The flight calibration services cover all air navigation equipment operated within the Isavia group, as well as navigation equipment in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The purpose of flight calibrations (flight inspections) is to ensure the accuracy and reliability of air navigation systems. These inspections must be carried out regularly in accordance with applicable regulations. If navigation equipment exceeds its inspection interval or experiences a sudden failure, this may directly impact airport service levels and, under certain conditions, could lead to airport closures. Therefore, rapid response times are essential.
In addition, Avians provides flight validation services, which are required when new or modified flight procedures have been designed, in accordance with relevant regulations.
Although Avians is not obligated to provide these services in Greenland and the Faroe Islands, it has played an important role in successful aviation cooperation between these countries for over 25 years, since around 1998.
The Avians aircraft
The Avians aircraft, TF-FMS, is a Beechcraft King Air B200 turboprop, manufactured in 1985. It is specially equipped with Raisbeck modifications and high flotation landing gear, enhancing its performance, particularly on shorter and unpaved runways. The aircraft has been in operation with Avians since 1997.
The crew for flight calibration missions typically consists of two pilots and one to two specialized flight inspection engineers, depending on the complexity and scope of the task. In most cases, only one engineer is required.
Avians’ flight operations fall under the EASA Special Operations (SPO/NCC) regulatory framework. This framework is better suited to specialized operational flying and aligns more closely with Avians’ activities than a conventional air operator certificate.
The aircraft is primarily used for routine calibration of conventional navigation aids, as well as for testing and validation of new flight procedures. Avians is a declared operator under both SPO and NCC and holds authorization from the Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA/TBST) to conduct flight calibration services in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway, and Sweden.