StandardAero secured a three-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for RainAir Aircraft Services. Under the agreement, StandardAero will be the exclusive engine service provider for RainAir, which is based at Albertville Regional Airport in Alabama. StandardAero's facility will perform line and heavy maintenance engine work up to hot section inspection at its Maryville, Tenn., facility and engine overhauls at its Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada shop.
I provide supplemental pilot services on Gulfstream IV and V aircraft through May Hill Inc., a Connecticut-based C-Corp. In doing so, along with all the other necessary things involved in providing these services, I must go to recurrent training once per year for each of the two types of aircraft that I operate. As both the owner and the working man (I pay for my training), I feel that the training requirements under FAR Part 91 versus Part 135, as well as the content and the methods used, can certainly use a recasting.
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.
In September, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) gave medals to Brian Bosman and Brandt Hershman, the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and Senate leader, respectively, for leading the repeal of the state's aircraft gas tax — good for about 40 cents per gallon — as well as a 7% tax on aircraft parts and labor.
After some missteps and setbacks, there's good news for Maine's Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM). The former P-3 Orion base is getting some federal money as well as a new tenant. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) — the agency that is redeveloping the former Brunswick Naval Air Station — will be getting $1.1 million federal grant to help renovate a former Navy Air Operations Center and turn it into a general aviation terminal.
While U.S. flight operations have remained flat in recent years, European operations are continuing to slide year over year, particularly in the western countries, according to the latest figures by Eurocontrol. Operations have climbed throughout the year in Europe, but when compared with the previous year's levels, traffic is down across the board. And 2012 levels were down from 2011. In July, the number of arrivals in Europe was 3% fewer. Departures were down 2.2%, internal flights within Europe were off 2.8% and overflights through Europe were down 3.3%.
Being a high-performance, true eight- to 10-passenger business turboprop aircraft with a refined cabin environment, the King Air 350i has no direct competitors. The sleek Piaggio P180 Avanti II is higher-performance turboprop, but comfortably seats four or five, and up to eight in a pinch, but only five with full fuel. So, the 350i is really in its own niche.
Cockpit Apps has released the latest version of their app, iLOG 2.0, which incorporates several new capabilities and enhancements. New in the release is an optional MEL function that alerts the crew and maintenance personnel to Category A, B, C, and D MEL items. It also tracks both hours and cycles for each log and pre-populates a crew's out/off/on/in time using the industry standard of one-hour show, one-hour-go time. Other enhancements make iLOG 2.0 viable for smaller aircraft operators including a single-pilot option and an RVSM On/Off option.
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.
Eurocopter expects to win certification for its EC175 helicopter early next year. Certification of the 16,000 lb., 16-18 passenger utility lifter, the first of four all-new types that Eurocopter plans to offer this decade, will be “very early in 2014” with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter, according to Faury. Eurocopter is working with the European Aviation Safety Agency, the FAA and Transport Canada to certify the EC175, which it is developing with Avicopter of China.
Aug. 29 — About 1941 EDT, a Piper PA-28-161 (N9089N) was destroyed when it hit an antenna and terrain adjacent to Runway 2 and a post-accident fire ensued at Danville Regional Airport (DAN), Danville, Va., following a go-around maneuver. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was killed in the crash. It was VFR at the time of accident. The student pilot was flying the airport pattern on a supervised solo flight. Eyewitnesses observed the airplane attempt two landings preceding the accident landing attempt.
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.
In response to a request by Dassault Aviation, FAA is extending to Oct. 15 the comment period on a proposal to expand use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) in place of natural vision during landing. The comment period was set to close Sept. 9. The proposal calls for permitting use of EFVS to continue descent from 100-ft. height above runway through touchdown on certain straight-in instrument approaches, including Category II and Category III approaches. The proposal would also permit the dispatch and approach when the destination airport is below minimums.
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.
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.
ANA Holdings, the parent company of Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, has purchased Pan Am International Flight Academy and plans to expand training offerings in Asia with its purchase of the Miami, Fla.-based operation. Pan Am provides training to airlines and individuals worldwide through simulation and other training services.
Vistajet, the swiss-based block charter outfit is teaming with jet aviation flight services and newly formed Wheels Up to expand into the U.S. Under the agreement, Vistajet will initially base 12 new Bombardier Global jets in the U.S. For both international and domestic trips. The aircraft, valued at $600 million, will be managed and operated by Jet Aviation on its FAR Part 135 certificate. Wheels Up, meanwhile, will market and sell the service, called the Vistajet Flight Solutions Program.
TAG Farnborough Airport, Farnborough, U.K., has been awarded Airport Carbon Accreditation at the “Optimization” level, recognizing a reduction in carbon emission under the airport's direct control between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has agreed to a compromise solution on the introduction of global market based measures to tackle aviation emissions. The global market concept is expected to be adopted at ICAO's assembly in 2016 and be implemented by 2020. The Council adopted a European proposal that allow states to implement a market plan prior to global implementation that covered aircraft emissions “for the portion of those flights within the airspace of that state or group of states.”
Business aviation leaders are encouraged by an endorsement from transport ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of a set of core principles to foster business aviation in the region. The ministers, representing 21 economies, agreed to three core principles Sept. 5 during the forum.
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
Surf Air, a fly-all-you-want membership airline, has begun operation in California serving three destinations with Pilatus PC-12s. Founded by brothers Wade and David Eyerly, the anti-airline sells memberships for $500 and then charges each cardholder $1,650 a month. For that investment members can ride Sur Air's three Pilatus singles as often as they like on the operations 16 daily flights linking Burbank, San Carlos near Palo Alto, and Santa Barbara. It plans to expand service to Monterey, Palm Springs, San Diego, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and the Sonoma/Napa area as well.
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:
West Star Aviation, East Alton, Ill., announced that Cristian Byman has joined the company as technical sales manager-Avionics at the East Alton, Ill., facility. Craig Winterrowd has joined the company as as regional sales manager in California. Awards and Honors
