The NTSB, citing a dozen incidents since 1993 involving large-aircraft wingtip collisions during taxiing, is urging the FAA and EASA to mandate anti-collision aids such as cameras that enable pilots to see their aircraft's wingtips from the flight deck without opening a cockpit window. The NTSB does not say which aircraft models need such systems, although it mentions Boeing's 747, 757, 767 and 777; McDonnell Douglas widebodies; and the Airbus A380 as likely candidates.
KeyAir, headquartered at Oxford, Conn. (OXF), has added a Falcon 900EX, based at Westchester County Airport (HPN) to its managed charter fleet. Key Air provides worldwide jet charter, aircraft management and FBO services at Oxford and at KeyAir Twin Cities (ANE) just outside Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
The DOT Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is calling on the FAA to improve management of a program that requires airports to assess potential wildlife aircraft strikes. “The FAA has not developed robust inspection practices, and its inspectors do not have the technical expertise to effectively oversee the program,” the report says of the FAA's Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Program.
West Star Aviation now has a roll-around HS 124-700A/B/ 800A/B/XP series landing gear shipset that will allow technicians to remove the original landing gear from the aircraft while still having the capability to reposition the aircraft as required for any additional services. The new equipment supports decreased downtime during gear swaps and multi-shop events where paint is tied to airframe maintenance and gear overhauls.
Cessna is developing a diesel version of its Model 182 Skylane that, when available in the second quarter of 2013, will replace the Lycoming-powered Model 182 Skylane that burns leaded aviation gasoline. The Turbo 182 JT-A will have a Jet-A-burning, direct injection turbo-diesel Safran SMA SR305-230 engine. Announcing the aircraft July 23 during the EAA's 2012 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., Jeff Umscheid, Cessna Models 172, 182 and 206 business leader, said the company already has begun taking orders for the $515,000 aircraft.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support has appointed Premium Jet Aircraft Maintenance at Afonso Pena International Airport (SBCT) in Curitiba, Brazil, as an authorized service center to support its Hawker 125 series and model 400 series products. Premium Jet is an ANAC 145-certified repair station for airframes, engines, avionics and accessories.
The trip began badly. Collecting my carry-on, I realized I'd made it through security with my feet still snug in my shoes. “Change in policy?” I asked the surprised TSAer, pointing down to my footwear. “No,” he scowled, “You can keep your shoes on if you're over 75.” I stared hard at the *#+@! for a few long seconds, and moved on.
The current data analyzed by Robert E. Breiling Associates shows that for the U.S. jet and turboprop business fleet the number of accidents have gone down — a big improvement — but the number of fatalities has gone up for the first six months of 2012 versus the same period in 2011. Combined accidents decreased by 12, from 38 to 26. Fatal accidents were up by one and fatalities were up from 15 to 23.
In October 2010, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) encountered an unwelcome surprise. As he tells the story, he was flying passengers in his Cessna 340A into Cameron County Airport (PIL) near Brownsville at the southern tip of Texas — an airport he knows well, having set down there at least 200 times over the years as a builder and owner of property on South Padre Island. As so many times before Inhofe recalls Valley Approach Control once again clearing him for a visual approach and landing on Runway 13, the facility's primary strip.
Piper Aircraft continued to increase aircraft deliveries and grow revenues during the first half of 2012. During the second quarter of 2012, ended June 30, Piper delivered 39 new aircraft contributing $37,423,010 in revenue. That was up 18% from 33 aircraft in the same period in 2011, with revenue up more than 20% from $31,141,182. For the first half of this year, Piper delivered 76 airplanes, up 28% from 59 during the same period in 2011 while generating $69,001,213 in revenue, up more than 20% from $57,300,885 during the same period in 2011.
American Eurocopter announced that California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR), with headquarters at McClellan, Calif., will purchase up to eight EC135 helicopters. CALSTAR operates nine full-time bases in northern and central California and is the largest nonprofit air ambulance provider on the west coast. With this order, it will replace older aircraft and become an all-Eurocopter operator.
