Newsdesk – General Aviation

Pilot-Aid System for Small Airports Demonstrated:

Flight demonstrations are being conducted by NASA of an experimental Automated pilot Advisory System that broadcasts airport and air traffic advisory messages, using a computer-generated voice technique. The system automatically tracks aircraft within three miles of an uncontrolled airport and issues messages on air traffic location and heading. Uncontrolled airports are small, general aviation airports. Airport wind, barometric pressure, temperature and active-runway messages also are broadcast by the system.

The major objectives of the automated systems are to:

• Broadcast airport advisory information at least once every two minutes.

• Broadcast air traffic advisory information at least once every 20 seconds

• Broadcast collision warnings when required.

The technology being demonstrated at NASA’s Wallops Flight Center, Wallops Island, Va. , has application to high-density uncontrolled airports where more than half of US midair collisions occur. Accident factors include failure to see other aircraft and take evasive action, the traffic pattern flow errors and the lack of communication. The technology also could find application as a possible shift-reliever at controlled airports.

Principal elements of the experimental system is a radar set, a mini- and a microcomputer, weather sensors and a very high-frequency transmitter.

The computers provide radar detection and target tracking, evaluation of weather sensor data and generation of the several audio voice messages for transmission to arriving or departing aircraft.

Luxury in Bigger Singles:

Cessna’s big singles are going to wrap-round sound and in-flight buffet service…

Wichita has announced mini-airline options in its 1980 range of big singles – the Skylane, Skylane RG and Turbo Skylane AG, plus those magnificent Centurions (Centurion , Turbo Centurion and Pressurised Centurion).

The Skylane series is being offered with optional extras which include avionics cosmetics, a writing table and AM/FM stereo cassette entertainment centres.

Writing table is self-storing and available for either or both front seat-backs, a la airline table/tray. Cessna says the table has been designed for business conference, writing or serving refreshments.

The entertainment centre is specifically designed for use in aircraft, with an audio interrupt to receive radio transmissions.

Optional air-conditioning Is offered in the Skylane AG and Turbo Skylane RG; the Turbo also has an optional anti-icing system.

The air-conditioning is expected to be available early this year.

In the Centurion range, customers can order air-conditioning, colour radar Bendix RDR-160) or a backup 400 glideslope receiver An optional standby generator is also available on the Turbo and Pressurised Centurion.

The Centurions will also be offered with optional writing desk stereo entertainment centre.

Aerodynamically, the Centurions will offer higher Vfe (flap extension speed) in the ’80 Models, Wichita say the extension speed has gone up to 1 60 knots for 10-degree extension and 130 knots tor up to 20 degrees.

Thus with a 165-knot gear speed and these higher flap speeds, speed reduction and approach trimming has been simplified.

Twin Otter Success Continues:

De Havilland of Canada must be laughing all the way to the bank as they go into the the eighties with the biggest backlog of Twin Otter orders ever recorded. Currently there are 60 new aircraft on a specific order and monthly production rate is being stepped up from four to seven by the end of this year. There are currently 640 Twin Otters operating in no less than 73 countries

Cessna Vapour Problems:

The US The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended to the FAA that Cessna 200 Series aircraft fuel systems be redesigned, following an investigation into a number of engine malfunctions believed to have been caused by vapour locks.

One incident happened when a Board investigator was flying a T-210; he had two fuel flow fluctuations at 1 5,000ft and fuel flow dropped into the red arc sometime after switching tanks; after rough-running he only managed to land safely after re-starting his engine by using the Maximum fuel pump boost switch.

A fatal T-206 accident was suspected to have been caused by fuel systems, although this was not conclusively proved.

A further accident to a new P-210, said the Board, could have been caused through vapour being unable to vent outboard because of low-radius bends in the piping.

Tests carried out by the Board and Cessna showed that undersize fuel reservoir fittings probably did not cause these fuel flow malfunctions Cessna has not yet agreed with the Board that fuel vaporisation was the likely cause of the accidents mentioned.

However, the Board has now issued a recommendation to the FAA which reads – and we quote:

“… Require the redesign of the Cessna 200-Series aircraft fuel system to incorporate a separate means to route fuel vapour from the pump or reservoir to the fuel tanks, and require the retrofit of the new system on existing Cessna 200-Series aircraft

“As a interim measure, issue an Airworthiness Directive to require the inspection of

(1) the forward fuel supply line for proper bend radius and tube diameter in the bend, and

(2) the fuel lines inside the compartment for proper separation from exhaust system components or other heat sources of all Cessna 200-Series airplanes, a nd the correction of all deficiencies found in those installations…”

Crew Proficiency Paramount for Safe Twin-Engine Operation

Apparent lack of crew proficiency in emergency situations has been named as the most common factor in light twin-engine aircraft accidents over a five-year period, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board.

This conclusion has been reached after a Board study of 477 accidents following engine failures or malfunctions in light twins in the US Of these, 1 23 were fatals and claimed 289 lives People injured In these accidents numbered 374.

The Board’s findings show that these accidents often involved some degree of panic probably related to inadequate immediate recall of the exact emergency procedures or lack of confidence in ability to execute emergency procedures.

These symptoms, say the Board, are indicative of insufficient recurrent training.

The study also showed there was a relationship between occurrence of accidents after an engine failure in light twins, and the power loading of these aircraft.

The Board said it feels this should be carefully considered by the FAA in reviewing airworthiness regulations, and when drafting new regulations covering commuter airline operations – especially where the increased use of light twins for revenue-producing operations presents the potential for serious consequences.

Most of the accidents studied during the five-year period involved landing-type prangs These, however were almost never fatal.

About 92 per cent of the fatal after engine failure involved stalls, collision with ground or water and collisions with what the the board calls other obstacles.

Robinson In Service:

Robinson Helicopters of Torrance, California have delivered their first R22 model two-seat light helicopter Robinson claim that their backlog is in excess of 600 u nits and production is now running at four aircraft a month The R22 1s powered by a Lycoming 0-320 and has a cruising speed of 108mph with a below $50,000 price tag Local equivalent is the Phillicopter, a two-seater described in December Newsdesk and available for around $46,000 – about half the cost of other twin-seat imported types.

310 Celebrates Silver Anniversary:

Cessna’s class ic310 celebrates its silver anniversary this year…

Evaluated in a recent edition of AAOR, the 310 has come a long way in 25 years, changing from its original production design.

With more than 5000 copies flying in various parts of the world, the 310 got its swept tail in 1960, rear window in ’72 and a Pinnochio nose in ’75.

For 1980, the 310 will have a simplified tail stinger to improve accessibility to elevator and rudder controls during maintenance.

Inside, the 310 will have its Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI) and DME relocated, and the Number 2 Nav. indicator, to get the RMI next to the Horizontal situation Indicator (HSI) for a quicker and more efficient scan.

Optional extras include a cabin stereo system, and a vinyl beverage caddy with a pair of stainless steel beverage containers.

Meanwhile, the 1000th Model 340 is due to roll out from Cessna’s Wallace assembly line early this year.

Which claims the 340 to be a leading seller among pressurised piston-powered twins.

Double Squirrel Takes Off:

Aerospatiale’s twin-engined development of the familiar Squirrel or Ecureuil helicopter, the assault recruitment has met with an enthusiastic market reception with over 200 aircraft ordered within weeks of the aircraft’s first flight The six-seat Ecureuil 2 is powered by two Allison 250-C20F turbines and can lift a maximum payload of 1900lbs Production is sold out till the end of 1982 at which time 36 Ecureuils will be coming off the production line each month, about 15 of which will be of the twin-engined variant.