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Magazine Issue

The Weekly of Business Aviation, August 18, 2014

VOL. 99 NO. 7 August 18, 2014
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Regulatory/Legislative

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Embraer’s Legacy 500 Wins Brazilian Approval

Aug 18, 2014
Embraer has secured Brazilian type certification for its newest business jet, the Legacy 500 midsize, and is making plans to begin delivery of the aircraft next month, the Brazilian manufacturer announced Aug. 12. Embraer is expecting U.S. FAA approval to follow in upcoming weeks, with European Aviation Safety Agency validation after that.
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FAA Moves Toward International Review Of Helo Standards

Aug 18, 2014
FAA is taking the next step toward a rewrite of Part 27 and Part 29 standards, planning to establish an international “forum” to look at possible changes to the standards for helicopters. The agency in February 2013 solicited comments on potential interest for realigning the standards, including whether the weight- and passenger-based thresholds should be re-evaluated.

Intelligence

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Small Cabin Aircraft Fractional Operations Up 26.8% In July

Aug 18, 2014
Fractional operations involving small cabin aircraft are continuing to pick up significantly, jumping 26.8% in July compared with a year earlier, according to the latest report involving U.S. and Canada business aircraft operations from aviation researcher Argus. Small cabins were the only category in fractional operations to mark an improvement in July. Part 91 flights involving small cabins were also up on the month, by 4.4%, leading to an overall improvement in July flights for small cabins of 4% (Part 135 small cabin operations had dropped in the month), Argus reports.

Airframers/Suppliers

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Pilatus Lands Big PC-12 Order

Aug 18, 2014
Surf Air, the upstart membership airline that operates Pilatus PC-12s among business aviation airports in California, anticipates such strong growth that it has placed a firm order for 15 new PC-12NGs along with options for an additional 50. If all options are exercised, the value of the deal is about $312 million. The aircraft, which carry a retail price of $4.65 million, are to be delivered over the next five years.
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Quest Expands Kodiak Options, Eyes New Product

Aug 18, 2014
Quest Aircraft, coming off its best year yet, recently secured certification of the latest executive interior for its Kodiak aircraft as business and corporate interest in the single-turboprop continues to grow.
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Continental Rapidly Expanding Reach

Aug 18, 2014
Always a solid second banana to airplane makers, Continental Motors is changing its status on the global aviation stage at breakneck speed.
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Bristow Pushes Ahead With U.K. SAR Contract

Aug 18, 2014
LONDON – Bristow says plans for the company to take on the U.K.’s search and rescue helicopter capability are “on schedule and on budget.”

OEMs/Suppliers

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OEMs Eye Ex-Im Battle While Planning 2015 Production

Aug 18, 2014
General aviation manufacturers, particularly those involved in agricultural aviation, are re-evaluating their production plans for 2015 in light of the battle brewing over reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, industry leaders say.

Airports

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FAA Sets Policy Straight On Use Of Hangars

Aug 18, 2014
FAA is clarifying its policy on non-aeronautical storage at airports to emphasize that airport hangars should be used for aeronautical purposes, but also allows that limited “small incidental” non-aeronautical storage is permissible. The notice of proposed policy comes after FAA had sent a letter to the city of Glendale, Arizona, on the need to ensure that hangars are used for aeronautical purposes. That letter was widely viewed in the airport community as broad policy banning all non-aeronautical uses.

Research/Development

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ADS-B Options Increase As Operators Resolve To Equip

Aug 18, 2014
The owners of approximately 150,000 general aviation aircraft that will be required to install automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) avionics in their aircraft by Jan. 1, 2020, to keep flying are seeing a surge in new products available to meet the mandate. The increase in competition from new vendor entrants and products – most notably L-3 with its new Lynx line of ADS-B units – is expected to drive costs down for owners who are beginning to accept the FAA’s assurance that the deadline will not be extended.

Safety/Training

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U.K. House of Lords Examining Civil Use of UAVs

Aug 18, 2014
Always a solid second banana to airplane makers, Continental Motors is changing its status on the global aviation stage at breakneck speed.

Business Aviation Briefs

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FAA Declares Rome, N.Y., UAS Test Site Operational

Aug 18, 2014
FAA has declared the Griffiss International Airport unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) test site in Rome, N.Y., as operational, making it the fifth of six sites to reach that status. In addition to the traditional UAS studies, the Giffiss site will also evaluate means of scouting agricultural fields through different types of sensors, including visual, thermal and multispectral equipment. “We are accomplishing two important missions with the launch of this test site,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says.
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Griffiss Airport Wins COA For PrecisionHawk UAS

Aug 18, 2014
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
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Hoover, De Decker To Receive NBAA Awards

Aug 18, 2014
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
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Hartzell Supplying Propellers For Piaggio Avanti EVO

Aug 18, 2014
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
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Brazil, Argentina OK Cessna M2 Entry-level Jet

Aug 18, 2014
Cessna Aircraft’s M2 entry-level jet was granted approval from the civil aviation authorities of Brazil and Argentina, clearing the way for deliveries to those countries. The approvals follow U.S. FAA certification in December and European Aviation Safety Agency validation in June. In a little more than six months since FAA certification, Cessna had delivered 31 of the model. Cessna’s Sovereign+, which gained FAA certification in December, is also on pace for delivery to Brazil shortly.
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Two Poland Customers Order Bell 429s