Safari Air Link of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has added a Cessna Citation Mustang 510, the first in Tanzania, to its fleet. Safari Air Fleet Director Peter Fox says the Mustang will provide more air transport services to the business sector, tourism and emergency health care in Tanzania. Safari currently operates two Cessna C206s, a C210, a C208 Caravan and a C206B Grand Caravan.
NBAA President Ed Bolen calls the slow progress on improving temporary flight restrictions “a tremendous frustration . . . The instruments put into place after 9/11 were dull, blunt-force instruments.” By now, Bolen told a panel during the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., he had hoped that those instruments would have become “precision instruments.” While the process is improving, it's slow and comes at a cost to operators.
Breitling is offering its star model, the Chronomat 41 Limited, in a 2,000-piece limited series that will appeal more strongly than ever to enthusiasts of the original design, says the company. The original and generous lines of the steel case are enhanced by all-polished finishes, as are the bracelet and rotating bezel. The watch is water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft.). Breitling www.breitling.com
Real Clean Aviation Products has introduced Turbine Soot Master, a carbon soot cleaner and degreaser. According to the company it is designed to effectively address carbon exhaust buildup and staining that occurs on most turboprop aircraft. The product's streak-free formula dissolves carbon, grease and oil with very little effort. Soot Master is rinse-free and does not require the use of any water. Spray it on and wipe the surface clean with a microfiber or terry cloth. View the video at www.youtube.com/RealCleanAircraft
Lightspeed Aviation has launched its FlightLink app for Zulu.2. It's a free, downloadable app developed to work with newer Zulu.2 headsets. All communication through the intercom is recorded and available for instant playback and permanent archiving. Multiple recordings may be stored either in Apple devices or in an iTunes account. FlightLink allows for up to 2 min. of instant playback of ATC transmissions. The entire flight can be recorded and saved for future use. With FlightLink, pilots can toggle from other apps to access recordings and notes.
Pan Am International Flight Academy now has an agreement with Carnegie Speech to aid in the company's Aviation English training. Carnegie's patented language learning technology will be used at the Academy's training centers in the U.S. and abroad to increase English proficiency within the aviation field. To help students meet and surpass the ICAO requirements (known as Operational Level 4), Pan Am integrates Carnegie Speech's “NativeAcccent” technology and “Climb Level 4 Aviation English” software with their programs.
The FAA has awarded Pro Star Aviation a Letter of Designation for the FAA Supplemental Type Certificate Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). This designation allows Pro Star to act on behalf of the FAA when approving and issuing STCs. Since 1998, Pro Star has developed nearly 50 FAA STCs in addition to managing STC projects for other applicants. As an ODA, Pro Star will manage and control the STC project from start to finish with minimal oversight from the FAA.
Cessna wants EASA to certify its Skycatcher light-sport aircraft. Tracy Leopold, business leader for the 162, says the aircraft currently is only permitted to operate in nine countries and EASA approval will provide expanded sales opportunities. Leopold stresses that the aircraft – which is not certified in the U.S., but meets ASTM standards for certification – will remain a light-sport aircraft in the U.S., even if it is certified in Europe.
Bell Helicopter has received its airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for the Bell 429. The certification follows the first complete assembly and successful flight testing of a 429 in China at Kingwing General Aviation Co., a CAAC 145 service facility.
Citing the potential impact on the relationship between MRO providers and their customers, as well as the proposal's scope, nine associations have asked the FAA for 90 more days to comment on the agency's proposed repair station rule changes. The original comment period's closing date was Aug. 20. The trade groups say members have noted major concerns with the new rule , which would radically revamp FAR Part 145.
Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings has launched a new website to assist aircraft coatings specifiers, influencers and users. The site allows users to easily navigate or directly search via their specific market niche (general, business, commercial or military aviation markets) and/or product systems (interior, exterior coatings, primers, fillers, etc.). One highlight of the website is its detailed products and systems section that includes information specific to SKYscapes, the company's new basecoast/clearcoat exterior paint system.
