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.
Richard Santulli's Milestone Aviation Group has placed several major orders from three helicopter manufacturers. Most recently, Dublin-based Milestone increased its orders for Sikorsky S-92s from three to a total of 22. At this year's Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, the company announced an order for 16 Eurocopter EC225 aircraft valued at $480 million to be delivered over five years. This is in addition to five new Eurocopter EC130B4 helicopters for its airmedical business, the first of which is planned for delivery in the second half of 2012.
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.
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.
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.
ward Opportunities Each year, the NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee promotes education and career development through scholarships and training awards supported by the generosity of industry donors. To date, the committee has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships along with countless training awards. Applications for the 2013 scholarships and awards are available now on www.nbaa.org.
Modern aircraft cabins, equipped with sophisticated arrays of electronics designed to keep passengers comfortable, entertained and in touch, are wonders to behold. But keeping all of today's cabin components in harmony requires an integrated, easy-to-use control hub.
Cessna Aircraft is gathering market feedback on a potential 6-7 place single turboprop and developing a new version of its venerable Grand Caravan. Dubbed the ERV (engineering research vehicle), the concept plane has been flying for the past several years. But Cessna officials maintain the program is “not a go” until they are able to determine the market for such an aircraft. The aircraft is larger, though, than another concept piston that Cessna had tested and contemplated — the NGP (next-generation piston).
A 43-year-old commercial pilot and four passengers were killed and a fifth serious injured on March 16, 2011, when a Beech Super King Air 200 crashed following a loss of control during takeoff from Long Beach (Calif.) Airport. Carde Equipment Sales LLC operated the airplane. At 0700, the pilot had filed an IFR flight plan to Salt Lake City — a 2-hr. flight — anticipating three passengers and a departure at 0830. VMC prevailed in the Long Beach area.
The NBAA commended President Barack Obama for signing the “Pilot's Bill of Rights” legislation intended to provide greater protections and transparency for pilots facing federal enforcement action. The measure (S.1335) was first introduced in the Senate in July 2011 by Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska). Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Missouri Republican Sam Graves and Illinois Democrat Dan Lipinski.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Four months after announcing its new executive jet service center in Brazil, Embraer broke ground at Bertram Luiz Leupolz airport in Sorocaba. The 216,000-sq.-ft. site will include hangars, VIP lounges, meeting rooms and crew living quarters, as well as administrative offices. This facility will offer maintenance, repair and overhaul and FBO services. The opening is expected in the second half of 2013.
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.
Where can I get some special overalls with a .45 and sawed off shotgun and a Bubba to go with? I was at my Mini dealer reading “Bona Fide Security Programs” (Point of Law, August 2012), when I laughed so loud the other customers took notice and thought I was crazy. Loved it! You had to have died laughing when you wrote it. President JetSeat LLC (www.jetseatllc.com)
As we go to press, Bombardier is expecting to kick off final assembly of the first Learjet 85 “shortly” as components begin to arrive at the company's expanding plant in Wichita. But the company still is not publicly revealing a target date for the aircraft's rollout or first flight.
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.
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.
Anticipating STC approval, Hawker Beechcraft factory-owned service centers are scheduling Blackhawk engine upgrades for King Air 200s equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The installation will replace the original Pratt & Whitney PT6A-41 or -42 engines with factory-new PT6A-52 engines. Blackhawk Modifications expects certification of the engine upgrade on Pro Line 21-equipped aircraft in the fourth quarter of this year. Pro Line 21-equipped King Air 200s require a separate STC to modify the engine instrument displays.
Robert Clare, Director of Sales for Universal Avionics, announced that Universal will open a new European satellite sales office in London, U.K. to support the region's growing avionics sales activity there. The office is slated to open in September. The London office joins Universal's other European office in Basel, Switzerland, which opened in 2004. The Basel office currently oversees all sales in Europe.
