Civil Aviation Authority

Meanwhile, Gulfstream's new G250 super mid-size jet accomplished its first transatlantic crossing en route to the NBAA convention in Atlanta. The aircraft flew 6192 nautical miles squawk-free three legs over 14 hrs and 31 minutes.The large –cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250 is built in conjunction with partner Israel Aerospace Industries.

After the convention, the aircraft departed for far-field noise testing in Bakersfield, Calif., followed by high-field testing in Colorado and then interior acoustic testing back in Savannah .Following a brief stay in Savannah, the aircraft returned to Tel Aviv.

Cessna Introduces The Citation Ten

In keeping with the large-cabin theme of last years National Business Aviation Association convention, Cessnas major announcement of the show was an extensive upgrade of its flagship bizjet. In fact, Cessna said the makeover of the Citation X was so complete that it considered the new model, called the Citation Ten, to be a new aircraft."The launch of the Citation Ten is an example of our commitment, repeated throughout the recent downturn, to new product development ,and it's a signal that we intend to do what we need to do to maintain a general aviation industry leadership position," CEO Jack Pelton said.

The Ten is about 380 mm longer than the existing X model, has a new cockpit, cabin and engines and is projected to be about 19 knots faster than the X, which may allow Cessna to hang on to its claim to have the "fastest certified business jet" with a maximum cruise of just under 0,92.Cessna officials declined to speculate on the maximum operating speed of the new plane but Pelton has said that the company intends to defend the speed title and the extra 19 knots(at 49000 feet) might be enough to nudge past the Mach 0,925 projected for the Gulfstream G650.

Revamped Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 high-flow fan turbines will provide the push and also provide direct climb to 45000 feet.The Ten is the launch airplane for Garmin's new G5000 systems, which is its first foray into the part 25 market. It features three 14-inch screens with synthetic vision standard. A new cabin management system includes touch –screen controllers at each seat, new galley designs and lavatories and different seating geometry to enhance comfort.

Cessna also announced the selection of Winglet Technology's Elliptical Winglet design for the Citation Ten which will utilize the Elliptical Winglet originally developed and certified by Winglet Technology and Cessna during a collaborative FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) project.

The Elliptical Winglet shape provides superior aerodynamic performance across a broad range of Mach numbers and operating conditions. The Elliptical shape ensures the lift distribution of the wing closely matches optimum lift distribution along the span of the wing, which minimizes the induced drag of the aircraft. The resulting drag reduction enhances the overall operational performance and translates into the several performance improvements which include increased speed at higher altitudes resulting in a further 12 knots at ISA temperatures; up to 20 knots at ISA+ 10 temperatures and improved hot day/ high altitude takeoff performance. Increased range capability is another benefits resulting in, for example, an increase of up to 220 nm for four passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, ISA temperature.

Higher initial flight levels are attainable with the new winglets enabling the Citation Ten to climb at maximum takeoff weight direct t FL 430 at MTOW and ISA+10 temperature direct to FL 450; direct to FL470@ 34400 lbs and ISA temperatures, as well as dramatically reduced time-t-climb figures such as 37 minutes to FL430 instead of 137 minutes at MTOW and ISA+10 temperature and 27 minutes instead of 84 at MTOW and ISA temperatures. Even better, the Ten can now climb to FL470 at a weight of 34000 pounds in 31 minutes instead of 138 minutes.

Even as he was announcing the new Citation Ten, Pelton told the press that "staggeringly low" prices on late model aircraft across the size and type spectrum continued to make for a dismal market for new aircraft. Pelton said Cessna had expected a stronger recovery last year, but now accepts the recovery would not be the V-shaped snapback it had hoped for.

Hawker 200 Unveiled

An updated version of the Beech Premier that Hawker Beech craft says is "worthy of being called a Hawker "was one of several surprise small aircraft announcements at this years NBAA convention in Atlanta.The Hawker 200 will be a littlefaster, have a little more range and fly a little higher than its predecessor, Hawker Beech craft VP of sales, Shawn vick, told a news conference. The aircraft will also have an updated interior.

