Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Garmin Pilot™ Aviation App Brings The Garmin Experience to iPad®, Other Mobile Devices Offers intuitive navigation, charts, flight planning and filing capabilities


OLATHE, Kan., Mar 27, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. GRMN +0.04% , the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced Garmin Pilot, a new aviation app for iOS® devices, including the iPad and iPhone®, and Android™-based mobile devices. The app brings Garmin’s industry-leading aviation features to tablets and smart phones, offering pilots complete navigation, trip planning, DUAT(S) filing, weather and electronic flight bag capabilities. 

“From integrated flight decks to mobile apps, Garmin is committed to providing our customers with a broad suite of best-in-class products,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin Pilot is the perfect complement to our extensive line of avionics products and services. And because it incorporates the intuitive pilot interface, easy-to-use menu icons and many of the same great features from our other popular systems, pilots will find it very familiar and easy to use.” 

Garmin Pilot’s powerful capabilities start with pre-flight planning, providing the information pilots need to make better-informed flight decisions. With access to the most comprehensive aviation weather information for the U.S. and Canada, pilots can check NEXRAD radar, visible and infrared cloud imagery, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, PIREPs, NOTAMs, winds and temperature aloft, TFRs and lightning data. Pilots can also overlay weather on the map, add text-based weather widgets and use the NavTrack feature to look ahead along the planned route to preview weather conditions. Using their DUAT(S) account, pilots can receive and log FAA-approved weather briefings that meet legal briefing requirements. 

Additional pre-flight planning tools available with the app include access to the AOPA Airport Directory, fuel pricing information to help plan refueling stops, as well as built-in calculators to estimate fuel burn, enroute legs and arrival times. 

With Garmin Pilot, users can easily enter a flight plan and view it on the map screen. From there the app allows the pilot to overlay weather, pan across the entire route, pinch-to-zoom or graphically modify any leg of the flight. When the flight plan is ready, Garmin Pilot makes it simple to file, amend and close the flight plan via DTC DUAT or CSC DUAT(S). For frequently traveled flights, Garmin Pilot saves all flight plans within the app so they can be easily accessed and filed again in the future. 

Using the built-in GPS receiver or compatible external receiver (sold separately), Garmin Pilot provides full enroute navigation capability on its moving map, while showing ETE, ETA, crosstrack error, distance to waypoint and current position. Pilots can also navigate with Garmin’s patented Panel Page, a GPS-derived instrument pack that displays a graphical HSI directional display and indicators for groundspeed, altitude and vertical speed. After takeoff, pilots can continue to view real-time weather information by wirelessly connecting to XM WX Satellite Weather through the Baron Mobile Link™ paired with a satellite weather receiver (sold separately, subscription required). 

Electronic flight bag capabilities help minimize the amount of paper needed for navigation reference in the cockpit. Garmin Pilot includes IFR high and low enroute charts, VFR sectionals and Garmin FliteCharts®. Optional geo-referenced FliteCharts and SafeTaxi® diagrams are available to assist in navigating approach procedures and unfamiliar airports, and all charts can be downloaded to the device for easy access while in flight. 

Garmin Pilot is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, formerly the Android Market, as a free download for the first 30 days. After that, pilots can pay a monthly fee of $9.99 or an annual subscription of $99.99. Pilots can upgrade the standard FliteCharts to geo-referenced FliteCharts for an additional $49.99 annually. Geo-referenced SafeTaxi diagrams are available for an additional $29.99 annually. Customers who currently subscribe to Garmin Pilot My-Cast can upgrade to Garmin Pilot for free by downloading the update in the App Store or Google Play. Features vary based on mobile platform. For more information, visit www.garmin.com . 

Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance, surveillance, and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and value.
About Garmin 

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. GRMN +0.04% , the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications -- most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin Pilot is a trademark and Garmin, FliteCharts and SafeTaxi are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. 

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. 

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html . No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 

SOURCE: Garmin International Inc. 

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Full body scanner now part of passenger screening at Atlantic City International Airport (KACY), New Jersey



EGG HARBOR TWP.--Atlantic City International Airport unveiled a new passenger screening checkpoint, complete with a full body scanner. Officials explain though, that this technology is not as controversial as the full body scanners that made headlines across the country.

"Come on through, please. Arms up, palms facing forward." Passengers traveling though Atlantic City International Airport will now have to take a trip through a full body scanner. While often a controversial form of technology, these scanners in the new passenger screening checkpoint at the airport are different. They do not use radiation and they feature software designed to enhance privacy. "As long as they don't see what's underneath the clothes," said Eleanor Withington, from Long Branch, traveling to Tampa, Florida.

"Anything that's gonna protect us, I think is very important," said Debbie Czech from South Plainfield, "so I am more than happy and willing to do whatever they need to do."

