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On 13th August 2024, France published a new decree on special motorised ultralight aircraft (ULM-S). The decret sets the maximum authorised weight of these turbine-powered ULM-S at 575 kg for a two-seater. This limit can be increased by 25 kg if a reserve parachute is fitted, or by 50 kg if floats are fitted for over-water operation (these additional weights can be combined). 

This approval also gives manufacturers permission to develop more powerful machines that can fly faster, higher and further... However the flight training requirements for these machines remain unchanged from those for ultralights...

Remember that this category has many fans, attracted by the more affordable cost of training and flight time. Proof of this is the success of the 2024 World Microlight Exhibition, which attracted over than 10,000 visitors in Blois this summer!

Would it be unreasonable to think that there is a potentially greater risk in flying faster, more powerful machines without adjusting the level of training required to fly them? At the risk of being labelled a pessimist or a spoilsport (I forgive you already), as an experienced pilot and instructor, I can only wonder about this new situation for the safety of young ULM-S pilots.

So what's the next step? 

We all know that regulatory changes take time. 

In the meantime, it is crucial to help pilots better understand and control their performance. Installing the APIBOX data recorder and monitoring system is THE immediate and safe solution to ensure their safety from the moment the engine starts. 

Our system is not only the pilot's guardian angel, but also that of the owner, the operator, the flight training school and the maintenance workshop and insurer. 

Let's all strive to maintain the highest safety standards, regardless of the advancements in the aircraft we fly.

Happy flying to you all! Fly safe 🙏,

Gérald Ducoin

iAero Managing Director and Test Pilot

At iAero, we've noticed an evolution in needs over the last few months.

Customers and prospects now request APIBOX primarily for its ability to anticipate maintenance operations and better control costs. Two or three decades ago, incidents often occurred without a clear understanding of the cause. Today, our clients want to know: Is it a faulty part? Pilot error? APIBOX simplifies diagnosis and identifies the source of problems.

In an era where aircraft fly less frequently, maintenance costs have become proportionately higher, making each flying hour more expensive and leading to reduced flight activity—a downward spiral. APIBOX's answer is straightforward: understand, control, save.

Understanding

The APIBOX records over 100 parameters relating to the engine, controls and navigation. Its debriefing software provides users with a precise record of events from engine start-up to shutdown. Nothing escapes the APIBOX, which is incredibly easy to use and access. As a result, aircraft owners or operators have immediate access to data related to the source of the incident, particularly in the event of a mechanical problem. This facilitates aircraft maintenance by allowing for proactive measures.

Control

Aircraft owners and operators are increasingly keen on understanding the causes of a breakdown, an incident or an out-of-limit parameter during taxiing or flight. Immediate identification of the mechanical causes ensures appropriate and legitimate maintenance actions. 

Save money

Precise monitoring of failed parts or equipment, and the phases of flight affected by these failures, optimizes the continued airworthiness of the aircraft or fleet. It also promotes predictive management of maintenance operations, leading to substantial financial benefits in the medium and long term

APIBOX addresses the dual challenge of ensuring aircraft and pilot safety while protecting the economic interests of owners and operators.

Adopting APIBOX is like taking out health insurance for your aircraft! 

Do you own or operate more than one aircraft? 

APIBOX and its debriefing software will make your life easier.

Equip each aircraft with an APIBOX and you're ready to go! You'll have a streamlined dashboard. With a single click, your CAMO can remotely access the list of anomalies from recent flights. The user-friendly debriefing software immediately highlights any incidents that have occurred.

And how do you do this? Nothing could be easier.

After logging in to the debriefing software, your CAMO will see all the aircraft equipped with the APIBOX. 

Recent flights and any anomalies are displayed clearly, identifying types such as T4 overheating at take-off, starter too long on, VNE exceeded during cruise, torque exceeded (for helicopters), load factor exceeded, and more. All parameters initially programmed when installing the APIBOX are tracked. More than 100 parameters (for each unit) are available at any time!

And what about downloading the data? It's up to you: automatically by mobile phone, via the memory card in each aircraft or by Wi-Fi. 

After analyzing the data from the flight(s) concerned, your CAMO can make an informed decision to launch a targeted maintenance operation.

With APIBOX, you're guaranteed to save time and increase efficiency, ensuring the safety and continued airworthiness of your aircraft fleet.

