News
Harrison Ford ‘humbled’ by Hoover Trophy
Pilot, actor lauded for his dedication to aviation
By David Tulis
Pilot, general aviation advocate, and actor Harrison Ford said he was “humbled” to receive the Hoover Trophy, named for test pilot and aerobatic showman Robert A. “Bob” Hoover, an aviation mentor who inspired countless others. Ford accepted the honor for GA greatness and then lavished praise upon another aerobatic legend—the 2017 winner and award presenter Sean D. Tucker—during the third annual R.A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy Awards, hosted by AOPA in the historic Terminal A lobby of Ronald Reagan Washington National in Washington, D.C.
AOPA President Mark Baker noted that the trophy is presented to an “aviator who exhibits the airmanship, leadership, and passion for aviation and life demonstrated by Bob Hoover.”
Ford was lauded for his unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to aviation. He has rescued a stranded hiker with his helicopter, flown the 2 millionth EAA Young Eagle in his yellow-and-green de Havilland Beaver, and testified before Congress on behalf of airports. He was also one of the key figures in AOPA's GA Serves America campaign. The instrument-rated fixed-wing and helicopter pilot, aircraft owner, and AOPA member, said the recognition was a “great honor.”
Hoover agreed in 2016 to have his name memorialized as a tribute to those whose airmanship, leadership, mentorship, and passion for aviation inspires a love of flight.
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Industry News
A ‘new era’ of avionics systems
Dynon earns STC for Skyview HDX installation
Dynon Avionics has taken a step in the market for certified-aircraft avionics on receipt of its first supplemental type certificate for its flagship SkyView HDX instrumentation system, with an approved model list covering many Cessna 172s.
The STC for the installation of a full suite of Dynon avionics is priced at $2,000 for the Cessna 172, and “ushers in a new era of truly affordable, safety-enhancing integrated avionics systems for type certificated aircraft,” the Woodinville, Washington, company said. The avionics suite itself runs about $16,000, the same price for certified and Experimental aircraft.
The installation allows pilots “to remove the vast majority of their legacy instrumentation, including their vacuum pump,” and provides complete primary flight instrumentation, including synthetic vision and angle of attack, and engine monitoring with CHTs, EGTs, fuel flow, fuel computer, and lean assist. Dynon’s fully integrated two-axis autopilot, offering IFR-approach capability when SkyView integrates with a compatible navigator, was also approved. The approved installation includes a Mode S Transponder with 2020-compliant Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out, navigation and mapping with flight planning ADS-B traffic and weather display, and electronic flight bag features. Backup primary flight instruments are provided by a Dynon EFIS-D10A.
“Dynon is excited to show pilots of type-certificated aircraft what they’ve been missing,” said Dynon President Robert Hamilton. “Our safety-enhancing avionics systems have been available to Experimental and Light Sport aircraft for over 15 years, but this is the first time that pilots of type-certificated aircraft will have a truly affordable way to upgrade their whole panel.”
The initial model approvals include the Cessna 172F, 172G, 172H, 172I, 172K, 172L, 172M, 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, and 172S models, and allows flight in IFR and VFR. Dynon will seek additional approvals for single- and twin-engine aircraft in the coming months.
The first installations will be available in the coming weeks via U.S. Sport Aircraft and Thrust Flight in Texas; Merrill Field Instruments in Alaska; and a Dynon-affiliated facility in the Pacific Northwest.
Web: www.dynon.aero
HAI News
Schweizer lands new home
New company to make parts, eventually new helicopters
By Mike Collins
Sikorsky Aircraft acquired the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation in 2004, but the venerable Hughes/Schweizer 300 piston helicopter languished among its new owner’s larger turbine products. No longer—in late January, Sikorsky sold the type certificates and parts inventories to Fort Worth, Texas-based Schweizer RSG.
“I think [the sale] puts both product lines in a good position to have success,” said Dana Fiatarone, Sikorsky’s vice president of commercial systems and services, and allows Sikorsky to focus on its S–76 and S–92. Future Sikorsky commercial efforts probably will focus on aircraft that weigh more than 10,000 pounds, he said.
“We believe in the product,” said David Horton, president of Schweizer RSG and a former president and general manager of Schweizer Aircraft. “It’s been around almost 60 years. And we could see the need in the marketplace for someone that really made it a priority.” The new, standalone company has a shared services agreement that allows it to tap into Rotorcraft Services Group for engineering, MRO services, and parts manufacturing.