"From a security perspective, it is top of the line technology." And that's what airport officials say is their main concern."This piece of equipment bounces harmless electromagnetic waves off of an individual's body, and helps identify any anomalies or threat objects located on a persons body," explained Thomas Coury, the Federal Security Director with the TSA at ACY.

Safety, along with keeping things moving, and keeping travelers happy is what the new area is all about. "People expect safety, that's their foremost need and I think that's our foremost concern, being safe in an airport," said Bart R. Mueller, Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, "so if we can take the safety aspect, with the service delivery aspect and marry those two, we have a great product for our traveling public here at ACY."

With the new checkpoint up and running, the existing checkpoint will soon close for renovations, which include new equipment and another full body scanner. "It's all about our overall plan of expanding the airport and serving South Jersey and Atlantic City," explained Mueller.

ACY now joins the nearly 140 airports across the country with full body scanners, which cost about $150,000 each. Over $1.1 million dollars was invested by the SJTA to upgrade the floor plan to accommodate the new checkpoint area.

SkyFusion Pak Selected for Cessna Enforcer Program

SAN CARLOS, California (PRWEB) March 27, 2012 

SkyIMD, Inc., provider of advanced aerial imaging systems, has announced that Cessna Aircraft Company has selected the SkyFusion Pak system for the Cessna Enforcer Program. The Cessna Enforcer Program provides law enforcement customers the ability to customize their new Cessna 172, 182 and 206 aircraft with the mission equipment they need for aerial surveillance and live video downlink. The FAA has approved an AML Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation of SkyFusion Pak system on Cessna 172, 182 and 206 aircraft.

“Cessna selected SkyIMD because their advanced aerial imaging system meets the needs of mission-critical and technically-demanding applications,” said Michael Gomm, Fleet & Law Enforcement Sales Manager at Cessna Aircraft Company. “As part of the Cessna Enforcer Program, SkyIMD delivers an advanced, highly reliable aerial surveillance solution.”

“It is a significant achievement that our SkyFusion Pak aerial imaging system has been selected by the world’s leading aircraft company,” said Tom Bleier, vice president of business development at SkyIMD. “We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with Cessna to develop advanced ISR systems that meet the demanding needs of our law enforcement customers.”

Key features of the SkyFusion Pak aerial imaging system include:
  •     Lightweight (21 pounds)
  •     Typical installation completed in one day
  •     STC FAA-approved for Cessna 152, 172, 182 and 206
  •     Real-time image and video streaming via satellite or 3G network
  •     Automated analytics/reporting providing telemetry and geo-spatial data with 3D map overlays
Small, lightweight and portable, the SkyFusion Pak system can be deployed quickly and installed easily in the field. The system includes a self-contained pod with an application-specific sensor and motorized control that is ready to be mounted on both left and/or right wing struts or under belly. The system can be configured with optional components, such as EO imager and infrared sensors, to meet the needs of different applications. It also includes a flight control laptop computer that is customized and pre-configured with comprehensive management and control software.

About SkyIMD, Inc.
Headquartered at the San Carlos, CA Airport, (KSQL) in Silicon Valley, SkyIMD designs aerial imaging solutions for commercial, government, military and general aviation markets. The company integrates best of breed technologies to design cost-effective, full-featured solutions for mission-critical and technically-demanding applications. Learn more at http://www.SkyIMD.com.

Tariffs on European Food Could Expand Under New U.S. Proposal


The Trump administration is considering expanding and raising tariffs on $7.5 billion of imports from the European Union and U.K. that it first imposed last year, part of a long-running dispute at the World Trade Organization that faults European countries for subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative filed paperwork late Tuesday that would allow companies to comment on a proposed increase to as high as 100% on all goods already tariffed and broaden the list to tariffs on new items such as certain coffees and olives.

The comment period ends July 26, after which the U.S. could act. The action would be about the time that the EU and U.K. are expected to win a parallel case at the WTO that would fault the U.S. for its subsidies of Boeing Co. The WTO case would allow the European countries to respond with tariffs of their own.

The WTO rulings are intended to create an incentive for a negotiated settlement of subsidies over the large aircraft manufacturers, but could lead to a new round of tariff escalation instead.

The U.K. was part of the EU when the case began and when the ruling last year authorized U.S. tariffs, and remains involved in the dispute after leaving the trade bloc.

The U.S. previously identified more than $20 billion of European imports that it could hit with duties as part of the dispute. The items have largely been culturally significant foodstuffs, a move designed to hit European pride.

In Tuesday’s filing, the U.S. identified an additional $3.1 billion of goods that it could tariff, including olives, chocolates, coffee, vodka, gin, beer and potatoes.