He said 95% of bizjet flights were shorter than 1000 miles and carried three or fewer passengers, thus the Hawker 200 would fit that niche while offering greater performance and comfort than competitors. The aircraft will sell for $7, 55-million.Certification is scheduled for late 2012 and deliveries will start in 2013.Vick also announced a new short-field King Air model he said would open up 1100 more airports to the venerable turboprop twin.

With engine induction enhancements, composite winglets and propellers, Vick said the sea-level takeoff distance of the King Air 250 was just 644 metres (over a 15-m object) and it was about 305 m longer at 5000 feet.Meanwhile, HBCs CEO, Bill Boisture, said the company was making up, in part, for the emphasis on its military and government business. He said the attack version of the Texan-11 trainer had performed almost flawlessly in recent tests and the recon and surveillance version of the King Air 350 continued to find new markets.

The past year has seen the Kenyan aviation industry begin to regain its growth track after recovering from the counter effects of the global economic downturn crisis which left the national carrier, Kenya Airways, incurring a ksh.4,08-billion loss in the financial year 2008/2009.The carrier,however,returned to profitability recording a profit of ksh,2,03-billion in the financial year 2009/2010 .This growth has been on the back of the recovery of the tourism industry to a three-year high and more regional business activity that has led to the increase of demand for various air services.

Kenya Airways has already embarked on an ambitious plan to open a new destination every month for the next three years and is in discussions with Airbus regarding the possibility of ordering A330 as a replacement for the delayed Boeing 787 Dream liners. In addition, it is expecting delivery of two Embraer E190 jets early this year.Regional carriers are also on the move with Fly 540 having received another CRJ-200 earlier in the year which it has been deployed on the Mombasa and the new Dare Salaam routes it recently added to its growing network.

Jet link is expected to launch new destinations in Tanzania, as well as to Khartoum, Sudan, and Kigali, in Rwanda. The carrier is also expected to expand its fleet this year to accommodate its expanding network.The general aviation industry has also recorded growth with the number of new aircraft delivered being at a high level.

Cessna has benefited largely from this growth with the number of sales of its Cessna Caravan C208B being at an all time high in the country. The majority of the operators have preferred this model mainly due to its reliability, low operating costs and the wide customer support. Lady Lori received delivery of a Cessna Caravan 208B earlier and deployed it for use in offering passenger charters across the region.

Ai Kenya Express took delivery of its new C208B with its upgraded G1000 glass cockpit to serve its routes to various game parks countrywide.Yellow Wings has also taken delivery of a new Caravan and will use it to serve its corporate air charters in the region.The Kenya Police Airwing is another operator to take delivery of a Caravan C208B which it will use in various roles including Government VIP flights and aerial patrols.

Apart from the extreme example of manned space missions, air travel is probably the most heavily monitored and regulated mode of transport on earth. Although statistics show that most people suffer serious and fatal injury as a result of motoring accidents, this is because at any one time, there are far, far more people on the roads than there are in the middle of an airplane journey.

Safety in aviation unsurprisingly attracts much more attention because the dangers are more obvious and, when something does go wrong, the effects can be disastrous and headline grabbing especially if an accident occurs over a heavily built up area. It goes without saying therefore that those involved at the sharp end like airline pilots and air traffic controllers have to go through stringent selection procedures to make sure that they have the right temperament for the job well before they even start technical training.

Sadly for them but sensibly for the rest of us, it's largely a case of many being called but only a few being chosen. Yet, like an army on operations, the frontline troops who make it through the selection process have huge back-up behind the scenes.

In the UK, most of this back-up is provided by the CAA, the Civil Aviation Authority and passengers using air travel are effectively in their hands from the minute they arrive at the airport to the minute they leave it after their return. This almost comprehensive responsibility is not purely concerned with the airworthiness of aircraft and their crew. The organization also runs the ATOL scheme which ensures that passengers can get home in the event of an airline suffering financial collapse.

The effort that goes into maximizing passenger safety is based on the cumulative experience and knowledge gained from the circumstances causing past accidents.The result is that only 130 air accidents were recorded worldwide in 2010 compared with 200 in 2001when there were significantly less flights made and passengers carried.

