Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

US Flight School Holds Young Pilot Camp to Inspire Future Aviators

Fly Legacy Aviation flight school, located at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), United States offers children and adults a chance to get closer to the world of aviation through its unique summer camps. The Young Pilot Camp, which started three years ago, now attracts children from all over the country for its week-long and weekend sessions. This year Fly Legacy added a one-day Adult +Kid program to allow parents to try this activity with their kids.

Participants’ ages range from as young as six to 15-years old. The team at Fly Legacy created fun-filled, educational curriculums that keep the camps of various age groups excited about aviation. At a camp, children study topics including the principles of flight; how airplanes fly; what planes are they made of and their parts; types of airplanes; helicopters; ground and air safety; weather and atmosphere; and basics of aerodynamics.

While the camp primarily takes place in a classroom environment, students do get to spend time outdoors. To learn about aerodynamics, participants make gliders and try flying them outside. When learning about rockets, campers light rockets to see how they propel in the air. They also build structures like bridges to learn the physics behind them.

When it comes to practice, campers have an opportunity to try a desk simulator and a full-motion FAA-approved flight simulator that is also used by professional pilots for training.

The best part of the camp for all the kids is flight day, the day every child has a chance to be a real pilot. During the introductory flight, children are accompanied by experienced pilots, fly in a pilot’s seat and control a plane under professional supervision.

The goal of the Young Pilot Camp is to attract more children to careers in aviation by allowing them to experience many aspects of the industry. “Right now, there are a lot of amazing opportunities in this field. There is a huge shortage of pilots, mechanics, and other aviation professionals,” said camp director Alex Souponetsky. “That’s why at this camp we are trying to nourish these dreams, show children their options and help them move forward. The mission of our Young Pilot Camp is to empower young minds to soar with imagination, knowledge, and passion for aviation.”

After the camp, children can sign up for flight lessons to become private pilots. Even though anyone can start flying as long as they are able to reach the pedals, flying solo is possible only after reaching the age of 16 and getting a pilot’s license at 17. The camp helps children learn more about aviation careers as well, including private, commercial and military pilots, aviation mechanics, traffic controllers and more.

Source: Philadelphia International Airport Press Release
Photo Credit: Philadelphia International Airport

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US Aviation Regulator FAA Issues Implementation Plan Outlining Steps to Usher in Advanced Air Mobility

The FAA released an implementation plan detailing the steps it and others will need to take to safely enable advanced air mobility operations in the near term. The “Innovate28” plan includes various components and the sequence they will occur in for operations to be at scale at one or more sites by 2028.

“This plan shows how all the pieces will come together allowing the industry to scale with safety as the north star,” said Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson.

The plan will serve as a foundation for making entry into service routine and predictable by maximizing the use of existing procedures and infrastructure. It addresses how the agency and partners will certify aircraft and pilots, manage airspace access, ensure pilot training, develop infrastructure, maintain security, and engage communities.

The plan also includes a planning guide that can be applied to any site, laying out key integration objectives and sequences.

Multiple entities will play roles: The FAA; the advanced air mobility industry; labor partners, NASA; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Energy; power industry; and state, local and tribal communities. The FAA is collaborating closely with stakeholders, including through the Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group.

Today’s broad effort follows the agency releasing its airspace blueprint and proposing a comprehensive rule for training and certifying pilots to fly these aircraft.

The plan’s highlights include:

Operations

  • Pilots will be able to fly the new advanced mobility aircraft to and from multiple locations at the sites, using predetermined flight schedules with pilots aboard.
  • Advanced air mobility aircraft likely will operate up to 4,000 feet altitude in urban and metropolitan areas, using existing or modified low altitude visual flight rules (VFR) routes where possible within controlled Class B and C airspace around major airports.

Infrastructure

  • Operators, manufacturers, state and local governments, and other stakeholders will be responsible for planning, developing and enabling heliport/vertiport infrastructure.
  • Advanced air mobility will initially operate at existing heliports, commercial service airports and general aviation airports. Modifications may be necessary to install charging stations, parking zones and taxiing space.

Power Grid

  • The electrical power grid may require upgrades to serve advanced air mobility operations.
  • The FAA has an interagency agreement with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab to determine how aircraft electrification affects a vertiport, heliport or airport’s electrical grid.

Security

  • The Department of Homeland Security will determine what type of security is necessary.
  • The TSA and FAA are evaluating the need for expanded cybersecurity requirements due to the use of advanced technology and operational protocols.

Environment

  • The FAA will consider the environmental impacts of advanced air mobility operations, including factors such as noise, air quality, visual disturbances, and disruption to wildlife.

Community Engagement

  • The FAA will engage with airports, and local, state, and tribal communities to better understand community concerns about advanced air mobility operations, including noise and mitigations.
  • Many other stakeholders, such as advanced air mobility operators and airport and vertiport operators will have important roles in community engagement.

Check out the implementation plan here.

Source: FAA Press Release
Photo Credit: FAA

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Indian Sees 88 Percent Rise in Flow of International Passengers

Passengers carried by scheduled Indian and Foreign carriers for scheduled international operations in the first quarter of 2023 show an increase of about 88% over the passenger figures of first quarter of 2022 per provisional figures available.

The number of international passengers had been affected adversely due to COVID-19. However, the situation has improved as witnessed by rebound in air travelers after the resumption of scheduled international commercial passenger operations with effect from 27.03.2022.

The market share of scheduled domestic airlines for international passengers has not shown an increase per provisional figures available.

