Name and location withheld at writer's request (Alder Companies Delavan, Wis. )
I am a line captain for a major airline, and wish that all people who designed checklists had to read and understand that article cited by Alex Bruzzano in “The List, Please” (Viewpoint, May 2013) and had to actually use the monstrosities they frequently design. I have done a lot of flying on a lot of different aircraft, have instructed on seven airliner types and have been an FAA TCE/DE on the A320. I've also done a lot of contract training and checking and have seen myriad procedures that range from outstanding to awful.
Success or failure of the annual Helicopter Association Inter–national Heli-Expo is generally considered to be the bellwether for the industry. If so, things are going well. HAI President Matt Zuccaro noted that despite the recession in the worldwide market dating back to 2008, sales announced at each show over the past five years have set records, with the 2012 show recording a bit over $2 billion and the show this past March announcing over $3 billion in sales.
Bombardier is confident in the strong, long-term potential of the business aircraft industry and forecasts a total of 24,000 business jet deliveries from 2013 to 2032 in the segments in which Bombardier competes, which represents approximately $650 billion in industry revenues. Bombardier's Business Aircraft Market Forecast anticipates 9,800 aircraft deliveries, worth $269 billion, during the 2013 to 2022 period, and 14,200 aircraft, worth $381 billion, from 2023 to 2032.
These charts list civil helicopters currently in production and certified. They are listed in ascending order of maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) to provide side-by-side comparison to aircraft of similar size. Manufacturer and Model This block includes the manufacturer's name and the aircraft's model name and technical designation.
BaseOps International is celebrating its 25th anniversary by opening a new Singapore office. The company employs a global network of offices and partners offering a one-stop solution for flight planning requirements and is backed by World Fuel Services.
Piaggio Aero has announced a reduced maintenance program for its P180 Avanti/II aircraft. The C and D check, due respectively at 1,500 and 3,000 flight hours, have been extended to 1,800 and 3,600 flight hours, respectively. These newly approved intervals allow the operator to match the airframe inspection schedule with that of the P&WC PT6-66A engines on the aircraft.
Dallas Airmotive's F1RST Support global field service team has completed its first removal of a Rolls-Royce BR710 engine. The work was completed the Bombardier Service Center in Dallas. The company recently signed a service agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide Mobile Repair Support services for the BR710 family of engines. The MRS agreement with Rolls-Royce CorporateCare provides Dallas Airmotive approval to support Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft that are on the program, as well as operators who are not.
May 31 — About 1310 EDT, a Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc., DA20-C1 (N176MA) was heavily damaged when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Linden Airport (LDJ), Linden, N.J. The flight instructor was fatally injured and a passenger was seriously injured. It was VFR for the introductory instruction flight. The airplane was owned and operated by Best-in-Flight, a flight school based at LDJ. The airplane was “topped-off” with fuel the night before and was flown without incident for 2.6 hr. prior to the accident.
Gore Design Completions delivered an ACJ340-500 for a head-of-state client in mid-April. The interior includes a stateroom suite, six lavatories (two with a shower), a conference room with seating for nine, two VIP seating areas, staff seating and a medical room at the aft of the aircraft. This ACJ340 is the second delivery of 2013 for the San Antonio, Texas, facility, following a delivery of a BBJ3 in January.
Buoyed by greater-than-anticipated activity in the single-utility turboprop market, Honeywell is supporting a range of additional applications for its TPE331 family, as well as studying potential new engine developments to compete with Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6 and its planned successor. “In the downturn we saw that the strongest small airplane market was turboprops, and we were fascinated by that,” says Jim Kroeger, Honeywell's director of engineering for propulsion systems.
FlightSafety International is expanding its Teterboro Falcon Jet Learning Center by 50%. Once construction is completed, the facility will accommodate up to eight full- flight simulators, plus emergency training accommodation that will include a pool and other specialized equipment. It will also feature advanced technology classrooms, aircraft cabin training facilities, and enhanced office areas. Construction is expected to be completed early in 2014.
