While much of the business aviation industry news in recent years has involved cutbacks, closures and consolidations, Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered a completely different kind of dispatch. In 2006, two years before the global financial crisis, the Georgia-based manufacturer outlined a seven-year expansion effort that would result in 1,100 new jobs and represent a $300 million investment. But halfway through that original seven-year commitment, Gulfstream had already invested $400 million and created 1,500 new jobs in Savannah.
Bell Helicopter plans to its build its new SLS — shorthand for “short light single-engine” — helicopter at an all-new production facility at Louisiana's Lafayette Regional Airport. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered an incentive package that includes performance-based grants of $4.0 million for lease support, $3.8 million for infrastructure and equipment, and $0.2 million to reimburse relocation expenses. Meanwhile, Bell is investing $11.4 million in equipment and tooling. The new facility is expected to create 115 new jobs.
David W. Naumann Chief Pilot , NHS Management, LLC (Tuscaloosa, Ala. )
Here I am in my easy chair all ready for the January 2014 edition of B&CA. As I read your “Viewpoint” column, I realized you need a copilot. Now we all know what copilots are for: someone to blame our mistakes on. In your case, substitute the words “proof reader” for copilot. I usually overlook grammatical errors in modern print material, what with spell-checker and grammar checker screwing things up so much. But to do it in the first two words of your piece, well. . .
Signature Flight Support won San Jose City Council approval for its planned $82 million fixed-base operation complex at Norm Mineta San Jose International Airport. The approval included a 50-year lease and operating agreement to build and operate the FBO on 29 acres on the west side of the airport. The city council in April formally approved Signature's bid to develop the project. Signature teamed with Blue City Holdings, a San Jose company representing the personal aircraft of the principals at Google, on the project.
This month, we'll look at two NTSB investigations —one recent, one many years past — both involving inflight fire. One tells of the importance of maintenance follow-up; the other demonstrates how a small deviation from checklist procedures can lead to disaster. Cessna 401 (N9DM) was lost on May 11, 2012 in Chanute, Kan. Four persons died and one was seriously injured.
Sporty's says that your flight bag just got lighter — their FAR/AIM book is now available as an app for your iPhone or iPad. The new app has additional advanced features making it easier to find information. You can highlight and bookmark passages for quick retrieval or you can study content based on your current flight training. The app includes free updates and is available in the App Store.
Safe Flight, White Plains, N.Y., announced the appointment of Matthew Greene as executive vice president. Since joining the company in 2003, he has taken on increasing roles of responsibility, most recently as vice president of Program Management where he led the improvement of new product time to market.
In the interim, there are specific recommendations from the 2013 study that are worthy of consideration by business aviation operators: First Seek out a true subject matter expert on your exact FMS who can provide you with the in-depth knowledge and skill necessary to operate the equipment expertly during line operations. Second Maintain and improve knowledge and skills in manual flight operations. Third improve autoflight mode awareness as part of an emphasis on flight path management.
Avflight has increas–ed its chain of FBOs with the acquisition of the assets of America Jet at Salina Regional Airport. Avflight will provide the serves out of the existing FBO facilities. An Avfuel-branded dealer, Avflight operates at eight other locations,including Detroit (DET), Flint (FNT), Lansing (LAN), Saginaw (MBS), and Ypsilanti, Mich. (YIP), along with Durango, Colo. (DRO), Harrisburg, Pa. (MDT) and Roswell, N.M. (ROW).
Keith Plumb, president and COO of regional fractional ownership provider Executive AirShare, added the title of CEO on Jan. 1. Plumb is succeeding Bob Taylor as part of a succession plan that began in early 2013. Taylor, who has been chairman and CEO, will become chairman emeritus, focused on various sales and business development projects. Taylor, who turns 67 shortly, jointly founded Executive AirShare with Plumb in 2000 in Wichita.
Call letters of the renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport changed from IDL to JFK. The cost, including navaid signals, air navigation charts and reservation computer codes, is estimated at $500,000. Then, there's all those little baggage tags. No matter how successful, an airplane sooner or later goes back to the drawing board to be taken from good to better. The twin-Baron recently emerged from a face lifting with a longer airframe, added baggage space, increased useful load and upped performance figures.