Aug 18, 2014
Bell Helicopter received orders from the first two customers to take delivery of Bell 429s in Poland. The orders were taken through JB Investments, Bell’s independent representative in Poland. Bell previously had sold three Bell 407GX to customers in Poland. The 429s are slated for delivery in the first half of 2015.
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Jeppesen Unveils Latest Version 2.6 Mobile FliteDeck

Aug 18, 2014
Jeppesen recently unveiled the latest version 2.6 of its Mobile FliteDeck, with new feature and functions that are designed to enhance situational awareness and ease flight information access. The iPad-based Mobile FliteDeck has an updated iOS 7 design that improves ability to integrate flight planning data. Pilots can render SID and STAR departure and arrival runway information and crease user-defined waypoints on the en route map. Database search capability was also improved.
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Blackhawk Modifications Developing Cessna Engine Upgrade

Aug 18, 2014
Blackhawk Modifications is developing a new engine upgrade for the Cessna 208A Caravan and 208B Grand Caravan that will replace the standard 600-hp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114 or 675-hp PT6A-114A-hp turboprop engine with the 867-hp PT6A-140 engine. The upgrade will improve climb performance, cruise speeds, takeoff distances and operation in icing conditions. Blackhawk is certifying the upgrade and expects to begin deliveries in early 2015. The upgrade is an alternative to Blackhawk’s current 850-hp PT6-42A modification for the Caravan 208A/208B.
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Gulfstream Aerospace Names IAO In Panama City As Sales Rep

Aug 18, 2014
Gulfstream Aerospace recently named International Aircraft Operators (IAO) in Panama City as its independent sales representative. The appointment expands the company’s sales and marketing efforts in Central America.

Airworthiness Directives

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BEECHCRAFT

Aug 18, 2014
BEECHCRAFT Model Hawker 800XP, 850XP and 900XP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0254; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-047-AD; Amendment 39-17910; AD 2014-15-08] – requires an inspection for the presence of sealant on doubler plate edges, doubler plate rivets, and adjacent skin in the fuel vent surge tanks; and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a design review that revealed there were no instructions to apply sealant to structural components in the fuel tank during the winglet installation process.
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BEECHCRAFT

Aug 18, 2014
BEECHCRAFT MU-300 airplanes and Model 400, 400A and 400T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0187; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-087-AD; Amendment 39-17917; AD 2014-15-15] – requires repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rib assemblies for cracking, and replacement if necessary. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of fatigue cracking in the horizontal stabilizer ribs. FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in the failure of the horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the airplane.
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BOMBARDIER

Aug 18, 2014
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 variant airplanes) [Docket No. FAA-2014-0488; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-141-AD; Amendment 39-17919; AD 2014-15-17] – requires revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate temporary revisions that introduce additional limitations for operation of taxi and landing lights. This AD was prompted by a determination that there is a potential for fuel leakage from auxiliary power unit (APU) boost pump component installations in the right-hand landing lights compartment.
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FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES

Aug 18, 2014
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Models FA-200-160, FA-200-180, and FA-200-180AO [Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-014-AD; Amendment 39-17927; AD 2014-16-03] – requires repetitive replacement of any O-ring of the brake master cylinders. This AD stems from cites reports of deterioration of brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinder on the affected airplanes.
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SAAB 2000

Aug 18, 2014
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0056; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-160-AD; Amendment 39-17906; AD 2014-15-04] – requires deactivating the potable water system, or alternatively filling and activating the potable water system. This AD was prompted by a report of rudder pedal restriction which was the result of water leakage at the inlet tubing of an in-line heater in the lower part of the forward fuselage.
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SIKORSKY

Aug 18, 2014
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopter [Docket No. FAA-2009-1088; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-76-AD; Amendment 39-17872; AD 2014-12-11] – requires revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to include the appropriate operating limitations for performing Class D external load-combination operations. This AD was prompted by an inaccurate RFM provision, which was approved without appropriate limitations for this model helicopter for carrying Class D external rotorcraft-load combinations, including human external cargo (HEC).

Appointments

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BRAD KLUTH

Aug 18, 2014
BRAD KLUTH was named a technical representative for Gulfstream and Embraer customers for Duncan Aviation. Kluth will support Duncan’s customers who operate large-cabin Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft, including providing troubleshooting and other technical information. He will also act as a liaison between Duncan and the manufacturers. Kluth has held a number of roles for Duncan Aviation, working with airframe maintenance teams. Most recently he led and trained a newly formed 15-member Gulfstream team.
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BARBIE PATTERSON PEEK

Aug 18, 2014
BARBIE PATTERSON PEEK was named director of business development for the Port of Huntsville in Alabama, including Huntsville International Airport, The International Intermodal Center, and Jetplex Industrial Park. Peek had previously had spent 20 years as director of marketing for the Port of Huntsville. In that role, she has overseen marketing and public relations, building strategic alliances and maintaining the regional partnership program. Peek joined the organization in 1989 as public relations manager.

Calendar of Events

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Upcoming Events

Aug 18, 2014
Sept. 7-10—2014 ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition, Atlanta, Ga., http://annual.aci-na.org/ Sept. 15—SpeedNews 2nd Annual European Aerospace Raw Materials & Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference, Hôtel Palladia, Toulouse, France, www.speednews.com/all/conferences Sept. 15-17—SpeedNews 15th Annual Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference in Toulouse, Hotel Palladia, Toulouse, France, speednews.com/all/conference