Bell Helicopter has delivered a Model 407GX to Helidrive in Saint Petersburg, the first of the type for Russia. Helidrive, which represents Bell in northwest Russia, accepted the aircraft is early September. It plans to use the aircraft for private and charter flights. To date, more than 1,100 Bell 407s have been delivered globally. The 407GX has a Garmin G1000H flight deck, including a terrain avoidance warning system, synthetic vision and a traffic information system.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has nixed plans to lease Midway International Airport (MDW) to private investors. Rahm suddenly canceled the process in September when only one lease bidder remained. A spokeswoman for the mayor's office was quoted as saying, “We set a high bar,” but “the companies did not meet that bar and could not make an offer that would meet what taxpayers deserve.” The lease, which was expected to generate billions of dollars for the city, would have involved the first major metropolitan U.S. airport to go under private control.
Constant Aviation, Cleveland, Ohio, was selected as a 2013 NorthCoast 99 winner as on of the best workplaces in Northeast Ohio. This is two in a row for Constant Aviation.
AEROBridge, Washington, D.C., has been was warded the National Aeronautic Association's 2013 Public Benefit Flying Award for Outstand Achievement in Public Benefit Flying “for creating a nationwide network of volunteer aircraft owners, operators, FBOS and pilots will to donate their time, effort and funding for the alleviation of the suffering of those in need due to disaster or circumstance.”
Swift Fuels LLC has opened their new aviation fuel blending facility in Lafayette, Ind., where it is also building a pilot plant. The company is investing $2.5 million in the facilities. The blending facility will store at least 50,000 gal. unleaded, high-octane aviation components for sales and shipment. The pilot plant will produce more than 10,000 gal. of 100SF avgas per month when it reaches full capacity. It can produce the fuel from petroleum or bio-sourced material.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services has opened an additional hangar at its home base in Berlin-Schoenefeld. The increase in capacity has also created 12 new jobs (10 of which are technicians), bringing the number of staff currently employed at LBAS to 183. Following the renovation of a hangar taken over from Lufthansa Tecnik, the MRO provider can handle one aircraft in the Bombardier Global series and up to four aircraft the size of a Challenger 850. Expansion includes a battery shop and a wheel reconditioning worshop.
The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to phase out 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) and transition to units transmitting on 406 MHz since only the latter's signals are processed by a network of search satellites. However, the Department of Transportation opposes the move citing expense — about $500 million to re-equip the civilian fleet — and the “unequivocal intent” of the Congress to permit use of the 121.5 units.
While the final report on the loss of Aero Commander N690SM had not been released at this writing, it is certain to make mention of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. These are incidents in which a properly functioning aircraft is flown under the control of a qualified pilot into terrain (water or obstacles) with inadequate awareness on the part of the pilot of the impending collision.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., appointed Joe Lacorte regional manger for the southeast region. Before joining Duncan, he served as a field representative for both GE Aircraft Engine Group and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Garmin is developing aN STC to install the G5000 avionics suite in the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP. The avionics manufacturer hopes to have the STC complete by 2015 and offer the upgrade through its dealer network. The retrofit system will feature three high-resolution 12-in. flight displays along with two touch-screen display/controllers. Pilots will be able to view maps, charts, checklists, TAWS, TCAS, flight plans, weather, and video input. It will be designed for the latest NextGen technologies, including PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capability and ADS-B.
Directional Aviation Capital plans to operate Flexjet and Flight Options as two distinct entities. While the two fractional operations are competitors, Kenn Ricci, principal of Directional and Flight Options chairman, says the companies will serve different clientele with Flexjet promoted as the “premium brand,” maintaining a fleet of Bombardier aircraft. The company now operates some 88 aircraft, but more are on the way, anchored by an order for 25 Learjet 75s, 30 Learjet 85s, 20 Challenger 350s and 10 Challenger 605s valued at $1.8 billion.
