Sikorsky is insisting it has not abandoned its Schweizer light helicopter product line, but is working to rationalize it in a bid to reduce costs. Sikorsky took over Schweizer in 2004, taking on the product lines of S-300, S-333 and S-434 light-piston and light-turbine helicopters. But since the takeover, production of the light helicopter line has been significantly reduced, and several operators have struggled to get parts for the helicopters, limiting training and operations.
The NTSB, March 12, issued five safety alerts aimed at reducing the number of general aviation accidents: reduced-visual reference; aerodynamic stalls at low altitude; pilot inattention to indications of mechanical problems; risk management of aviation maintenance technicians and risk management for pilots. The five Safety Alerts issued are: “Is Your Aircraft Talking to You?
New FAA guidance is providing FAR Part 121, 135 and 91K operators an alternate means to demonstrate compliance with initial training requirements for their contract instructors and check airmen. The guidance, released in February, after the agency met with industry groups concerned that the training requirements were forcing some Part 142 training centers to pull authorizations of their inspectors and check airman.
JSSI has introduced the Embraer Legacy 650 Airframe Program and Platinum level coverage for the Honeywell HTF7000 series engine. The Legacy 650 program covers almost every part, component, assembly and system on the aircraft, excluding the engines and APU, for a limited contract term. Legacy 650 clients can also opt to include engine and APU to get JSSI's Tip-To-Tail coverage. The HFT7000 program allows for the option of adding coverage for scheduled repair and replacement of life-limited components, as well as routine inspections.
The emergence and strong sales of Robinson's R66 Turbine is causing helicopter manufacturers to think again about the light single-turbine market. For years, Robinson's piston R22 and R44s were considered to be in a league of their own. But the development and certification of the R66 — nearly 200 of which were delivered in 2012 — has raised eyebrows, as it begins to impinge on markets that were previously strongholds of models produced by Bell, MD, Enstrom and to some extent Eurocopter.
Piper Aircraft has adopted the most recent Garmin G1000 software supporting a three-display avionics suite as standard equipment in new piston-twin Piper Seneca V models available in 2013. The announcement was made at Airshow 2013, the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition in February.
Argus TRAQPak data shows that February 2013 flight activity levels decreased from January, finishing the month down 2.3% overall. The results by operational category were mostly negative with the exception of fractional activity, up 0.8% over January. Part 135 and Part 91 flight activity were both down for the month, 4.5% and 1.7% respectively. Reviewing the individual market segments, the Part 91 large cabin segment posted a 5.5% month over month increase, while the Part 135 turboprop segment posted an 8.3% month over month decrease.
Embraer remains cautious about the business jet market, even as the company's revenues from the segment grew 15.5% last year. Embraer has been encouraged by the growth of American corporate profits and the number of millionaires worldwide. But the company says slow growth of some economies and uncertainty in Europe, as well as lower utilization of business jets are factors “that jeopardize a full recovery of the demand for business jets.” The company, which released its fourth-quarter 2012 results on March 13, delivered the same number of jets in 2012 as in 2011 (99).
ARINC Direct, Annapolis, announced that Jim Banville and Michael Shearer have been promoted as directors of sales for the company. Banville will head the Western U.S. and Canada sales team and Shearer will be responsible for the Eastern U.S. and Canada team.
Summing It Up GAMA has advanced three major objections to the EU's Emissions Trading System for aviation that pretty much condense the worldwide industry's misgivings about the program: The administrative burden far outweighs the environmental benefit from including small operators.
Feb. 14 — About 1630 EST, a Cessna 310H (N104DR) operated by a private individual was substantially damaged during impact with terrain, following an inflight loss of control during cruise flight near Yeehaw Junction, Fla. The private pilot, pilot-rated passenger and a second passenger were killed. It was marginal VFR and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Sebastian Municipal Airport (X26), Sebastian, Fla., around 1600, destined for Bartow Municipal Airport (BOW), Bartow, Fla.
Whatever the fate of the continuing resolution limiting Contract Control Tower cuts, GA groups are continuing to appeal directly to the Obama administration to back away from the plan and other cuts that affect the industry.
Gulfstream and FlightSafety International worked together three years prior to the G650's entering service to develop flight crew, cabin crew and maintenance technician training programs. Each G650 pilot instructor has flight time in the actual aircraft and each maintenance instructor has turned wrenches on real aircraft.
Robert E. Breiling Associates' annual Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Review has become the industry's guide for detailed narrative accounts of business aviation accidents worldwide. The Review is 500 pages with accounts of over 415 reported fixed- and rotary-wing turbine aircraft accidents and incidents. A summary of each accident includes model, operator type, phase of operation, conditions and a factual description of all reported circumstances.
The FAA confirmed it has resumed its search for six unmanned aircraft systems test sites after the process stalled on privacy issues, which were not fully addressed in the original site selection criteria. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 required the FAA establish test sites for domestic drones by the end of 2012, a deadline which the agency missed as it assessed privacy concerns. The agency is also required to fully integrate unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace by September 2015.
Four, 14.1-in., landscape configuration LCD screens dominate the Gulfstream G650's second-generation PlaneView instrument panel with several layouts that can be customized by the flight crew. The outboard displays normally are configured as PFDs and the inboards as MFDs. The glareshield-mounted flight guidance panel has improved functionality, including LED illumination and annunciator buttons, an “FLXXX” flight level indication in the altitude window above the transition altitude, a push in/pull out, 1,000 ft./100 ft.
I enjoyed Fred George's “Truly Earning That Fourth Stripe” (February 2013, page 45). As a captain with Continental/United starting my 30th year, I've had the privilege of mentoring upgrading captains both as a check airman and as a human factors instructor. The author's thoughts are spot on!
Business aircraft manufacturers pay close attention to runway performance because potential customers want to know if they'll be able to land at the general aviation airports closest to their regular business destinations. Of the 5,000+ public-use airports in the U.S., only about 760 have runways that are 6,000 ft. or longer. So aircraft that need that much pavement are far more limited in the number of airports available than those that need less. For example, there are 2,300+ U.S. airports with runways at least 4,000 ft.
Duncan Aviation has put together an airframe-specific team dedicated to Gulfstream work at the company's Lincoln, Nebraska, campus. Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Michigan, location has been running with a dedicated Gulfstream airframe team since 1993, says Rod Christensen, Airframe Services Manager at Duncan's Battle Creek location.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is launching a search for a new president and CEO following the decision of Craig Fuller to step down from the office he has held since January 2009. Fuller, who succeeded longtime president Phil Boyer, is only the fourth president at AOPA since the association's inception 75 years ago. He has agreed to remain until a successor is found. In addition, he's also agreed to assist in the search for a new president, along with the leadership transition.
The U.S. light helicopter company Enstrom is receiving $10 million from its Chinese owner for new infrastructure to help the manufacturer boost production levels. The funds from Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co. (CQHIC) and follow-on investments will, according to Enstrom President and CEO Jerry Mullins, add new equipment and enable the company to produce up to 100 helicopters per year.
