Bombardier Aerospace will open a full-scale company-owned and operated service center in Singapore in 2013. The company says the new service center will be the cornerstone of Bombardier's customer services offerings in the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility will be the second service center operated by Bombardier outside of North America, bringing the total number to ten worldwide. It will be capable of performing a variety of light to heavy maintenance tasks on all Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
CB VATAmerica has launched the European Aviation Fuel Tax Advisor app for the iPad, iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The new app is part of the company's continued efforts to help business aircraft operators eliminate European VAT and excise taxes on fuel. Users can select the country of fuel uplift (all EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland), the operator's home country, operator type, amount of fuel and the fuel cost in local currency.
Landmark Aviation added three aircraft to its managed charter fleet: a Hawker 800XP based at Landmark's Washington-Dulles location, an Embraer Phenom 100 based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a King Air C90 based in Sioux Falls, S.D. Landmark has a managed fleet of 71 aircraft throughout its network. Headquartered in Houston, Landmark operates a chain of FBOs and provides charter, management and MRO services.
The FCC is withdrawing LightSquared's conditional waiver to operate its proposed 4G voice and data network in bands adjacent to those used by GPS. “The commission clearly stated from the outset that harmful interference to GPS would not be permitted,” the FCC says.
The Flightstar Corp., Savoy, Ill., has purchased the assets of Bloomington Avionics based in Bloomington, Ill. Flightstar is transferring the Bloomington staff and its services to the Flightstar fixed-base operation at Champaign-Urbana's University of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI). A Class I and II avionics repair station, Bloomington has provided service and installation for more than 30 years. Flightstar, the sole FBO at KCMI, employs more than 120 people at a 10,000-sq.-ft. corporate terminal facility and 68,000-sq.-ft. maintenance facility.
CitationAir said it will exit the fractional ownership business and focus on aircraft management and its Jet Card business. CitationAir began selling shares in 2000 and has grown into the fourth largest fractional program. It notified customers that it was suspending sales of its Jet Shares fractional program and Jet Access membership program.
Identity crisis: TBM700 doesn't know whether it's a single-engine turboprop or a light jet, even though it has a four-blade Hartzell on its nose. That's a fitting tribute to Alexandre Couvelaire, who created the TBM concept when he headed Mooney Aircraft in the mid to late 1980s, and had as his goal delivering a fuel-efficient aircraft with Paris Jet speeds. He and partner, Socata, delivered.
The Dassault Falcon 7X fleet has accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours marking a significant milestone for the company's longest range aircraft. The first 7X was delivered in June 2007, and since that time 133 have entered service in 31 countries. The fleet leader has accumulated more than 3,500 flight hours.
I am the director of operations of an air charter company in Spokane, Wash., that operates a PC-12, and happened to fly into Butte the day after the accident, so “Butte Pilatus” (Cause & Circumstance, January 2012) was really close to home. Now that the findings are finally published, I plan to feature your article, which was very well done, at our next flying safety meeting. We're planning to have an interactive discussion during the meeting.
As of Jan. 25, the four Gulfstream G650s in the flight-test program had accumulated more than 2,675 flight hours over 820 flights. The aircraft is expected to enter service the middle of this year. It received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, with the full FAA type certificate expected mid-year. EASA has finished its initial evaluation of the aircraft in preparation for certification. The G650 has flown for more than 14 consecutive hours, with flight-test data confirming its ability to achieve 7,000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.85.
Quest Aircraft received certification from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) for its Kodiak single turboprop utility aircraft. Seven countries have certified the Kodiak. The aircraft has received significant interest from Brazil, along with other Latin America countries. The aircraft last fall completed a demonstration tour in Brazil, the Caribbean and several Latin American countries.
The EU is “not wedded” to its emissions trading system (ETS) and would be willing to begin negotiating a global deal to reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions, but it will retain its much-maligned ETS while an agreement is worked out. During a sometimes contentious ETS panel discussion at the Singapore air show Aviation Leadership Summit Feb. 13, Matthew Baldwin, director general for mobility and transport (DG-MOVE) for the European Commission, spent much of his time defending ETS and the EU's motives in extending the cap-and-trade scheme to aviation as of Jan. 1.
Composite Technology Inc., a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, opened one of the world's most powerful structures to dynamically balance helicopter main rotor blades. Designed by Sikorsky to test main rotor blades that rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, the bi-directional whirl tower will enable helicopter operators and manufacturers to rebalance their rotor blades in the U.S. regardless of the rotorcraft's country of origin.
The number 23 is a sore spot in my household. First, it was the number on Michael Jordan's jersey. That might mean basketball greatness for the Chicago Bulls faithful, but if you are from Cleveland, as is my family, it takes on a completely different meaning since he was the source of heartbreak for Cavaliers fans for many years. It was also the number of that traitor LeBron James. The day he announced signing with Miami, my middle son sadly tossed his favorite Cavs jersey into the garbage.
Max-Viz and Helijet of Vancouver, B.C. Canada are collaborating on the installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1500 enhanced vision system on three S-76 helicopters supporting emergency medical service operations under contract with the B.C. government.
FlightSafety International opened its new Hong Kong Learning Center, which will initially offer training programs for Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 aircraft using a new Level-D qualified full-flight simulator and advanced training devices. “We are pleased to join with Gulfstream to expand the service we provide our mutual Customers in the Asia-Pacific region by offering Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 training at our new Learning Center in Hong Kong,” said Bruce Whitman, president and CEO.
Falcon 2000LX isn't a model designation, according to the FAA and EASA type certificate data sheets. It's actually a Falcon 2000EX with two key modifications that were approved in April 2009. Mod M2846 reinforces the outboard wing structure and installs API winglets. Mod M3229 installs more robust slats that can handle the increased wing-bending moments associated with the aero loads imposed by the winglets.
In its 14th Turbine-Powered Civilian Helicopter Purchase Outlook report, released at Heli Expo, Honeywell says it expects global deliveries of new civilian-use helicopters will increase to 4,700 — 5,200 over the five-year period 2012–2016. The forecast shows slower near term economic growth prospects in key markets have added uncertainty to operator purchase plans this year, however, recent order momentum and strong purchase plans for 2012 bolster the near-term outlook.
TSA approved a five-year extension of its partnership with National Air Transportation Association Compliance Services (NATACS) to provide a range of general aviation security programs. The partnership recognizes NATACS as a Trusted Fingerprint Facility to process biographical and biometric information. The partnership, established in 2002, has been extended through December 2016. NATACS provides all pre-enrollment, enrollment, fingerprint collection, and secure data transmission for TSA-conducted background checks of aircrew members and flight students.
West Star Aviation's facility in East Alton, Ill., was named an authorized service center for the GE CF34 engine. The authorization means the facility can provide service and support of the engine and supply related parts and products. West Star's facility in Grand Junction, Colo., has been an authorized GE service provider for more than 6 yr.
A unique “helipod” single-place helicopter design uses a shroud-ring to completely enclose coaxial short-span rotors. The shroud serves to shield counter-rotating blades to overcome lift dissymmetry and increase rotor efficiency. Helipod Inc. of California, which plans to build the ship in Japan, calls it a “shielding rotating wing biplane” and says the prototype will fly this summer.