Mike Ward (Award Aviation Consulting Deer Harbor, Wash. )
In reference to the Cave Creek helicopter crash review titled “Command Presence,” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013, page 56), I totally support your points on command authority. In 24,000 hr. of flying, there have been many times where I have had to work to retain that authority even when it was unpleasant or politically incorrect to do so. The best contribution your article made was to provide an argument for the professional pilot the next time a similar situation occurs.
The aviation community lost two more exemplary members over the summer. Paul Poberezny, the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the creator of the world's largest general aviation air show — AirVenture — passed away at the age of 91 from cancer in Oshkosh, Wis., on Aug. 22. And John Marino, who spent nearly four decades as a FlightSafety International executive at the organization's academy in Vero Beach, Fla., in China, and in Washington, D.C., died on Aug. 16 following a long battle with cancer. He was 65.
In August, Beechcraft and Wheels Up, a new members-only air transportation club, announced an agreement for the largest order for turboprop airplanes and services in general aviation history, a deal potentially worth $788 million for the acquisition of up to 105 King Air 350i aircraft along with another $600 million in nose-to-tail support services, including engine reserves, airframe and avionics maintenance, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, even consumables. The contract is for 35 firm aircraft orders plus options for another 70.
Unloved and abandoned by its creator, the outcast Hawker 4000 is being embraced by Talon Air. The Farmingdale, N.Y.-based aircraft management and charter operator, now has nine of the super-midsize twins on its FAR Part 135 certificate making its fleet the largest by far. Paul St.
Retrix Aviation has begun construction on the company's new FBO at Worcester Regional Airport in Massachusetts. The new Worcester facility is one of two FBOs that the Retrix will be constructing as a result of a multi-million dollar contract awarded by Massport. The other facility will be at Hanscom Field, and combined, they will create almost 100 new jobs and will be large enough to accommodate business jets.
Criticized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for lax safety oversight, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has responded in part by banning domestic business aircraft operators from conducting international flights until they demonstrate compliance with new safety standards. The DGCA's decision comes in the wake of an ICAO audit that found that operators were inadequately prepared for long-distance flights. ICAO officials also cited India as among 13 nations with the worst record for air safety oversight.
If you're willing to dig for it, one of the great troves of information regarding operations in Europe and the North Atlantic region is ICAO's Paris website, or more formally, “The European and North Atlantic Office [EUR/NAT] of ICAO.” It can be found at www.paris.icao.int/welcome/welcome.htm
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is spearheading an appeal to FAA to either extend the Oct. 11 deadline for comments or withdraw altogether a proposed Airworthiness Directive (AD) calling for inspections and replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 engines. Released Aug. 12, the AD would cost operators upward of $82.6 million and has generated hundreds of comments, mostly in opposition.
Kenneth E. Gazzola (President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va. )
Regarding “London's Light” (Viewpoint, July 2013, page 7), you may be half German, but it is your other half that enables you to spin such compelling yarns and repeatedly link them productively to aviation. But then again, aviation is the link to most everything and more and more business executives are realizing that. President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va.
While the objective of the North Atlantic Data Link Mandate is safety, data link equipage is also the enabling technology for reduced lateral and longitudinal separation (RLongSM) programs that will be introduced in the immediate future in the North Atlantic Track System. As such, it is expected to facilitate increased capacity and offer operators more options for preferential flight levels and tracks. Here is a description of the separation reduction programs and phased introduction schedules:
The search is on for bad players in the Avantair bankruptcy. Beth Ann Sharrer, a court appointed trustee says she is “actively reviewing the debtor's books and records to determine whether the estate has any causes of action against the Officers or other directors and officers of the Debtor, including but not limited to claims for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or self-dealing.” She has also filed a notification that FAA has issued emergency orders of suspension of most of the Avantair fleet.
Shadin Avionics now has TSO approval on the initial release of its flyTab Aircraft Interface Module (AIM), a data converter that integrates an iPad into the cockpit accessing real time flight data for iPad applications. The AIM was developed in collaboration with the Avionics & Systems Integration Group, as a part of the flyTab Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag announced in 2012. The current model provides an ARINC 429 interface for two iPads from a single unit. Shadin Avionics St. Louis Park, Minn.
