Hawker Beechcraft will halt Hawker 400XP production for 2011 and 2012 in favor of an upgrade program for existing Beechcraft/Hawker 400A/XPs. Bill Boisture, chairman and CEO of the Wichita manufacturer said Nov. 12, ”We think the market will remain relatively depressed, compared with historical markets, for 12 to 24 months,” adding that pricing on new aircraft has become difficult. The company has “worked our inventory on that product down” and decided that, rather than restocking and selling the airplane, Hawker would defer production and sales, he says.
It is a rare opportunity for investigators to interview surviving passengers who observed their pilot’s actions during an accident sequence that destroyed their aircraft, killed the pilot and seriously injured others. But such was the case with the U.K. Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) study of circumstances surrounding the loss of a Raytheon Beechcraft Super King Air 200 that crashed into a shallow lagoon immediately after departure from North Caicos Airport, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), British West Indies, on Feb. 6, 2007.
Jet Aviation Basel won a contract to complete a VVIP Boeing 747-8 cabin for an undisclosed Middle East customer. Jet Aviation says it is the first completion center to be contracted to outfit a cabin interior for one of the eight VIP B747-8 aircraft sold to date. The Basel completions center will build a full-size cabin model of the aircraft so the client can experience a 1:1 view of the cabin interior during the decision-making process.
The DOT inspector general called for better oversight of airport grants after an audit revealed that about $161 million of the U.S. government’s Fiscal 2008 payments to Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grantees nationwide were improper, at least in terms of documentation. “FAA’s risk-based approach to AIP grant oversight is inadequate and does not effectively prevent or detect improper payments,” the inspector general says.
Elliott Aviation has added an Astra 1125SP jet aircraft, based at Forest City, Iowa (FXY), to its charter certificate. The company operates a fleet of 15 jet and turboprop aircraft at its locations at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Ill.; Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha, Neb.; Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa; and Flying Cloud Regional Airport (FCM) in Eden Prairie, Minn.
Thanks to an amended STC, StandardAero is now offering to upgrade Dassault Falcon 20s that have undergone the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 major retrofit. New features offered through the upgrade include dual multifunction displays, an integrated engine indication system and the ability to view video on the system’s multifunction display. Also, the integrated flight information system now includes XM Satellite weather Version 6.0, which offers winds aloft, satellite imagery, lightning data and temporary flight restrictions (TFR) information.
Colorado-based Jettech has developed a Garmin G600 installation for the Cessna Citation 501 and 551 and is awaiting supplemental type certification of the modification. Following FAA approval, Jettech plans to begin offering initial installations of the electronic flight instrument system at its Denver facilities. Subsequently, installation kits will be available through Jettech-approved, Garmin-authorized dealers.
There’s no small irony that 100LL avgas is being viewed with disdain by some for the damage it might cause the global environment. Not all that long ago, its predecessor was regarded as a wonder fuel that eventually helped snuff a fire of cataclysmic dimensions that had threatened to consume all living things.
Sikorsky Innovations, the United Technologies helicopter manufacturer’s technology development arm, has made an equity investment in small, Marietta, Ga.-based Adaptive Flight, which develops small unmanned rotorcraft and flight control systems. Sikorsky says the investment, which it did not detail, advances its development of optionally piloted aircraft technology, manned-unmanned teaming, and its plans to demonstrate an unmanned cargo resupply mission with a UH-60 Black Hawk.
Piaggio Aero received both type and production certificates in November for its P.180 Avanti II business turboprop from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation, ANAC. The Avanti II can now be legally sold, registered and operated in Brazil.
Sad news for Concorde devotees. “Concorde 216,” British Airways Concorde G-BOAF, made the very last Concorde flight on Nov. 26, 2003, when it was ferried from Heathrow to its birthplace at Airbus’ Filton plant near Bristol, England. Alpha Foxtrot will not be reopened to the public when it comes out of a maintenance and preservation program this winter. But it will be returned to outside display at the airfield until a permanent home can be found, preferably where it can be preserved indoors.
Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) is offering two new Wi-Fi broadband solutions for in-service Hawker 4000 and Hawker 800XP aircraft equipped with Honeywell avionics. Both supplemental type certificated packages feature Aircell ATG 4000 and ATG 5000 equipment. The Aircell ATG 4000 is designed for installation along with the company’s Axxess voice communication system, while the ATG 5000 is designed to be installed as a standalone broadband system.
