real flights at SSJ100 prototype 95003 at Ramenskoe airfield in Zhukovskiy, near Moscow. There were 58 test flights on the “Electronic Bird” integration bench and 24 flights performed by the test aircraft. 

During the bench running and ground tests, the VNAV was successfully demonstrated on the SSJ100 at all stages of flight: take-off, climb, cruising, descending, approach and missed approach. The tests also confirmed the accuracy of the assigned vertical profile-keeping performance, in accordance with the applicable rules of IAC AR, EASA and FAA.

Proflight Zambia begins 50-seater jet flights to mark jubilee

    Proflight Zambia has begun flights on its new 50-seater jet aircraft, introduced to mark Zambia's Golden Jubilee.

    The Bombardier CRJ-100 plane was delivered to Zambia last week and operate throughout October, giving the airline time to assess market demand with a view to extending the lease on the aircraft going forward.
    The new jet will primarily operate on the Lusaka-Ndola morning and evening flights, but where demand is high it will also be used on Solwezi, Mfuwe and Livingstone routes.
    The aircraft is already proving popular with passengers, said Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs Captain Philip Lemba.

    “We have already seen strong take-up of seats on the new plane and the feedback we are getting from passengers is that the larger, more spacious cabin is very much appreciated,” said Lemba.

Embraer delivers 30 commercial and 52 executive jets in 4Q14

Embraer delivered 30 commercial and 52 business jets, 38 light and 14 large jets, during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Q14), thus closing out the year with 92 aircraft delivered to the commercial airline market and 116 to the executive aviation market, that is, 92 light and 24 large jets.

On December 31, the firm order backlog stood at USD 20.9 billion. 

The quarter highlights in the commercial aviation segment were the confirmation of a firm order for seven E175 jets by SkyWest, to be operated under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Alaska Airlines, and the delivery of the1,100th E-Jet produced, model E190, to Aeromexico airlines. 

In the executive aviation segment, the quarter high lights were the first deliveries of the Legacy 500 and the additional request from NetJets, which converted 10 Phenom 300 options into firm orders.

ATR obtains EASA certification for developments on ATR-600 avionics suite

ATR has announced that it has obtained certification for the very latest innovations developed for the avionics of the ATR 42-600s and ATR 72-600s from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The new certification concerns the LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance), RNP-AR 0.3 (Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required) and V-NAV (Vertical Navigation) approach functionalities coupled to the autopilot. These new improvements will allow the latest generation ATRs to follow more accurate and even more secure approach trajectories thanks to satellite navigation, without requiring ground-based navigation facilities. These new features, which significantly reduce the pilot’s workload, are integrated into a new version of the ATR -600 avionics, the "Standard 2" version. 

"LPV" is a feature allowing approach procedures based on GPS information augmented by geostationary satellites, which allows the aircraft to be guided on vertical and horizontal axes, without the need of support from a ground station. This new feature is particularly useful for airports not equipped with an ILS (Instrumental Landing System), notably certain regional airports which are small or which have little infrastructure. High precision LPV approaches can achieve minimums of up to 200 feet, thus permitting landings with greatly reduced visibility. 

"RNP-AR 0.3" allows aircraft to follow trajectories with greater accuracy, thus with better anticipation of potential obstacles when approaching difficult to access airfields. The fundamental contribution of RNP-AR compared to conventional RNAV (GPS) approaches is that they are subject to increased monitoring of aircraft performance combined with onboard navigation alerts. By taking into account these safety constraints, these approaches also permit reduced minimums compared to conventional RNAV approaches. In addition to these advantages, this new feature is also used in the management of traffic at heavily congested airports or for anti-noise procedures. 

"VNAV", coupled to the autopilot, provides vertical guidance managed by the aircraft's navigation calculator (FMS). Based on the calculations of the FMS, the autopilot controls the aircraft to follow a specified vertical profile. This more accurately defines descent and approach trajectories, providing better safety in relation to the possible presence of obstacles. VNAV significantly reduces the workload of pilots approaching airports; this functionality is essential for RNP-AR operations. 

