| Very Light Jets are coming! They will be arriving soon | | | | future air travel. |
| at an airport near you. Can they be safely integrated | | | | The burden of additional aircraft on the system is real. |
| into our US National Airspace System (NAS)? The | | | | The arrival of the VLJs is not the cause. They only |
| NAS is in charge of all aircraft that are in motion at | | | | represent a small portion of the forecast exponential |
| any given moment, both U.S. civilian and military craft | | | | growth in air traffic. Many of the VLJs will be arriving |
| flying over domestic airspace. | | | | as replacements for obsolete aircraft which results in |
| Can the altitudes and airspace previously reserved for | | | | no net gain of air traffic. They are also not arriving all |
| the exclusive use of our corporate jets and | | | | at once. Many of the larger orders to charter |
| commercial airliners safely make space for these new | | | | operators of the VLJs actually have staggered |
| planes? Can the system safely consolidate the VLJ | | | | delivery dates. These controlled-growth factors should |
| pilots with their varying levels of experience? These | | | | provide sufficient opportunity for the air traffic system |
| questions are on our minds as aviators as we awaken | | | | to respond safely. |
| to the dawn of this new day in air transport | | | | The safety of the NAS with the infusion of pilots with |
| technology. | | | | large variations in flight experience levels is another |
| NBAA defines Very Light Jets (also known as | | | | area of concern. The pilots of these innovative |
| Microjets, or VLJs), as "Jet aircraft weighing 10,000 | | | | machines will be transitioning G/A pilots and pilot |
| pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight | | | | owners, or the pilots for the corporations, fractionals, |
| and certificated for single pilot operations. These | | | | and air taxi operations. This mix of pilot experience has |
| aircraft will possess at least some of the following | | | | demanded a new standard in flight training to balance |
| features: (1) advanced cockpit automation, such as | | | | the air safety equation. |
| moving map GPS and multi-function displays; (2) | | | | The National Business Aircraft Association, in |
| automated engine and systems management; and (3) | | | | cooperation with NBAA Safety Committee issued their |
| integrated autoflight, autopilot and flight-guidance | | | | recommendations in their “NBAA Training |
| systems." The definition is from the National Business | | | | Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light |
| Aircraft Association Training Guidelines for Single Pilot | | | | Jets and Technically Advanced Aircraft.” Their |
| Operations of Very Light Jets and Technically | | | | report was compiled in association with: |
| Advanced Aircraft. | | | | • NBAA Safety Committee |
| VLJs were spawned by the NASA lead Small Aircraft | | | | • FAA/Industry Training Standards |
| Transportation System or SATS program. This | | | | • Adam Aircraft |
| innovative initiative aimed to provide safe air travel in all | | | | • Cessna Aircraft Company |
| weather, in new single-pilot aircraft, with advanced | | | | • Eclipse Aviation |
| navigation systems. SATS proposed the utilization of | | | | • Insurance underwriters |
| 5400 smaller airports in the US so we could enjoy | | | | • Training providers |
| point-to-point travel in modern aircraft at affordable | | | | This NBAA guideline offers minimum pilot qualifications |
| prices. | | | | to include a Private pilot license, multi-engine rating, and |
| SATS observed that 75% of people and cargo | | | | instrument rating. Skills and prior knowledge of basic |
| passes through 29 hubs which were over- crowded. | | | | autoflight procedures, basic FMS (Flight Management |
| By using the public airports accessible to most | | | | Systems), and weather radar were also |
| everyone in the US instead of the hubs, the program | | | | recommended. Full NBAA report is available at [ |
| promised many advantages: | | | | Training plans disclosed by the manufacturers will be |
| • Separation and sequencing of multiple aircraft | | | | type-rating based. Cessna has signed with long-time |
| operating at airports without ground based radar and | | | | partner FlightSafety International for their Mustang |
| communications systems resulting in higher system | | | | training. Eclipse is using United Services, a division of |
| traffic volume. | | | | United Airlines, for their Eclipse 500. |
| • Safer aircraft takeoff and landing operations in | | | | The NBAA also recommends that upon completing |
| poor weather at minimal equipped airports and lower | | | | the training program, the pilot, training provider, and the |
| minimums for operations because of advanced | | | | insurance underwriter determine the need for a mentor |
| avionics. | | | | pilot. |
| • Make more single-pilot operations possible with | | | | The report further states that “mentors should |
| improved technology. | | | | be selected from experienced pilots that have ATPs |
| • Incorporate large numbers of small aircraft into | | | | and are type rated in jet aircraft that have technically |
| the National Airspace System for better airspace | | | | advanced systems similar to the VLJ in which they will |
| utilization. | | | | mentor. The prospective mentor needs to be |
| The long-term vision of SATS was “to enable a | | | | recognized by both the aircraft manufacturer and the |
| safe travel alternative that will free people and | | | | insurance underwriter as meeting these criteria. In |
| products from the constraints of today’s ground | | | | addition, it is recommended that a training program on |
| and air transportation systems.” Government | | | | the specific aircraft in which they will mentor be |
| funding of the five year $150 Million dollar program | | | | completed.” |
| ended in June of 2005. The SATS funding combined | | | | Many of the Part 135 Very Light Jet operators have |
| with private investment and the promise of a new and | | | | expressed an interest in hiring pilots form the cadre of |
| profitable era of air transportation has made VLJ | | | | mandatory retired former airline pilots. Their |
| travel an eminent reality! Is the system ready? | | | | expectation is that the high levels of maturity, airline |
| The G/A community, corporate aviation, airline industry, | | | | based training and flight experience will add an element |
| and members of the flying public have expressed | | | | of safety. These progressive operators plan to use |
| safety concerns about the rapidly approaching fleet of | | | | this group as a possible advantage as they build |
| VLJs. The specter of their arrival placing unacceptable | | | | experience with insurance underwriters. |
| burdens on our air traffic control system is a growing | | | | It appears that the NBAA and VLJ manufacturers, |
| concern. | | | | FAA, training organizations, and the insurance industry |
| The FAAs own recent estimate of aircraft entering | | | | have converged to formulate a plan to insure the |
| the NAS is 4,500 additional aircraft over the next 10 | | | | safety of this next wave in aviation. They have taken |
| years. FAA also predicts a 300% increase in system | | | | definitive steps to assure that the mix of pilots flying |
| demand by 2025! | | | | the new entrant VLJs will be trained to the highest |
| Some of the air traffic control equipment still in use is | | | | standards available. They have collectively forged solid |
| from the 1950s. In June of 2005, House Report 109-153 | | | | training programs based on NBAA guidelines to assure |
| recommended over $1.5 Billion for new air traffic | | | | the collective safety and successes of the fledglings |
| control facilities and equipment. Full report: | | | | called Very Light Jets. |
| This funding may be the key to gate of safety in | | | | |