DAC International has received FAA parts manufacturer approval (PMA) for its GDC64 tablet aircraft interface unit (TAIU). The unit serves two functions: to provide the correct power supply to recharge Apple iPad tablet computers; and to safely connect iPads to aircraft sensors to supply useful data to iPad applications. The GDC64 is hard-wired to the aircraft and doesn’t rely on wireless connectivity.
With four Arinc 429 input ports, eight discrete inputs and a serial connection for weather receivers, the GDC64 could be used for many new capabilities. For example, aircraft position, air data and weather information could be delivered to an iPad to drive synthetic-vision displays and moving maps with weather overlays. This would eliminate the need to carry external wireless devices such as GPS receivers, ADS-B weather receivers, AHRS devices or a portable XM Weather receiver.
So far, the GDC64 has been installed in a Learjet 60 by DAC sister company Atlantic Aero and a Dash 8 by Samco Aircraft Maintenance (with Fokker Services managing the certification). The Dash 8 application is for Norwegian airline Widerøe, which is using the iPad as an EASA-approved Class 2 Type-B electronic flight bag (EFB). Widerøe’s iPad EFB uses Arinc 429 data from the Dash 8, including position, speed and more in an app developed by Dublin-based Flightman.
To encourage the development of more apps that can take advantage of the GDC64’s data hooks into the aircraft, DAC International (Booth 627) offers a software development kit (SDK) and also a free iPad app for setting up and configuring the Arinc 429 data. Avionics and airframe OEMs as well as avionics installers, iPad app developers and software companies are interested in adopting the GDC64 or creating app functionality for the device, according to DAC general manager Francisco Hernandez. A Turkish company purchased a GDC64 and obtained the SDK to develop applications for airlines, he said. “[Maintenance tracking provider] CAMP Systems (Booth 931) has talked to us about an app for their software.”

Inmarsat has announced it will be working with Satcom Direct, the provider of satellite voice, fax, datalink and Internet communications solutions, to take its GX Aviation proposition to the business aviation market.
Responding to passenger, airline and business jet operators’ needs, GX Aviation offers consistent, global coverage with the level of broadband speeds, data rates and bandwidth that consumers are used to receiving on the ground. After signing an agreement with Honeywell, the designated business aviation reseller for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band connectivity services, Satcom Direct has become a business aviation partner for Inmarsat GX Aviation services and will be a distributor of GX Avionics equipment manufactured by Honeywell.
“Satcom Direct is a very important Inmarsat partner, so we are delighted that they will be adding our GX Aviation services to their product portfolio which includes Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband for the business aviation sector,” said Leo Mondale, Managing Director for Inmarsat GX. “As the first high-speed global broadband aviation service, GX Aviation offers consistent connectivity, including the ability to stream Internet content live or hold uninterrupted video calls from 30,000 feet. The service will revolutionize connectivity in the sky.”

Rockwell Collins Skybox™ cabin solution has been selected for aftermarket installation by European-based Dassault Falcon Services Le Bourget on a Falcon 2000EX. In addition, the aircraft will be equipped with Rockwell Collins’ Venue cabin management and entertainment system, marking the first aftermarket integration of the system with Skybox. Final completion is expected this summer.
“Our proven, quickly implemented Skybox is the perfect fit for the aftermarket, especially aircraft equipped with our Venue™ cabin management system,” said Dave Austin, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. “Skybox with internet connectivity elevates the cabin experience by providing the commonality and convenience of the home or office experience, giving each passenger the power to watch and share exactly what they want.”
Skybox, unveiled in October, is the first airworthy and fielded cabin solution that wirelessly streams Hollywood-protected content on demand from an on-board Apple iTunes library using up to 10 Apple iOS devices. Passengers can stream movies, photos or business documents from their devices to cabin displays. The solution’s large one-terabyte library provides users with ample storage for these sharable files.

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) has delivered a new Boeing 737-800 to Virgin Australia. This aircraft is the first of three new 737-800s ILFC is scheduled to deliver to Virgin Australia this year. The aircraft are intended to support the strategic fleet renewal at Virgin Australia.
ILFC Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Philip G. Scruggs commented, “ILFC is honored to continue providing aircraft to Virgin Australia. We share a long-standing business partnership that dates back to the launch of the airline. We are delighted to have delivered this new B737-800 that will support the initiatives of the airline.”
This new aircraft is also the third of the total of five aircraft, which are part of a purchase leaseback agreement between ILFC and Virgin Australia. ILFC completed deliveries of the initial two aircraft in 2012.