Carmine Orsi, ATR’s senior vice-president engineering, said: “This will allow ATR -600s to be even more efficient, more economic and more versatile. We are pleased to offer our operators the very latest innovations in terms of navigational aids and thus facilitate their day-to-day operations, while further increasing aviation safety and helping reduce congestion at certain airports.”

Satcom Direct introduces data center solutions provider TerraCom Direct

Satcom Direct has expanded its capabilities by launching a new data center solutions provider, TerraCom Direct.

“Information security is a huge issue for businesses and individuals. Our new data center is the key to safeguarding connectivity and communications streams, and better securing the missions of our customers. Satcom Direct and TerraCom Direct customers can have enterprise level security for air, land and sea,” said Jim Jensen, CEO and Founder of Satcom Direct.

The facility not only hosts and protects clients’ critical business technology systems and information, it secures Satcom Direct aviation, maritime and terrestrial-based services. Whether data traffic is generated in the air, on the ground, or on the water, TerraCom Direct is constantly monitoring in an effort to detect and report potentially malicious activity to customers.  

TerraCom Direct creates highly-secure solutions designed to meet client specifications and corporate security requirements. All security policies are in accordance with SSAE 16 and FISMA recommendations and the operation is SSAE 16 SOC 1 type 2 compliant. TerraCom Direct was built to accommodate a wide array of network requirements – whether hosting, power, cooling, or security, all can be scaled to meet changing demands. 

“The key advantage we have over other data solution providers is flexibility. We offer a wide range of connectivity options, so whether the client simply needs rack space, a private network, or full migration to the cloud, we have the expertise and the capabilities. With our highly-redundant infrastructure and 24/7 support, we do everything possible to ensure 100 percent uptime and uninterrupted service,” said Rich Pilock, president of TerraCom Direct

Jeppesen introduces Electronic Flight Folder

Jeppesen has recently introduced a new Electronic Flight Folder service to enhance flight-planning operations for airlines.

The new Electronic Flight Folder service increases situational awareness in flight for pilots and improves ground-to-air communication and integration of digital flight plan information. 

“The Electronic Flight Folder solution works seamlessly for airlines that use Jeppesen’s flight planning systems to enhance operational efficiency,” said Tim Huegel, director, Jeppesen Aviation Portfolio Management. “The Jeppesen and Boeing Electronic Flight Folder tools work together on the ground and in the air to improve integration of critical flight planning data across a mixed aircraft fleet and works with multiple EFB configurations to suit unique airline operations.”uf

EgyptAir selects Sabre for airline transformation project

EgyptAir has signed an agreement with global technology company Sabre to help develop and implement a transformation programme for EgyptAir Airlines and Express.

The government-owned Star Alliance carrier is embarking on a comprehensive transformation strategy to increase revenues, improve efficiencies and explore new revenue streams by June 2016.  

Captain Sameh El-Hefny, the chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding said: "This agreement is a part of EgyptAir’s transformation plan, dedicated to transforming the business, financial and operational structure of both EgyptAir Airlines and Express. Our goal is to increase revenues and return the airline to profitability by the end of the fiscal year 2015 / 2016, putting us in line with our global counterparts.” 

The transformation strategy will address a wide range of EgyptAir’s important areas including reviewing  and developing a plan to improve the company's financial performance; revenue management; network, fleet and crew planning; alliance partnerships, and fuel and maintenance strategies. 

“This is a comprehensive project to review the company's current situation and recommend changes and solutions across almost every part of our business. Sabre is recognized as the best in the airline technology industry. They know our business, our region, the challenges and opportunities we face, and they have a superior track record of helping airlines globally achieve sustained growth and profitability. Sabre will play a critical role in our five-year transformation strategy,” said El-Hefny. 

Alessandro Ciancimino, vice president, Sabre Airline Solutions, said: "We are pleased EgyptAir selected us from a number of global companies that specialise in consultancy and transformation projects. EgyptAir is Africa’s largest carrier and one of the continent’s most globally-recognized brands, playing a critical role in connecting commerce and tourism across five continents.  We believe it has great potential for growth and success, and that’s where our focus with the airline will be.”