Here in the UK, the CAA is widely regarded as one of the best regulators in the world and it is frequently consulted by its younger counterparts overseas. Over the years it has built up a rigorous roster of checks involving the medical condition of pilots and flight engineers, the qualifications of aircrew, air traffic controllers and maintenance engineers and the state of the country's airports.

It looks into everything from the flight simulators used to train pilots, potentially dangerous goods carried as luggage or freight and what it likes to call " Human Factors". These include things like pilots being affected by stress and fatigue or unruly behavior by passengers.

Away from large-scale commercial aviation, the CAA is also responsible for such esoteric areas as flying displays, civilian parachuting, hot air balloons and airships.

These services have become more depending and many players are penetrating into this industry to ensure the travelers have all the products and services they need.

In East Africa which comprises Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Burundi,Rwanda the services are available from the major Airports Like,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport,Moi International Airport, Nanyuki Airstrip, Lamu, Malindi, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, Daresalaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Mbeya, Dodoma, Entebbe, Soroti, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura which provides both international and local private aviation flights. You charter flights from Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airports to Lake Manyara, Ngorongo Crater, Seronera, Grumeti, Sasakwa, Lobo, Mafia Island, Pemba Island, Mahale, Zanzibar, Kigoma, Kogadete, Ndutu, Kleins Camp, Serengeti and many others including major cities like Dodoma, Musoma, Tabora, Kigoma, Mbeya, Geita, Mwanza.

In Tanzania you can get aircrafts ranging from Caravan 208 12 seater single turbo prop engne,Let 410 18 seater twin engine, Twin otter 17 seater twin engine, Beechcraft 1900C 18 seater pressurized, Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized,PA-34 5 seater twin piston engine,ATR 42 45 seater turbo prop twin which mostly are based in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Daresaalam. You can charter an aircraft to national parks & reserves at short notice and an aircraft of your choice and with the capacity that you require.

In Uganda there aircrafts like PA-34 SENECA 3 5 seater twin piston engine,Beehcraft 1900C 18 seater pressurized, Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized, Let 410 18 seater unpressurized,C-208 Caravan 12 seater single turbo prop engine with many others. You can charter from Entebbe to South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Khartoum, Juba, and Rumbek for either cargo or passengers.

In Rwanda you can charter CRJ Regional jets, Beechcraft 1900D 18 Seater Pressurized same to Burundi but most of the Aircrafts will be chartered from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and DR Congo. Most of the aircrafts are on contract by United Nations or Non-Governmental organizations and you can't charter them.

There direct private charter flights from/into Kenya National Parks & Reserves to point of entry/exit in Tanzania like, Kilimanjaro, Musoma, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Arusha. All is required 4 working days notice to organize for immigration & immigration officers who will facilitate the clearing and obtaining permission to land in Tanzania. For those firms with a month timetable then a block clearance can be obtained with a roaster for the officers and stand-by and their telephone contacts.

Kenya is a hub for all commercial and non-commercial flights for cargo and passengers within Africa including South Sudan, Somalia,Darfur,DR Congo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport, Lokichogio and out of Uganda Entebbe International Airport, Gulu Airport for flights to Central Africa Republic,DR Congo, South Sudan, Juba, Yei, Rumbek and many others.

For flights into Uganda from Kenya you will require 1 day notice to obtain clearance, Tanzania 2 working days notice same to Rwanda and Burundi as these are cross-border flights and you require over flight and landing permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of that country. Flights to Somalia the charterer will have to give a letter on the firm letterhead to the carrier with details of flight, departure date, names and nationality of the passengers or nature of cargo and purpose for the flight which the carrier will attach on the request letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya for clearance issuance and the flight will not take off until an official communication has been received which is copied to Control Tower, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority.

Flights to South Sudan you will be required to give 2 working days notice for obtaining the passes and you will have to take original passport,2 copies passport size photos for every passenger and you will be issued with one to three month passes or 1 to 6 month which you should renew on expiry and on arrival South Sudan you will pay visa fee of USD 100=00 per person for one month.

Please when planning to travel to cross-border, observe the above condition carefully in terms of duration for obtaining permission and the required documentation as in South Sudan if you fly there without passes the aircraft will be shot and this is endangering your safety