To attract domestic and international passengers and to give boost to aviation industry in the country, the government has inter-alia, taken the following steps:

(i) For enhancing regional connectivity in the domestic sector, the Ministry operates the UDAN scheme.

(ii) In the international sector, 18 tourist destinations of India have been made available for SAARC (except Afghanistan and Pakistan) and ASEAN countries to/from which designated carriers of India as well as designated carriers of SAARC and ASEAN countries can mount unlimited operations. Additionally, in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the government has, on reciprocal basis, offered open sky arrangements to SAARC countries and countries located beyond 5000 kms from Delhi. As on date, India has open sky arrangements with 23 countries which has facilitated unlimited operations between India and these countries.

Source: Press Information Bureau Government of India

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Industry Experts Urge Mandatory Adoption of Simulated ATC Environment (SATCE) in Pilot Training

A collaborative white paper has been published that advocates for the widespread integration of SATCE in pilot training programs and flight simulators. Titled “Bolstering Safety and Resilience with an AI-Based Pilot Training Technology,” the paper features insights and contributions from over 20 industry professionals and regulators.

The paper highlights SATCE as the ‘missing link’ and the ‘next evolution’ in flight simulation, employing AI-based technologies to simulate traffic and air traffic control (ATC) during scenario-based flight training. Currently, the inadequate simulation of these crucial elements poses a recognised training deficit.

The call for mandatory adoption comes at a critical time, considering recent aviation incidents both in the United States and globally, and the renewed emphasis on runway safety. By expediting the implementation of SATCE, particularly beneficial for airport-related training scenarios, the industry has the opportunity to enhance pilot training, fortify pilot resilience, and bolster aviation safety.

Topics covered include: recent incidents and flight safety concerns, changing pilot demographics, expedited cadet training, operational threats (communications, ATC, traffic), current flight simulator technology shortcomings and practice, AI, SATCE, technical standards, CBTA, LiFUS & IOE, LOFT, EBT, training data, LVC, AAM, regulations, and current FAA research into SATCE.

The group, led by Cpt. Michael Varney, a founder of Evidence-based Training (EBT) and CEO at Salient, Matt Littrell, FlightSafety International, and industry consultant and SATCE SME Dr. Jeremy Goodman, collaborated online to formulate their recommendations. The authors are optimistic that their work will stimulate meaningful discussions and prompt decisive action within the aviation industry.

Michael Varney, experienced pilot, instructor and industry leader, comments “In our most recent LOSA projects, ATC has become the number 1 threat in operations. We now have the technological capability to bring a realistic ATC environment into training. Choosing to ignore this [SATCE] is like choosing to operate without a visual system. If we expect pilots to develop their capabilities during IOE/LiFUS [without SATCE] we are significantly increasing the risk to operations.”

The white paper can be downloaded from here.

Source: Dr. Jeremy Goodman (Realise The Vision)
Photo Credit: Dr Jeremy Goodman (Realise The Vision)

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Cirrus Aircraft Adds Auto Radar by Garmin and Cirrus IQ Connectivity to Aircraft

Aircraft manufacturer CirrusAircraft announced that AutoRadar powered byGarmin®andCirrusIQ™ have been added as new advanced features on the world’s best-selling personal jet, theVision Jet. These upgrades now provide pilots with increased situational awareness and connectivity during all stages of pre-flight and inflight activities.

“Cirrus Aircraft incorporates intelligent and award-winning innovations into its ecosystem to make flying simpler, safer andmore approachable for the pilot and passengers,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Aircraft. “The award-winning Vision Jet is a testament to our team’s ongoing dedication to advancing the personal aviation industry. Over the years, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and Safe Return™ Autoland have revolutionized the Personal Aviation industry. Now with Auto Radar and Cirrus IQ connectivity, pilots have more situational awareness inflight and can streamline the preflight process.”

Auto Radar allows the pilot to select the desired radar range which then automatically scans the area ahead and displays a composite, real-time depiction of the weather. By automatically selecting an optimal horizontal scan pattern and vertical tilt combination, the Auto Radar system works to create an in-depth view of the weather ahead. It volumetrically profiles areas of precipitation to provide the pilot with a real-time composite view of radar returns. The imagery is clear with a 16-color palette and improved automatic ground-clutter suppression.

Cirrus IQ is now available in the Vision Jet with the addition of LTE-enabled hardware. With the Cirrus IQ mobile app, pilots can proactively check key aircraft readiness items, updated after each flight from virtually anywhere in the world. These key items currently include the last known status of fuel and oxygen levels, aircraft location, flight hours, engine cycles andmore.

Cirrus IQ makes aircraft ownership increasingly streamlined with features like Maintenance Minder and Technical Publications for owners to keep track of their aircraft maintenance intervals and stay up to date with any applicable technical publications for their aircraft. The My Trips and Achievements features automatically log each flight completed along with flight achievements. The Find Us feature allows owners to quickly locate Cirrus Aircraft Campuses, CirrusAuthorized Service Centers and Training Partners nearby directly within the app.

The LTE-enabled hardware that powers Cirrus IQ is standard on newly manufactured G2+ Vision Jets and Auto Radar is available as part of the Enhanced Awareness Package. The Cirrus IQ mobile app is available to owners with an active JetStream contract. Auto Radar and Cirrus IQ retrofits will be available for G2 and G2+ Vision Jet owners in the future through Cirrus Upgrades and Accessories.

About Cirrus Aircraft 

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet™, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the CirrusAirframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 15 million hours, and 250 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrusaircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; and Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Source: Cirrus Aircraft Press Release
Photo Credit: Cirrus Aircraft

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