Cessna Aircraft has signed a letter of intent to acquire Jet Aviation's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Zurich, Switzerland and Dusseldorf, Germany. The sale, expected to be completed by year-end, would not include the FBOs at those locations. Jet Aviation, which had spent the past couple of years reviving its struggling completions business, has more recently experienced a downturn in its services division as demand from Europe dipped.
Business aircraft accidents were down overall worldwide in 2012, but those involving U.S. business jets have been increasing, according to the latest statistics from business aviation safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates. At the same time, U.S. helicopter accidents jumped notably in 2012, while the non-U.S. registered helicopter fleet improved its safety record. The number of U.S. business jet accidents increased by five in 2012 to 19 accidents. Of those, five were fatal and involved 21 deaths.
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.
Along about hour eight of your primary flight training, an instructor sat you down with Advisory Circular AC61-134 and told you to burn its words into your head and soul. Here's the pertinent section:
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 Fatigue Toolbox The FAA has created a one-stop source for your fatigue resource needs. The site has a comprehensive tool box with training programs, including the award-winning film “Grounded,” and tools such as the Return on Investment calculator, Fatigue Risk Assessment Tool, and newsletters with articles authored by industry leading scientists in the subject of fatigue. You can visit the site at: www.mxfatigue.com
Dec. 29, 2012 — About 1148 CST, a Bell 407 (N534MT) lost engine power and crashed while diverting to Reagan Municipal Airport (E41), Big Lake, Texas. The three crewmembers and one passenger received no injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Med-Trans Corporation as a Part 135 on-demand Emergency Medical Services operator. The aircraft received substantial damage. VFR conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company VFR flight plan. It originated from a hospital helipad in Ft.
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.
Waterford, Mich.-based Pentastar Aviation has acquired Aviation Interior Solutions, also of Waterford, to strengthen its interoir refurbishment and completion offerings. At the same time Pentastar's Oxford, Conn. facility has recieved Part 145 Satellite Repair Station certification. The company also said it would exit its Van Nuys, Calif. FBO and service facillity to focus on its Eastern U.S. customers.
Chinese interests continue to build up their aerospace portfolios with the purchase of light helicopter manufacturer Enstrom. The Michigan-based helicopter manufacturer, which has been producing helicopters since the late 1950s, was acquired by the Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co. (CQHIC). Enstrom hopes the move will enable it to expand its reach into China as well as permit the company to invest in its plant at Menominee to meet current and expected future demands. “This is a major step in moving Enstrom to a new level,” Enstrom President Jerry Mullins says.
The FAA, bowing to broad industry opposition, will rescind its interpretation of a rule governing rest for airline mechanics, reverting to a more flexible view that both management and unions have long considered acceptable. The agency delivered the news in a Dec. 26 letter to the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), which spearheaded the challenge to an FAA interpretation made nearly three years ago.
Constant Aviation, which expanded into the Beechjet landing gear overhaul business last summer, has found demand for the service so strong that it is relocating the services from Birmingham Ala., to a larger facility near its Cleveland headquarters. The sister company of Flight Options and Nextant Aerospace, Constant in July announced the opening of a new landing gear repair and overhaul shop at its Birmingham service center.
The youngest member of the Aero Commander family, christened Grand Commander, is already the biggest of the clan. Six feet, 2 in. longer than current models, the big twin almost doubles baggage room and will accommodate nine passengers and two crew in separate compartments. It offers performance similar to that of the Commander 680F. It is now in the process of certification, with first deliveries scheduled for April 1963.
Soloy Aviation Solutions is now a Cobham/S-TEC dealer. Cobham Commercial Systems, Integrated Systems (formerly S-TEC Corp.) is a leader in analog and digital autopilot systems. Soloy is authorized for autopilot, display and HeliSAS systems in Cobham's line of avionics products.
More than one airline recommends that captains relinquish flying duties when faced with unexpected circumstances in order to promote optimum crew coordination and to minimize the potential for misunderstandings and errors. Anticipating that unforeseen emergencies can occur for which there are no published procedures, air carrier training departments often recommend guidelines for assignments of responsibilities.
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).
For about $9 million, you can by a new or nearly new super-midsize Hawker 4000 that can fly eight passengers 3,000+ nm at Mach 0.80 and land with 200 nm NBAA IFR reserves. Inspired by the systems architecture of the Gulfstream GIV, this is the only aircraft in its class to have standard dual Honeywell IRSes, dual ACM packs, auto-throttles, an AC electrical generation system and a standard hydraulically powered, emergency AC electrical generator. The aircraft has a flat floor, aft lavatory and inflight access to the aft baggage compartment.
For general aviation, the return on investment in NextGen aircraft equipage may not be as apparent as it is for commercial air transport operators, an industry analyst says. The U.S. NextGen air traffic control modernization program could yield $281 billion through 2035, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's 2013 Global Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook. This includes fuel efficiency gains and reductions in weather-related and congestion delays.
I read with interest “Radar in Winter Ops” (November 2012, page 86). You cite the World War II experience of RAF Bomber Command. More recently, Vietnam-era F-105 Thunderchief crews used an Autonetics NASARR R-14A radar. This was a monopulse set with good air-to-air capability, but it was normally employed in the air-to-ground mode where the pilot could obtain contour mapping or terrain-avoidance as well as ground-mapping from 13 to 80 mi. ahead.
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.
General aviation groups welcomed the confirmation of Michael Huerta as the next FAA administrator, saying permanent leadership at the agency's helm is particularly important as FAA must tackle key environmental, certification and NextGen issues while operating under the threat of substantial budget cuts. Confirmation of Huerta, who has been serving as acting administrator for more than a year, came during an unusual New Year's Day session in the Senate. President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Huerta in March.
Cessna is beginning delivery of its more powerful Grand Caravan EX following the receipt of FAA type certification. The Caravan, which sports the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, is the first of as many as six new or follow-on aircraft that Cessna expects to bring to market this year. The Caravan has long been considered a workhorse with close to 2,200 delivered, but has been criticized for being underpowered.
International Governor Services (IGS), an operating company of BBA Aviation, launched a new website featuring its engine control products in an easy to navigate format. The site features a full listing of all units available from IGS by product type and model as well as downloadable files of certification, warranties and related documents. International Governor Services Broomfield, Colo. (888) 808-5297 www.internationalgovernor.com