A European Union spokesman said in a statement that the U.S. move “creates uncertainty for companies and inflicts unnecessary economic damage on both sides of the Atlantic,” and said that by adding new items to the list the EU was “concerned that this might even go beyond what is authorized under the WTO.”

The USTR’s actions so far have been in accordance with the WTO’s ruling. In October, the U.S. won a WTO case that had stretched nearly a decade and a half. In the ruling, the WTO allowed the USTR to impose tariffs as high as 100% of goods of its choosing.

The WTO, however, only allowed the USTR to hit $7.5 billion worth of goods, a range that the USTR has stuck to. The USTR reserves the option to switch the goods receiving tariffs.

Despite having the WTO’s blessing for duties as high as 100%, and previously filing paperwork on multiple occasions for 100% tariffs, the U.S. has limited tariffs in the dispute to 25%.

While the U.S. has struck trade deals with Canada, Mexico, China and Japan, a similar pact with the European Union has remained elusive, a source of frustration for the White House’s trade team.

In a congressional hearing last week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said negotiations with Europe were “not looking good in the short run” and that President Trump “will use tariffs if he has to to get a fair shake for American businesses.”

While many members of Congress have supported using tariffs to confront China, which is viewed as a strategic and economic rival, a similar confrontation with the European Union has never enjoyed the same political support.

Although the U.S. has hit Europe with some tariffs, it has repeatedly stopped short of using the full force of tariffs against the bloc, such as refraining from imposing tariffs at 100% during this Airbus dispute or by threatening, but never following through with, proposed tariffs on automobile imports, which would heavily hit the European car makers.

The items currently assessed 25% tariffs already include a wide range of foodstuffs, such as wine, whiskey, cheese and pasta. The tariffs are paid by U.S. importers of these items, raising prices for wholesalers and, ultimately, consumers.

Restaurants, wine importers and wine distributors have fiercely opposed the tariffs, saying they don’t deserve to be targeted in a dispute over aircraft manufacturers. In February, when the USTR last formally reviewed the tariffs, such companies filed around 26,000 comments overwhelmingly opposed to the tariffs.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., which represents the liquor industry, condemned the move Wednesday, saying: “The longer these disputes go unresolved, the greater the threat of even more tariffs on our industry.”

That February review of the tariffs also mentioned the ability to raise tariffs as high as 100%, but the USTR didn’t take that step. Despite being at the heart of the dispute and also being eligible for 100% tariffs, the U.S. imposed only a 10% tariff on airplanes following the initial ruling. That tariff was raised to 15% in February during the previous review.

Airbus Adds More Business-Class Seat Options to A350 Wide-Body

Airbus SAS (EAD) broadened the choice of business-class seats it offers in a catalog to customers of the A350 wide-body jet, as it seeks to avoid the high degree of customization that hobbled output of the larger A380 plane. 

Customers of the A350 can now pick between six designs for the seat available through the Airbus catalog, rather than just one, said Bob Lange, vice president of marketing at Airbus. Alternatively, airlines can ignore the offer altogether and pick their own design, a practice known as buyer-furnished-equipment that is more complex because each seat is a new design.

“It was always our intention to offer a comprehensive catalog, but we wanted to do that in conjunction with launch customers of the aircraft so that the sets offered are relevant to the market,” said Lange, who spoke in a telephone interview from Hamburg, where he attended a conference about aircraft interiors.

Airbus gave airlines a greater degree of design freedom on the A380, with carriers fitting enclosed first-class cabins, showers and on-flight duty free zones to the double-decker aircraft. Choosing seat models in the A350 catalog will allow customers to select the seat as many as 20 months closer to delivery than if they had opted for an original design.

The planemaker still offers three models for economy class in its catalog, with no option for going outside of that. For business class, Airbus is now adding seat models from both Jamco America, EADS-Sogerma, and Sicma, a unit of Zodiac Aerospace. (ZC)

More Options

Jamco America, based in Everett, Washington, and a unit of Japan’s Jamco Corp. (7408) becomes an Airbus contracted supplier, meaning that in addition to having a seat in the catalog, it may propose buyer-furnished-equipment seats to airlines wishing to design their own.

Sogerma, already a contracted supplier, is adding two models to the catalog, while Sicma will also become an Airbus contracted supplier for the plane, with two different seats, being offered in the catalog, both of which transform into a full-flat bad.

Airbus has so far won 555 orders from 34 customers for its A350, a long-range, wide-body plane that seeks to challenge Boeing Co. (BA)’s 787 and 777 models. The first variant of the A350, the -900, is scheduled to begin commercial service in mid 2014, six months later than promised earlier.

Source:   http://www.businessweek.com

Guidance Aviation Premier Sponsor at Sun n' Fun

Guidance Aviation sponsors Sun n' Fun and donates a aircraft in the interest of promoting education. 

