VisionSafe Fall Newsletter 2021
2021 has been a year of ups and downs across the world, but for the aviation industry, one thing has been proven without a doubt, it's an industry of resilience and fortitude. OEMs unveiling new aircraft types have shown that innovation is persevering, new policies are making air travel safer than ever before, while consumers have shown a strong appetite to return to air travel.  

Alongside our peers in the Aviation industry, Visionsafe has made the most of these trying times by working with our customers, the regulators, and commercial airline industry groups for further smoke in the cockpit safety support. We’ve made new partnerships with OEM’s, MRO’s, management, and training companies to expand the market potential and product support of EVAS and subsequent upgrades and innovations that are on the horizon.
In Case You Missed It:
Legislation - FAA addresses smoke in the cockpit
The FAA recently passed AC-120 which specifically addresses the dangers of smoke in the cockpit.  Here is a snippet of the article:
"Aircraft accidents such as UPS Flight 6 and ASIANA Flight 991 has shown the ability of smoke from cargo fires to fill into the flight deck. Other incidents have shown that burning of electrical components, oil, and other materials also generate smoke that can make its way into the flight deck. An Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS) can be used to assist in clearly viewing the essential instrumentation and an unobstructed view out of the windshield in cases of emergency. It is a system that inflates and occupies the space surrounding a pilot and displaces the smoke away from the essential flight controls."
A new hands-on training solution for EVAS.
Hugh Tillman, a former U.S. Marine pilot, experienced a blinding smoke event and narrowly averted catastrophe. Hugh was so moved by this experience he founded his own training company Semper Delta training to help to ensure that if other pilots encountered a blinding smoke event, they would be prepared and equipped to deal with it. Hugh's thorough attention to detail has created a very high-quality training solution that comes to your facility. Want training on-site? This option is for you.
Interview with Hugh Tillman
Check out this brief interview with Hugh where he summarizes the scope of his Blinding Smoke Event.
New Certifications
VisionSafe now offers EVAS on Embraer Praetor 500 and 600, and Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft. The addition completes the portfolio of STCs already available on Embraer’s Legacy 600, Legacy 650, and Lineage 1000 platforms beginning in 2020.  EVAS is installed on their Praetor 500 at the NBAA static display coming up in Las Vegas on Oct 12-14th. 
A Partnership with Boeing
Over the past year, VisionSafe has signed up a number of EVAS resellers including Boeing aerospace.  Now EVAS can be purchased through Boeing and can be seen at a variety of upcoming trade shows focused on the military market.  

Recent Smoke Incidents

Smoke-filled cockpit prompts emergency landing at Christchurch Airport on Air New Zealand flight
Oct. 6, 2021

Plane evacuated after passenger's carry-on causes fire
Oct. 1, 2021

Smoke fills the cabin of flight after a loud bang
Sept. 20, 2021
  • The new ultra-long-range Gulfstream G800 has an 8000 nm range and can fly up to cruising speeds of Mach 0.9.

  • Over 100 operators use the Embraer ERJ and E-Jet series aircraft, a leader in the sub 150 passenger market.

  • Dassault Aviation has been consistently voted as one of the best product support OEMs year over year by multiple organizations.

  • The award for the world's largest building goes to Boeing's Everett factory, where they produce not only aircraft but helicopters and even satellites.

  • Travel Tip: If your flight gets canceled, while waiting in line at the counter to speak with an agent call the airline to talk to an online rep. Chances are you will speak to someone before getting to the front of the line to interact with an agent in person. This will keep you from having to deal with a stressed agent who has had to handle a multitude of frustrated customers...and you'll be doing them a favor as well.


VisionSafe Fall Newsletter 2020
VisionSafe would like to wish everyone in Aviation the best during these difficult times.  COVID-19 has impacted the Aviation industry in unprecedented ways. We hope that as the world emerges from what has been a global catastrophe all of our peers can get back to business as usual, and continue to do what we do best - carry the world to far flung destinations for business, for pleasure, for family and friends, and to reconnect our global markets by way of one of humanity's most notable accomplishments – Air Transport.
New Certifications and approvals
In recent months VisionSafe has been approved for a number of new certifications, including certification as an authorized CAAC repair station. The FAA has issued supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for installation of VisionSafe’s Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS) on the Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 and VisionSafe has designed loose equipment versions of EVAS for the Phenom 100 and 300. In addition, work is under way for approval for the EVAS on Embraer Lineage 1000E and Praetor 500 and 600.
Jason Akau, Mike Hines, and Chris Skurat of VisionSafe Corporation performing a fit check at Jet Blue’s A220 CAE training simulator, one of numerous aircraft type in the queue for EVAS STC approval.
Additional recent EVAS certifications include:
- AFAC Mexico (GVI)
- AFAC Mexico (GV-SP)
- AFAC Mexico (GVII-G600)
- ANAC Brazil (BA CL-600)
- ANAC Brazil (GVI)
- HKCAD (A330-343)
In Case You Missed It
Embraer announces EVAS availability on their aircraft
Pilot Hugh V. Tillman details his firsthand harrowing experience with smoke in the cockpit in this AVWeb article.

Glass Half Full
Although air travel has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, the overall number of flights are on the rise and cargo transport has remained near, and even above, rates compared to last year.  We have created the graph below citing air travel using data available from Argus and the TSA, and the chart shows overall air travel is at 68% of Pre-Covid rates.  If this continues, hopefully, the world of air travel will be back on track in 2021.


Recent Smoke Incidents

Azul flight stops initial climb due to cargo smoke indication
Oct. 7, 2020

Burning odor on board Envoy flight forces emergency landing
Oct. 7, 2020

Flight returns for emergency landing due to smoke in the cockpit
Oct. 1, 2020
  • The wingspan of an A380 is longer than its length. The length is 239 Feet 6 Inches, while its wingspan is 261 Feet 10 Inches.

  • The online check-in was first introduced by Alaska Airlines in 1999.

  • The Boeing 747 family has flown well over 3 billion passengers.

  • On average, aircraft today are over 70% more fuel-efficient at carrying passengers than jets in the 1960s.

  • Travel Tip: While traveling on an average flight, the low air humidity (around 10-20%) can cause one to potentially lose up to 8 ounces of water per hour. Filling a reusable water bottle to bring aboard is always a good idea.