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes preliminary air traffic figures for April 2013 measured in PRASK rose by 8% up year over year. In the year to date, PRASK grew by 11%. This is the 13th consecutive increase of PRASK reported by GOL. Net yield was 13% up in April year-on-year, between R$20.8 and R$21.3 cents, while fuel price in April was 2% up over April 2012.

A Piedmont Airlines De Havilland Dash 8, operating for US Airways as flight 4560, was flying from Philadelphia with 34 passengers and three crew members aboard when it was forced to make an emergency landing on its belly at Newark’s Liberty Airport early on Saturday morning after the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy.
The airport was closed for more than an hour, with the runway closed for more than eight hours following the incident. The NTSB is investigating.

Former airline executive Michael G. Whitaker, who most recently served as a consultant to a company that operates India’s largest domestic airline, has been appointed as the deputy administrator for the FAA.

“We are pleased the president has appointed someone who has spent so much of his career in the aviation industry to fill the role of deputy FAA administrator,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “Michael Whitaker’s extensive experience in the airline industry, both in the United States and abroad, gives him an excellent understanding of the national air transportation system, particularly the issues facing commercial air carriers. We look forward to sharing the general aviation perspective with him and working together for the good of all segments of the aviation community.”

Whitaker, according to a summary of his career released by the White House, worked for Trans World Airlines from 1991 to 1994 as general counsel for regulatory and international affairs, and held various posts at United Airlines from 1994 to 2009, where he became senior vice president for alliances, international, and regulatory affairs.

Whitaker served from 2009 to 2011 as an executive for InterGlobe Enterprises, a transportation management company that operates, among other interests, IndiGo, described on the company’s website as India’s largest and fastest-growing airline. He was a board member and consultant to InterGlobe from 2011 to 2012.

Heating Element 24D507239P02EH is now FAA PMA approved. This heating element is used in lavatory water heaters. Original OEM is Goodrich and eligible for installation on lavatory water heaters 24E507009G02 and G03. The part number 24D507239P02EH replaces OEM part number 24D507239P02.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have published for public comment a revised Exposure Draft outlining proposed changes to the accounting for leases. The proposal aims to improve the quality and comparability of financial reporting by providing greater transparency about leverage, the assets an organization uses in its operations and the risks to which it is exposed from entering into leasing transactions.

Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman of the IASB commented: “The development of an improved standard for leasing is vital. At present, investors must take an educated guess to determine the hidden leverage from leasing by using basic disclosures in financial statements and applying arbitrary multiples. It is clearly not in the best interests of investors to expect analysts and others to guess the liabilities associated with leases. The proposal outlined in this revised Exposure Draft will go a great distance towards improving the quality and comparability of financial reporting in this area.”

Leslie Seidman, Chairman of the FASB commented: “The FASB and the IASB have worked together to develop a revised, converged proposal to address the inadequacies of current lease accounting and disclosures. The proposal is responsive to the widespread view of investors that leases are liabilities that belong on the balance sheet. The Boards revised the original proposal to distinguish between different types of leases for income statement and cash flow purposes, in response to feedback received from stakeholders.”

These changes have the potential to significantly change the aircraft leasing industry – for lessor’s the effects will be much less damaging that for airlines. The jury is out on how this will affect how airlines lease aircraft. The next issue of Airline Economics includes an in-depth analysis of the changes. Ensure you receive your own copy, subscribe today by contacting John Pennington at john@aviationnews-online.com.

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has reported losses estimated at US$70 million last year, which does not include the US$40 million in fuel subsidy to the airline.

Finance Minister Larry Howai insists that the airline remains solvent: “Government has made certain provisions for the airline to restructure its balance sheet. One of the things they have done is to use a lot of their cash to actually do acquisitions of the planes and I have instructed a new restructuring of the balance sheet where you would need to borrow and replace the cash which was being used.

“It’s better to leverage the assets rather than leave it unencumbered but having the company incurring significant debt obligations,” Howai added.

Preliminary unaudi­ted figures showed US$32 million of the $70 million loss was incurred by the Air Jamaica route, with the London route also accounting for a major part of the losses.

In 2011, CAL had recorded losses of USE43.7 million.