The company exhibited a Model 300 at the Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo 2018 in Las Vegas during February. It was one of 51 helicopters displayed in the convention center; 17,312 attendees visited with 705 exhibitors at the show.
Reaction from the Schweizer ownership community has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Horton said. Drive train components are most needed by users, and the company is working with vendors to establish delivery schedules.
Schweizer is working to get an FAA production certificate for parts, so it can serve the worldwide fleet of about 2,900 Schweizer helicopters. Then it will seek to produce helicopters under an FAA airworthiness program, Horton said—ideally by late 2018 or the first quarter of 2019. “We think that’s very doable, but it’s still going to be a pretty good challenge.”
Initial helicopters will be based on the configuration most recently sold; Horton said future enhancements are being discussed and will be driven by customer demand.
“I think the helicopter speaks for itself,” Horton said. “The engineers who originally [designed] it did it right. It’s up to us to be good stewards of this product line going forward, and take care of our customers the way they deserve to be taken care of.”
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Allen begins as new legal columnist
Jared Allen, a senior attorney for the AOPA Legal Services Plan, will be the new columnist to address legal issues for AOPA Pilot magazine. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, Allen is an instrument-rated private pilot who works in the association’s Frederick, Maryland, office. His aviation background is extensive, with law school internships with the FAA, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Transportation; Allen has worked for AOPA’s legal division since 2015. He is one of three in-house attorneys who work with the nearly 63,000 AOPA members enrolled in the Legal Services Plan. “We perform legal aid—legal triage if you will—for our members, ensuring they are in the best position on any legal issue,” Allen said. Allen soloed at age 17 after 18 hours of instruction and earned his instrument rating while in college. His aviation influence was his father, who took his young son out to watch airplanes take off and land at the Allentown, Pennsylvania, airport. Allen took flight instruction at Queen City Airport in Pennsylvania. “I still remember flying the New York City corridor when the towers were still standing,” he said. “As a private pilot and with my interest in aviation, I don’t think I could practice any other type of law.” The AOPA Legal Services Plan provides support and guidance for most aviation matters. See “For the Record” .
Headlines that affect you
Recent news from the aviation world
Flight service transitions to Leidos web portal
The FAA will discontinue the Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS II) program effective May 16. Internet services, including access to weather and aeronautical information, flight plan filing, and automated services will remain available through Leidos (www.1800wxbrief.com). —AOPA.org
Senate addresses maintenance tech shortage
What is quickly becoming a critical shortage of aviation maintenance technicians has caught the attention of the U.S. Senate. In an attempt to spur more new A&Ps, several senators sponsored the Aviation Maintenance Workforce Development Pilot Program, introduced in March. —AOPA.org
FAA expands drone authorization program
Remote pilots certificated under Part 107 will gain easier and more practical access to controlled airspace around hundreds of airports across the country beginning in April, the FAA announced. —AOPA.org
Textron Aviation ends Cessna TTx production
Built since 2004, originally as the Columbia 300, the sleek speedster never achieved the market success it deserved. —Flying magazine
Five dead in NYC helicopter accident
Five people were killed after a tour helicopter autorotated into New York’s East River March 11 and turned over after touching down on the water. News reports said the pilot was the sole survivor. —AVweb
LITTLE-KNOWN AVIATION HISTORY
Boeing Airplane Co.
May 9, 1917
Pacific Aero Products changes its name to Boeing Airplane Co. William E. Boeing is president. Boeing, the son of a wealthy timber baron, himself became rich in Seattle investing in timber. He became enamored with aviation after his first airplane ride July 4, 1914, and bought a shipyard on the coast of Washington to build a seaplane. He and partner George Conrad Westervelt used a Martin seaplane as a model and created the B&W Model 1 seaplane, affectionately known as Bluebill. With U.S. involvement in World War I on the horizon, Westervelt, a Navy engineer, was sent back to the East Coast where he convinced the U.S. Navy to invest in Boeing’s aircraft company. Pacific Aero Products was awarded the contract to build 50 aircraft but not before Boeing changed the company name and launched one of the world’s largest aircraft companies, today still headquartered in Seattle.
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