Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will invest more than $1 billion in research and development over the next 4 1/2 years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines, the company announced in early December. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative program.
In its report on the Inhofe MU-2-B accident, the NTSB points out that the airplane was not equipped, and was not required to be equipped, with any type of crash-resistant recorder.
The surge of laser usage to correct vision problems has led to the creation of an entire industry. When used properly by credentialed specialists, this form of treatment can result in remarkable improvements to eyesight. However, LASIK and other forms of vision corrective surgery have potentially adverse effects that could be incompatible with flying duties. According to the FAA’s online “Pilot Medical Certification Questions and Answers,” these include: Corneal scarring or opacities;
They say that Murphy does not discriminate. Ask any maintenance manager and they will swear that he has a special affinity for airplanes. If there can be a worst-possible location for the aircraft to break down, that is where it will happen. It is bad enough to break down at home, at least you have some comfort knowing your staff and support structure is in place and you can pay your full attention to the problem. Now, put the airplane half a world away in a remote location and that same problem magnifies in complexity and aggravation by a factor of 10 (or more).
The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped lens at the front of the eye. One of the most-common changes with age to the eye’s structure is the loss of flexibility in the cornea. In a young person, the eye’s lens is clear and pliable, which is important since it aids in focusing on objects of varying distance.
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the 2nd Super Puma AS332 C1e to the Bolivian Air Force (FAB). At the end of 2013, the FAB purchased six of these light-medium helicopters to fight drug trafficking and perform civil security and public service missions throughout the country. The first helicopter was delivered in August of this year and the four remaining helicopters will be delivered between now and 2016.
Chinese companies are steadily adding to their portfolio of Western general aviation manufacturers ahead of the anticipated boom that will follow the opening of low-level airspace there. Two little-known acquisitions came to light at last month’s Airshow China in Zhuhai:
Signs of a recovery in the business aviation sector are reinforced by predictions of a 13-consecutive-month increase in flight activity when the December figures come in. Analysts at TRAQPak estimate there will be 1.4% growth in overall flight activity year over year in December, following a 3.7% increase in November vs. the same month a year earlier. TRAQPac is the intelligence data arm of Argus International. The results by operational category were positive across the board, with Part 135 reporting the largest growth, up 8.6%.
FAA is proposing a $160,000 civil penalty against aviation spare parts, support services and inventory products provider Parker Aerospace of Irvine, California. The agency alleges the facility violated drug and alcohol testing regulations, hiring two people for safety-sensitive positions before conducting pre-employment drug tests and receiving results. FAA further claims the company transferred an employee into a safety-sensitive position before conducting drug tests and receiving results. Parker has until late December to respond to the allegations.
For as little as $5 million, you can buy a IAI Galaxy/Gulfstream G200. It’s the original super-midsize business jet, able to fly eight passengers 3,200 nm and land with NBAA IFR reserves. The aircraft has nearly GII cabin dimensions, albeit with a shallow dropped aisle, but it has close to midsize jet fuel consumption and direct operating costs.
‘FOB Only’ I liked your Viewpoint on TFRs (“Temporary Abuse,” October 2014). We all have to pay the price for someone to have a fundraiser!!? You left out the additional costs to fly to, land and take off from a gateway airport. The extra gas, landing fees, cycles on the gear, duty day issues.
The U.S. House passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771) on Dec. 3, renewing provisions to encourage capital investment. But the move only served to kick the can down the road, and not very far at that. Nevertheless, business aviation organizations see passage as a step forward. “NBAA applauds this action by the House to renew bonus depreciation and other tax incentives that encourage businesses to upgrade equipment and invest in assets such as aircraft,” National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen says.
Rectrix Aviation opened a new flagship FBO at Hanscom Field Airport (KBED) in Bedford, Massachusetts. The opening culminates a two-year effort to develop the new facility that will also house the company’s headquarters. The new FBO includes 60,000 sq. ft. of hangar space and 20,000 sq. ft. of guest and office space, including a lobby, conference and meeting rooms, pilots’ lounge, snooze room and flight planning center.
Cirrus added a second conforming-prototype Vision SF50 personal jet to the flight test program as the company progresses toward certification and delivery in late 2015. The second prototype, C1, first flew on Nov. 25 from Duluth, Minnesota. The flight occurred as the company was in the final stages of adding a third aircraft to the flight test program. The initial proof-of-concept single-jet Vision SF250 flew in July 2008, but the program gained momentum after Caiga, the general aviation manufacturing subsidiary of China’s AVIC, acquired Cirrus in 2011.
Louis Chenevert, the architect of the biggest aerospace and defense (A&D) acquisition ever and a driving force behind Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) engine, has stepped down as chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corp. (UTC). Gregory J. Hayes, UTC’s chief financial officer, is replacing him as CEO. Edward A. Kangas, a member of UTC’s board, will become non-executive chairman. In an announcement before the stock market opened Nov.
Airbus has started selling off its share of French combat aircraft and business jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The company sold 4% of its share in Dassault back to its majority holder GIMD (Groupement Industriel Marcel Dassault) after trading in Paris closed on Nov. 28. The deal raised €794 million ($987 million) with the share valued at €980 per share, roughly a 9.2% discount over the last trading price of the day, according to Dassault.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) may not restrict Stage 3 aircraft from departing to the east, or over the city, during overnight hours, FAA ruled. FAA, in a decision dated Nov. 7, denied the airport’s Part 161 application seeking permission to impose the restrictions. FAA found the restrictions would create undue hardship on airlines in the overnight hours and were not legal under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. According to the filing, FAA had concerns that LAX’s application was both unreasonable and arbitrary.