The data recorded by the APIBOX are commonly transmitted in two ways: via the GSM network and via the SD card. However, a third channel is possible: Wi-Fi!

It couldn't be easier. The aircraft equipped with the APIBOX must be within a short distance of a Wi-Fi terminal. This can be installed in the hangar, for example. This option works by installing a special antenna on the APIBOX. 

Wi-Fi transmission is an alternative to GSM. This choice is made before installing the APIBOX to set up the antenna and parameters. It can then be used immediately, just like any other Wi-Fi-connected device.

And if you need to, you can even use your own smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot!

So no matter where the aircraft is, access to recorded data is always possible. 

With APIBOX, recorded parameters will always be accessible!

Gérald Ducoin, Managing Director of iAero and a test pilot, keeps his feet firmly on the ground while flying high. For the past 2 years, he has been working with founder and pilot Raphaël Domjan on his project to set an altitude record in an aircraft powered solely by solar energy. 

For SolarStratos test flights, Gérald is always the first to take to the skies to open up the air...

For a record attempt, there's the stage and then there's the backstage.

Gérald works backstage to secure the flight demonstration on stage, so to speak. We find him in Switzerland, between Payerne and Sion, following the test programme and the weather windows that set the pace. 

At the controls of the SolarStratos aircraft, Gérald is concentrating on key manoeuvres and measures to ensure the safety of Raphaël's forthcoming demonstration flight. Every parameter and every manoeuvre is tested, evaluated and secured to obtain the best altitude performance. 

And when he's not in the air, Gérald accompanies Raphaël in flight on the ground. With the SolarStratos team around him, Gérald conscientiously follows every phase of the flight and gives Raphaël live advice as he flies at an altitude of several thousand metres.

In this way, Gérald is able to lighten Raphaël's workload and continue to ensure the safety of the flight in progress by confirming the right decisions to be taken.

Already 19500 ft, the highest altitude ever reached. And there's more to come... 

This tandem of super-pilots will continue their ascent in 2025. For new altitude records, powered by solar energy, and always in safety. 

For the record

iAero is not just APIBOX. In terms of headcount, the company based in Darois in eastern France is the 4th largest French company specialising in flight tests, just behind Airbus Helicopters. From the DR400 to the Akoya, via SolarStratos, the A300 ZERO G and the SuperPuma, iAero works on a multitude of civil and military aircraft all over the world. Not forgetting eVTOLs.

Tassili Travail Aérien (TTA) is Algeria's leader in aerial work. The company boasts a diversified fleet, including the Beechcraft 1900D, CESSNA 208B, Air Tractor, and Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter, alongside a chartered fleet. 

TTA operates nationwide, undertaking a wide range of missions such as air taxi, medical evacuation, firefighting, aerial photography, heliborne surveillance of industrial facilities, and visual and camera surveillance of high-voltage (HV) and very high-voltage (VHV) power lines.

Lidia CHOUALI, an engineer with a passion for aviation, has honed her expertise in aerial operations and air safety. She shares her insights on the APIBOX:

“iAero's flight data recorder is installed on the three Beechcraft aircraft we charter to the French airline Chalair. These aircraft fly daily, transporting staff and delegations to oil and gas sites and carrying out medical evacuations. The flight stages are multiple, varied, and sustained. The APIBOX is a guarantee of safety for the pilots, for the operation and for the owner company,’ explains Lidia.

Lidia and her manager have exclusive access to the APIBOX debriefing software. “We can consult all the flights that have been carried out and analyze the listed incidents. We've only been using APIBOX for a short time since we started working with Chalair this year, but it's already very popular,” she adds.

Lidia worked closely with iAero to select the parameters to be monitored and define the severity of limit violations (low, moderate, and severe). “The working relationship with iAero is fluid. We could rely on their teams to adapt the recorder and its equipment to all our needs. And it was easy to get to grips with the debriefing software,” she notes.

TTA will soon be installing the APIBOX on its own Beechcraft 1900Ds.

There’s no doubt that the APIBOX will soon be making its presence felt in Algerian skies.

iAero
12B route de Troyes
21121 Darois
Phone: +33 (0)3 80 73 60 26
info@iaero.fr
www.iaero.fr

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