Eclipse Aerospace hopes to contract to replace the fleet of T-1A Jayhawks (Beechjet 400s) flown for the U.S. Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) program. The company responded Jan. 7 to an Air Force request for information (RFI) for a potential large fleet of very light jets (VLJs) to support the SUPT Multi-place Training Track. The Air Force released the RFI on Nov.
U.K. air accident investigators have widened their search into the root cause of gearbox failures that forced the crews of two Eurocopter EC225 helicopters to ditch into the North Sea last year. In late 2012, investigators from the U.K. Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) linked their probes into two controlled ditchings of EC225s — one operated by Bond Offshore in May and a second operated by CHC Scotia in October. The rest of the North Sea EC225 fleet was grounded in the U.K. and Norway following the incidents.
Captains have been flying Boeing jetliners since the first Model 707 was delivered in 1958. The Seattle-based airframe manufacturer has built 15,000 commercial jets, close to three-quarters of the world's commercial jet fleet. The first prop-liner pilots who made the transition to the new generation of jet transports faced many challenges, including adapting to a class of aircraft that flew at nearly double the speed and twice as high as the Douglas DC-7s and Lockheed Constellations they were succeeding.
A primary advantage of a helicopter — its ability to land at places other than airports — is also its greatest nemesis. There are gotcha's galore: thin unseen wires around a landing zone; a skid-grabbing snow crust veiled by a layer of powder; a brown cloud suddenly blotting out all visual references just as you begin a low hover above a worksite.
FlightSafety's release of its eLearning 2012/2013 Cold Weather Operations Course is available for the iPad. The course has been updated on an annual basis since it was first introduced six years ago. This interactive, rich media course can be taken either from a personal computer or an Apple iPad. A learning management system (LMS) tracks progress, so users can stop, resume the course and/or switch from a computer to an iPad. The system picks up from the last slide.
Bombardier's Business Aviation division enjoyed gains across the board with orders jumping 80% in 2012. Bombardier received 343 net orders in 2012, compared with 191 a year earlier. Bombardier's business jet deliveries, meanwhile, were relatively flat in 2012 at 179 aircraft. The manufacturer delivered 163 aircraft in 2011, but that only reflects activity of the final 11 months (an accounting change to a calendar fiscal year shortened the 2011 reporting time frame). The 2012 deliveries were actually at about the same pace — only slightly increased from 2011.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller ( D-W.Va.) plans to retire at the end of his term next year, concluding a more than 30-year career in the Senate. An outspoken proponent of NextGen, Rockefeller has had both spirited debates with and praise for the business aviation industry. He has strongly believed that business aviation operators should pay more into the national air transportation system, but was willing to compromise his position on a need for aviation user fees to ensure that long-term FAA reauthorization legislation would pass the Senate.
HeliFlite has purchased its third Sikorsky S-76 helicopter in executive passenger configuration. The purchase is the second aircraft acquired in 2012 by the 14-yr.-old company. The HeliFlite fleet now includes four Bell 430 and three Sikorsky S-76 executive helicopters. HeliFlite exclusively operates twin-engine and dual-piloted cabin-class aircraft, equipped with state of the art avionics.
I would like to thank you for “Post-emergency Procedures in Oceanic Airspace” (September 2012), an excellent story. Jetflite is doing a couple of North Atlantic crossings per year. So, it's not so routine for us as it is for the scheduled carriers. Of course we are doing in-house training to be current in the NAT area. I feel that your article would be very useful for recurrent training. Training Manager
Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services (RECAS) acquired Westfield, Mass.-based AirFlyte. “An important factor in our decision to make this acquisition was the agreement of Gary [Potts] to stay on as president of AirFlyte,” says RECAS President and CEO Richard Cawley. AirFlyte is a FAR Part 145-certified repair station. RECAS is a holding company with four operating divisions: Rectrix Aviation, Rectrix FBO JetCenters, Rectrix Aircraft Maintenance and Rectrix Business Solutions.