AP On Air launched a range of fresh blended cocktails offering passengers exotic drinks at altitude. In partnership with London-based Pontoon Cocktails, a menu of seven mixes will be offered to flight attendants along with its regular food and beverage menus. The drinks incorporate hand-pressed juices, infusions and syrups and are delivered frozen to maintain freshness. They are individually packed and come with the appropriate garnish and serving instructions.
A Challenger 601-3R crashed Jan. 5 at Colorado's Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (KASE) during a second landing attempt in gusting conditions. The aircraft, N11WF, flipped on impact and burst into flames. Copilot Emilo Carranza Brabata, 54, died in the accident; pilots Miguel Henriqez and Moises Carranza, the only other people aboard, both suffered injuries. The flight had originated in Toluca, Mexico, and landed in Tucson, Ariz., before continuing on to KSAE where it flew a missed approach before making the second landing attempt shortly after noon.
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, named Craig Olson vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems. He succeeds Jeff Standersky, who was recently named senior vice president, Information Management Services. Olson has been with Rockwell Collins for more than 27 years.
Cutter Aviation's facility in Phoenix, Ariz., was appointed an authorized service center for Beechcraft Beechjet/Hawker 400XP series aircraft. The designation expands upon Cutter's Beechcraft authorizations, which also cover Baron, Bonanza and King Air series aircraft. Cutter 's facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Addison, Texas are also authorized service centers for Baron and Bonanza series aircraft .
In the early days of aviation, the fragile wood and fabric aircraft were simple to repair with some patches and glue, a handsaw and drill. As aircraft became more advanced, specialized tools and processes and the knowledge to employ them became necessary. Eventually, the equipment and systems became so complex, their repair became the exclusive purview of the manufacturers or authorized service centers, effectively putting a stranglehold on the operator for the long haul.
Cockpit automation is here to stay, and will probably increase in the future. Automated cockpit systems have contributed significantly to improvements in safety, operational efficiency, and precise flight path management, all welcome developments. Unfortunately accidents continue to point out vulnerabilities attendant to automation as well.
The FAA recently selected six operators to conduct civil unmanned aircraft system (UAS) research: The University of Alaska, the State of Nevada, New York's Griffiss International Airport, North Dakota Department of Commerce, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. University of Alaska Fairbanks leads a multi-state team that includes Hawaii and Oregon with a total of 14 test ranges among them. Nevada's test resources include airfields and special-use airspace in sparsely populated areas.
Zenith Aviation, a Fredericksburg, Va.-based marketer and distributor of Dornier 328 parts, has significantly increased its inventory with the purchase of Dornier 328 jet assets from Comtran and Jetran International. The assets include two Dornier 328-310 heavyweight jets, six Pratt & Whitney 306B engines, two sets of Dornier 328-310 heavyweight landing gear, a complete 12-seat executive interior, and more than 2,000 line items of rotable parts .
Priester Aviation, Wheeling, Ill., hired William (Bill) L. McNease as vice president and director of Flight Operations. Kevin Brink was named sales director, North American Sales responsible for sales in Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Hawaii, Nevada eastern Oregon, Saskatchewan and Washington. Scott Clarey joined the company as sales director, North American sales for Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Utrak. He is based in Tempe, Ariz.
Raisbeck Engineering's Swept Blade Turbofan Propellers are now being delivered after their FAA certification covering the entire King Air C90 and E90 family. When added to the Raisbeck EPIC Performance Package for the C90/E90 aircraft, the Swept Blade Propellers deliver performance increases across the board, according to Raisbeck. The EPIC Package is priced at $99,864 plus installation and includes Raisbeck Dual Aft Body Strakes and FAA-Approved Airplane Flight Manual Supplement.
Although cleared, the driveway was snow crusted. So, I watched with keen interest as my daughter made her way up its steep incline, her all-season tires going slower and slower until just inches from the summit, they stopped. Not good. Hustling up, I told her to take a back seat. Daddy would get it over the top. A perfect Papa Berenstain Bear* moment: Don't be upset getting stuck on a hill, Driving cars through snow takes know-how and skill
Beginning Jan. 8, Airbus Helicopters became the official name of the organization formerly known as Eurocopter. The name change tracks with that of its parent, formerly known as the European Aeronautic Defense and Space ace and Defense Co. (EADS), but henceforth to be called the Airbus Group. “This rebranding works hand in hand with our ongoing transformation, which is now bolstered by the Airbus brand's strong foundation in innovation, quality and industrial excellence,” said Guillaume Faury, president of Airbus Helicopters.