CAE plans to add a Bombardier Challenger 605 full-flight simulator in Europe at the beginning of 2016. The Canadian company already offers training on the Challenger 300 and 604 in Amsterdam and on the Learjet 40/45, Global 5000 and Global Express in the U.K. Training is provided on the Challenger 604 and 605 at Emirates-CAE Flight Training in Dubai. In addition, Bombardier will begin training in June on a CAE-supplied Global 5000/6000 simulator with Bombardier's Vision flight deck at the aircraft manufacturer's own training center in Dallas.
Gestair private Aviation, which has 10 FBOs in Spain, reports an investment of about EUR1.2 million to refurbish the old “Authorities Pavilion” at Madrid-Barajas and convert it into a modern FBO. The facility is 472 sq. meters (nearly 5,100 sq. ft.) including three VIP rooms for passengers and a fourth for crew, a passenger services office, a flight-planning area and a staff of 33. Gestair's FBOs handled 7,730 operations in 2012, up from 6,890 in 2011.
Air Services, a division of Constant Aviation specializing in off-wing aircraft support headquartered at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, has completed the requirements of the Cessna Citation NDI Certification Program and were named an Authorized Independent NDI facility. The company's NDT testing can be performed in their lab, on-wing or in the field. They have the ability to complete testing using Eddy current, ultrasonic, magnetic particle and liquid penetrant methods.
Ireland's Shannon Airport's pre-clearance — the process: Upon arrival at Shannon, all passengers and flight crew deplane (except one pilot) and all baggage is taken off the aircraft. They are driven to the CBP area in less than a minute and fast-tracked through the dedicated VIP CPB pre-clearance facility. They are not mixed with any other passengers at this very private facility and up to 20 passengers can be cleared from one aircraft. Once everyone else is cleared, the remaining crewmember will go into the building to be pre-cleared.
Beechcraft has delivered its 4,000th Model 36 Bonanza, pushing the entire fleet of Model 33, 35 and 36 Bonanzas to more than 18,000 aircraft. The 4,000th Model 36, a G36, was delivered to Segall Group, a retail brokerage firm based in Baltimore, Md. The company plans to use the six-seat piston single for site visits and client meetings for its real-estate deals in the mid-Atlantic region. The Bonanza line in Wichita, Kan., is the longest running in continuous production of any aircraft, spanning 66 years.
Rockwell Collins Ascend Aircraft information Manager (AIM) secure data transfer system for Pro Line Fusion, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line 4 equipped aircraft is now available for the Cessna Citation XLS+. It was recently certified on an XLS+ owned by Michigan-based Avfuel after the installation by Duncan Aviation. AIM securely uploads flight-critical database updates and downloads maintenance information post-flight using Wi-Fi or cellular links.
FlightSafety International and Gulfstream have expanded the Total Technical Training Program to include comprehensive aircraft Cabin Systems courses. The program is designed to improve troubleshooting skills and increase the operational knowledge of those who support and maintain Gulfstream aircraft. The Gulfstream G650 Cabin Systems and G450 and G550 Elite Cabin Systems courses are available at FlightSafety's Savannah Learning Center.
David C. Hook, Publisher (General Aviation Security Magazine San Antonio, Tex. )
After finishing the May 2013 BCA Purchase Planning Handbook, I wanted you to know that this particular edition is the one that stays in my library. New aircraft prices and capabilities are always useful bits of information to keep on hand. I enjoyed “Viewpoint,” as always, and wanted to let you know that you and your bullpen of excellent writers put out a top-notch magazine. I assure you that you are being read! Cheers from the Alamo.
Aviation partners Inc., Blended winglets are now flying on more than 230 Dassault Falcons. The high-Mach winglets were first certified on the Falcon 2000 in May 2009, and are now FAA-approved for all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series aircraft. EASA STC approval of the winglets for the Falcon 50 is expected soon.
Pilatus believes the aircraft will find a home with cargo, medevac, commuter and even government special missions operators, along with its PC-12's historical customer base.