At the Sun n’ Fun Fly-In and Air Show opening press conference on March 27th, Captain Judy Rice of ThinkGlobalFlight.org will announce the organization’s Premier Sponsor, Guidance Aviation, LLC.  Guidance Aviation has donated the Cirrus SR20 G3 aircraft equipped with Garmin Perspective, Synthetic Vision and a Ballistic Recovery System for the Around-The-World flight to promote education, aviation and aerospace.

“When we discovered what Captain Judy Rice was doing, we wanted all-in.  What a fantastic way to promote education and to inspire our kids to discover the unique opportunities that the aviation and aerospace industries promise. We are proud to provide ThinkGlobalFlight.org the Cirrus SR20 G3 in order to make this effort take flight.  Currently with a position on delivery for the new Cirrus Vision Jet, I am a big believer of the Cirrus brand, combining the best technology with the safest design,” stated John Stonecipher, President, CEO, Guidance Aviation.

Guidance Aviation is a Part 141 airplane and helicopter flight training facility, based in the high altitude environment of Prescott, Arizona.

In the Fall of 2013, the Cirrus SR20 G3 will take flight, commencing ThinkGlobalFlight.org’s mission of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Education through the excitement of and Around-The-World Flight of Adventure.  International Student Command Centers in classrooms around the world will be connected via the Internet utilizing the ThinkGlobalFlight.org website, multiple Facebook pages, streaming audio, video, podcasts and other web based mediums.

“The Student Command Centers will be organized and managed by the students, providing a perfect vessel to inspire and educate,” states Captain Rice.  “We are currently meeting with all education, aviation and aerospace leaders, companies and enthusiasts to discuss additional sponsorship opportunities and alliances.”
ThinkGlobalFlight.org is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation.  100% of all proceeds go to the promotion of the flight, flight support and promoting education, aerospace and aviation.  ALL ThinkGlobalFlight.org Team Members are 100% volunteers.

Think Global Flight Website:  http://www.thinkglobalflight.org
Think Global Flight Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ThinkGlobalFlight
Guidance Aviation Website:  http://www.guidance.aero
Guidance Aviation Facebook:  http://www.guidanceaviation.blogspot.com
Sun n’ Fun Fly-In Air Show:  http://www.sun-n-fun.org

Read more: http://www.prescottenews.com

Giants to Tap Business Aviation Market

With their more traditional territory hit by the global economic downturn, the world's aviation giants are rubbing their hands with glee over a take-off in demand for business jets in China.

At the 2012 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), which kicked off on Tuesday in Shanghai, there is real excitement at the opportunities presented by Chinese economic growth and the country's increasing population of nouveaux riches.

Of the 155 business aircraft sold globally by Boeing since 1999, 10 have gone to clients in China, including three last year, Steve Taylor, president of Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), told Xinhua at the conference.

And BBJ is expecting to sell another three to five of the jets, whose unit price is over 57 million U.S. dollars, to Chinese clients in 2012, Taylor added.

The ABACE sees 30 luxurious business jets open to visitors at the landing field of Hongqiao Airport from March 27 to 29. And it has attracted over 150 international enterprises in business aviation, including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Cessna and Dassault.

Dassault is eyeing robust sales growth this year in China, which has topped the global sales of its Falcon series of business aircraft, said an official with the French manufacturer.

The company predicts it will have sold 25 of its Falcon family business aircraft to China by the end of 2012, which would triple their current number in the country, according to Frank W. Youngkin, Dassault Falcon senior vice president of customer service.

Highlighting the Chinese market, the aviation giant has also launched a new service department in Shanghai, the leader of China's aviation industry, with the aim of building a professional team of technicians.

China is now "the most active aviation market with robust growth" in the eyes of global manufacturers, and business aviation is the real breakthrough, said Li He, sales director of King Air products with Avion Pacific Limited.

The trend is driven by the increasing number of super-rich as well as commercial and government use, said Li, adding that in 2011, Avion Pacific sold 13 business aircraft in China, with prices ranging from 3.9 million to 23 million U.S. dollars.

Set apart from scheduled flights, business aviation concerns the high-end service of civil flights, satisfying individual and business demands for flexible, convenient and fast travel.

In 2008, China registered only 32 business aircraft. In 2011, the number reached 109 and the country saw 13,400 registered departures and arrivals of business flights last year, according to Xia Xinghua, vice head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

It is anticipated that China's business aviation will increase by 10 to 15 percent in 2012.

"The potential in China and throughout Asia has broken through and is clearly visible to all," said Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the U.S. National Business Aviation Association.

"Still in its infancy, China's business aviation will now have the fastest growth in the region for many years to come. It has possibilities to leap forward by adopting the most advanced technologies and services worldwide and finding its own development mode."