Skyvision Xtreme, LLC released its Generation 2 (G2) Portable, a fully transportable ADS-B transceiver system for use with iOS, Android and Windows devices with Wi-Fi capability. It features a sleek new enclosure made of highly durable plastic, which decreases the weight from over 11 lb. to 7 lb. Customers can purchase the G2 Portable with an optional battery backup that notifies users of power loss or interruption. The system includes the Xtreme Vision display software to provide 3-D Synthetic Traffic display (patent pending) with 360-deg.
Universal Avionics announced that the company will open a new satellite office in Signapore, scheduled to be opened in first quarter this year. This new office will further support Universal's customer base in areas including Thailand, Japan and Australia, where numerous flight deck retrofit projects are in progress. Additionally, it will be a dedicated sales and support base with local representatives that can provide fast onsite assistance for customers and partners in the region. Universal Avionics Systems Corp. Tucson, Ariz.
The National Business Aviation Association announced the introduction of a new digital edition of Business Aviation Insider, the organization's official member magazine. Starting with the January/February 2013 issue, all NBAA member employees will have access to all digital issues in additional to the traditional option for printed subscriptions. The digital edition can be used on a desktop computer or almost any mobile device, and has added functionality, including the ability to embed audio, video, slide shows and other multimedia features. It is free to members.
Hawker Beechcraft is seeking court approval for a “distress termination” of two of its three pension plans, calling the move critical for the completion of its reorganization and emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Wichita airframer had reached an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to continue its pension plan covering hourly workers but ending plans covering salaried workers (salaried plan) and nonunion workers in the customer support segment (base plan).
The Republic of South Africa's government, the continent's southernmost nation has been open for business, both regionally and internationally, and trade has been deemed “vital.”
Eurocopter is taking over the aerospace activities of French automotive chassis builder Hueliez. The deal was signed on Dec. 21 and became effective this month. It plans to integrate Heuliez into Societe HAS (Helicoptère Aerostructure Services) — a wholly owned subsidiary of the European helicopter manufacturer, which is owned by EADS. The work will continue at Heuliez's facilities at Cerizay near Nantes, securing 49 jobs.
Bombardier still plans to begin delivery of the Learjet 85, its largest and first mostly composite Learjet, by year-end, but first flight has not yet occurred. Bombardier is hoping the new aircraft will hit the market as it turns up for lighter aircraft.
December 2012 flight activity sees a slowdown over the holidays. Argus TRAQPak data shows that December 2012 flight activity levels decreased from November, finishing the month down 6.9% overall. The results by operational category saw very slight rise in fractional flight activity, up 0.1%. Part 91 and Part 135 flight activity finished the month down 11.2% and 2.2%, respectively. Aircraft category results were down across the board. Reviewing year- over-year activity (December 2012 vs. December 2011), TRAQPak data indicates an overall decrease of 2.0%.
I read with interest your “Viewpoint” about Al Ueltschi, particularly because a number of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting him and transacting some business. My experience reinforced the image you paint of him.
Colorado-based Air Methods has ordered a total of 42 new helicopters from Bell and American Eurocopter. Bell won a contract for 20 407GX aircraft. American Eurocopter received an order for 10 EC-130T2s, six AS350B3e and six EC-135P2e helicopters. American Eurocopter is the largest operator of helicopters for emergency air medical transport in the U.S.
Just a quick note to mention I very much enjoyed “The Colorful Mr. Coyne” (Washington Watch, December 2012, page 70). Our company has been around since 1946 (we rebranded from Bridgeford Flying Services in 2011) and while I have not been around that long (although close), I can say my aviation experience spans a few decades back to the days when the DuPont family owned Atlantic Aviation. However that is a story over a glass of Napa wine perhaps someday.
Tom Myers Director, Marketing Aircell Broomfield, Colo. ( )
I really enjoyed “The Alabama Bet” in December. How cool is that about your son? Congrats, Pop! Also loved the words about Al Ueltschi, the man we called A-L-U. When I was with the ad agency years ago, FlightSafety was our client.