Lee Juan Lanford, 87, founder of Associated Air Center (AAC), died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, Nov. 13. Lanford helped establish the Associated Radio Co., in 1948 at Love Field in Dallas, initially as a three-man operation that specialized in the repair and installation of surplus radio equipment in ex-military aircraft that were being converted into private/corporate aircraft. The firm added maintenance, repair and overhaul in 1968, including exterior modifications and refurbishments and the name changed to Associated Air Center.
StandardAero has added four mobile service teams (MSTs) to its existing business aviation support network, for a total of nine. The new MSTs will be located in Little Rock, Ark.; Van Nuys, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; and Dallas, Texas. The company also opened a Mobile Operation Center (MOC), operating 24 hr. a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.
Dassault Falcon’s 2000LX received approval to operate into London City Airport. An autobrake for the Falcon 2000 family was developed to reduce landing distance following the steep (5.5 deg.) LCY approach. “Meeting these requirements is not an easy task but the convenience of flying into the heart of downtown London is highly valuable for business jet operators,” said Dassault Falcon President and CEO John Rosanvallon.
The risk and financial physics that control aviation insurance are more complex than the aerodynamics that control the aircraft that we fly. The insurance industry in turn controls our industry more directly than the FAA in a number of ways. Insurance underwriters have often lowered premiums to encourage the of use two-pilot crews in “single-pilot” aircraft, or to ensure that flight departments use more simulator training. Do underwriters lower premiums out of the goodness of their hearts? No. They are simply improving their odds.
Raisbeck Engineering will provide its Ram Air Recovery System (RARS) for the new Beechcraft King Air 250. The system boosts performance throughout the flight envelope by reducing engine inlet turbine temperature by about 20°C, Raisbeck says. The effects include increased flat-rating for operation at hot, high-altitude airports; increased climb capability; increased cruise speeds; and a more efficient engine. The system is installed as a retrofit on Super King Air 200s and B200s, and more than 1,000 systems have been installed on King Airs since 1982.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services delivered the first upgraded S-61 helicopter to the U.S. State Department, the company announced Dec. 3. Last year, the U.S. State Department entered into an IDIQ (indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity) agreement to purchase up to 110 upgraded S-61s for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of worldwide operations. To date, purchase orders for 17 aircraft have been placed by the State Department. The S-61 upgrade includes composite main rotor blades for better high/hot performance.
Sikorsky has begun final assembly of the first production S-76D, with delivery scheduled for 2012. Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody delivered the first production fuselage to Sikorsky Global Helicopters in Coatesville, Pa., in mid-November. The upgraded S-76D — with composite rotor blades, dual-speed rotor, active vibration control, Thales integrated flight deck and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines — is Sikorsky’s response to increased competition in the intermediate helicopter market.
Sometimes no news is just that: no news. Snecma’s Silvercrest engine was originally launched as a 9,500- to 12,000-lb-thrust motivator for large and long-range jets — read: Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault. The company announced an 80-hr. test run on a developmental prototype that reportedly exceeded expectations, and the engine was poised to appear in service in 2012, Snecma said. Of course, that was back in 2008, when the business aviation world slid into an economic abyss, and now the premiere date has slid to 2014 but with no application airframe named yet.
Falcon 2000 owners can opt for a new cabin interior next time their aircraft visits Basel for major maintenance or a new paint job. Jet Aviation Basel, a designated Dassault Falcon completions center, launched its “Jet Falcon” cabin interior refurbishment program at MEBA 2010. The program offers three cabin interior designs — Classic, Style and Fashion, with standardized sets of designs and modular processes to keep downtime and costs to a minimum.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), Alexandria, Va., announced the selection of Charles O’Dell, director of Sun Air Jets, Camarillo, Calif., as the newest member of the board of governors. Air Partner, London, England, has promoted Simon Wheatley to the position of U.K. manager of its Private Jets division, replacing Ben Bewsey, who has left the company. Air Transport Association, Washington, D.C., named Nicholas E. Calio president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds James C. May, who has been president for the past eight years.
Embraer delivered the first Phenom 100 business jet in India, the first of 18 Phenom 100s ordered by India’s Invision Air Services Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based on-demand charter company. Invision Air ordered the aircraft three years ago, along with two Phenom 300s.
Thanks to the recent issuance of a series of FAA STCs, a number of in-service Dassault and Gulfstream aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 avionics can be upgraded to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV).
Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia has taken delivery of its first of nine AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin-engine helicopters. The helicopters will be used to perform transport missions supporting offshore oil and gas industry operations in Malaysia. Weststar Aviation Services is currently the largest commercial customer for the AW139 in the Asia Pacific region. The remaining eight aircraft will be delivered through March of this year. Pilot and technician training services and a comprehensive support package are being provided by AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
