Beechcraft's venerable King Air fleet has surpassed 60 million flight hours. More than 7,000 of the twin turboprops are operated in 127 countries worldwide, and are flown by all U.S. military branches. Beechcraft has seen a strengthening market for its turboprops, delivering 85 of its King Air 350is, 250s and C90GTxs in 2012.
NBAA submitted comments opposing the FCC's renewed call to prohibit the manufacture, sale, importation or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs. In a Jan. 30 proposed rule, the FCC again provided notice of its desire to prohibit the use of ELTs that transmit only on 121.5 MHz, favoring instead the use of ELTs that transmit on 406 MHz. NBAA advocated that operators be able to use installed 121.5 MHz ELTs until the end of the equipment's useful life and be able to make the decision to upgrade their aircraft's ELT when it makes sense for the operator to do so.
Alison Price On Air, London, appointed Jamie Cairns head chef. He will work with Managing Director Daniel Hulme to support the increasing business activity at the inflight dining provider.
AOPA Online reports a record 223 members of Congress have stepped up to mount an attack against aviation user fees. The House members sent a letter to President Barack Obama April 5 stating that user fees are the “wrong approach,” the association said. The letter preceded the April 10 release of the Obama administration 2014 budget, which indeed contained a $100 per flight fee for many operations in controlled airspace. But with the level of opposition in congress, user fees are unlikely to be in a final budget.
True Blue Power received an FAR Part 25 STC for installation of the TS835 Series in Learjet 35/36 models and a Part 27 STC for installation in BK 117 and EC145 helicopters. The company amended a Part 23 Approved Model List STC to include more than 20 aircraft models, including the Beech King Air and Pilatus PC-12. The TS835 is now approved as a direct replacement for the J.E.T. PS-835 and PS-855 lead-acid batteries. The power supply uses the same rack, connector, wire harness and OFF/ARM/TEST switch.
While the majority of helicopter manufacturers have focused their attention and development funds on ever heavier and technologically advanced machines, Robinson Helicopter Co. has become a significant rotary wing builder by serving the opposite spectrum.
Cessna rolled out the 400th production CJ3 light business jet Mar. 25 from its production facility in Wichita, Kan. The CJ3 is in its ninth year of service. The eight-passenger aircraft is powered by two Williams FJ44-3A engines and is certified for single pilot operations. The CJ3 can fly non-stop from New York to Miami, Los Angeles to Chicago, London to Moscow, or Beijing to Manila. Maximum range is 1,875 nm, with a ceiling of 45,000 ft.
The Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE2013), which opened April 16 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, was on pace to draw at least the same if not more attendees as last year's event as we go to press. ABACE returned in 2012 after a five-year hiatus, drawing 6,375 attendees, nearly triple the 2,200 who attended the previous event in 2007. The attendance, which exceeded expectations, underscored the rapid growth of business aviation in the region. This year, early registrations appear to be slightly ahead of last year's event.
Feb. 8 — Approximately 1245 CST, a North American Medore SNJ-4 (N2269U) was substantially damaged during a forced landing south of Garden City, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual as a VFR ferry flight. The flight departed San Antonio and was en route to Midland, Texas.
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has acquired 100% of the share capital of FlairJet Ltd., the London Oxford Airport-based aircraft management and charter company. FlairJet will become part of the Group's newly formed Aviation Services business unit and will continue to be led by Managing Director and founder, David Fletcher. In its third year of operation, FlairJet will complement Cambridge Airport-based operator Marshall Executive Aviation (MEA). The acquisition extends the service offering of the recently formed JETability brand.
Robert E. Breiling Associates has released the 2012 Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Review providing a comprehensive guide to business aviation safety and an in-depth analysis of turbine business aircraft accidents and incidents in 2012 involving the world fleet. For more information, or to order, visit the Breiling Associates website.
Brad D. Mottier Vice President and General Manager, Business and General Aviation Operation, GE Aviation, Evendale, Ohio; Chairman, GAMA, Washington, D.C.
The NTSB is seeking a ban on “non-operational” use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) for pilots while flying under FAR Part 135 and 91 Subpart K. The recommendation was one of nine the safety board issued following its investigation of the Aug. 26, 2011 crash of an Air Methods Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter that was on an emergency medical services (EMS) mission.
Despite a serious five-year setback in helicopter sales during the latest recession, aviation forecasters are predicting a slow but steady growth starting this year and continuing through the coming decade. The Teal Group, a Fairfax, Va., research/analyst organization, reported in its August 2012 “World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing” that while deliveries of civil helicopters fell 19% by value in 2008-2011, with a projected 6.6% drop when 2012 figures come in, it predicted 9,526 deliveries worth $53.5 billion to civil operators through 2021.
A Saab Remote Tower (r-TWR ) system under testing for Avinor, Norway's Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), at Værøy Heliport has passed its Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) milestone under SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) test and validation trials. The r-TWR system provides Avinor Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) officers at the Bodø Remote Tower Center (RTC) with high-resolution video of daily helicopter operations at Værøy. Saab's r-TWR system uses video, audio and other sensors to provide a continual, comprehensive view out of an air traffic tower.
Hangar Design and Supply Looking for help with your next hangar project? The NBAA 2012 Buyers Guide has a search function to point you to Hangar Sales, Design and Construction suppliers. Visit the NBAA website (www.nbaa.org), enter “Hangar Design” in the search bar and click. Check out suppliers that have experience with hangar designs that are similar to what you are looking for. Be sure to thoroughly check out all references. Hangars are a big investment and you want to find the most-qualified team to ensure that you get the best barn for your buck.
FAA said it will delay the closure of all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers until June 15. March 22, the FAA announced it would eliminate funding for these towers as part of the agency's required $637 million budget cuts under sequestration. A phased, four-week closure process was scheduled to begin April 7. Now, the FAA will close the facilities June 15 unless the airports decide to continue operations as a nonfederal contract tower.
Nick Nelson (Interlaken Capital Aviation Services Inc. )
Thanks for all the great ideas in “Tips on Scheduling International Trips” (January 2013, page 38). It was packed with info that's helped me quite a bit as I transition from a fractional jet company dispatcher to FAR Part 91 flight coordinator. Over the past few months I've come to learn that Part 91 ops are a whole different animal and information like this really helps out “rookies” like me. I'm looking forward to future articles. Interlaken Capital Aviation Services Inc.
