Bell 429 Specifications Characteristics Standard Seating 1+7 VIP Luxury Seating 1+4 Capacity Standard Fuel 215 U.S. Gal. Auxiliary Fuel (Optional) 40 U.S. Gal. Cabin Floor Space (cu.
A JPMorgan analyst agreed with NBAA’s Bolen. Despite noting the potential loss of a major order for Cessna, the analyst said, “We view this as a short-term blip.” The orders in question for both Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft were primarily for 2013 and beyond, JPMorgan added. Reports of other industry activity also have shown promise, as Bolen noted.
On Sept. 21, 2005, a scheduled airline Airbus 320 took off from Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, Calif., bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), carrying 140 passengers and six crewmembers. While on climb-out, the copilot attempted to retract the landing gear, but the nose gear would not successfully return to the stowed position even after several attempts. The crew requested permission to make a flyby of their maintenance base at nearby Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB), to try to get a visual indication of the problem.
King Schools and Redbird Flight Simulations are offering Redbird products through King Schools’ marketing, sales and distribution channels worldwide. Redbird offers a line of four simulators from a fixed desktop device up through its FMX/ci, which offers full-motion, panoramic vision and force-feedback controls. “Redbird has used the latest improvements in software and video graphics technology to deliver a realistic training environment that is within the financial reach of virtually every flight school,” said Martha King, co-chair of King Schools.
Cessna Aircraft just released the final performance numbers on the $8.75 million Citation CJ4 and the results are turning heads in São José dos Campos, Brazil, as well as back home in Wichita. Compared to Cessna’s original projections, the aircraft weighs less when empty, has more thrust, needs less runway, cruises faster and flies farther.
Bombardier said in its third-quarter 2009 financial report that it received 26 orders for business jets in the three-month period and 24 cancellations — the first time in a year that it had more orders than cancellations. Bombardier remains in the black, though profits are substantially down compared to the same period last year.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and AVIC announced on Nov. 23 the completion of the first S-76C+ civil helicopter airframe produced in China under an agreement between Sikorsky and AVIC subsidiary Changhe Aircraft in Jingdezhen. The airframe will be delivered to the Sikorsky Global Helicopters facility in Coatesville, Pa., for customization.
During a November meeting in Paris the European Business Aviation Association formed a new Airports, Handling and Ground Operations Committee to promote fair, equitable and secure access to airports; assure safety and best practices standards at airports and in handling companies; promote environmentally friendly operations to the benefit of local communities; and “fight for fair competition” to benefit all stakeholders to meet the needs of aircraft operators, their passengers and crews. Michel de Ronne of Aéroport de Paris is the committee’s first chairman.
By mid-December 2009, Twin Commander Aircraft’s move from Washington state to Creedmoor, N.C., was expected to be complete. Earlier, the FAA had granted Twin Commander Aircraft a production certificate to begin producing aircraft parts in its new North Carolina facility, and the company began fulfilling orders from there on Nov. 16, according to President Matt Isley.
The aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) tasked with developing recommendations for Safety Management Systems (SMS) regulations is expected to present its initial findings to the FAA after its next meeting in March. Business aviation advocates are becoming increasingly concerned about missed deadlines for a formal SMS rulemaking. The ICAO established a January 2009 deadline for SMS rules for commercial operations and November 2010 for private operations.
1st Source Bank, South Bend, Ind., has promoted Eduardo Ferreira to vice president of the Aircraft Division. He is responsible for new and used aircraft financing for international customers. Air BP, Salem, Ore., named John Nelson as it newest sales team member serving the Southeast.
Air BP has added seven new dealers to its network, four of which are participating in the Bravo Rewards Program: Emblem Aviation of Pinedale, Wyo. (PNA) Honeycutt Aviation of Olivehurst, Calif. (MYV) Delta AirElite Jet Center of Erlanger, Ky. (CVG) Jet West of Salinas, Calif. (SNS) The remaining three dealers are: City of New Braunfels in New Braunfels, Texas (BAZ) Elite Aviation Services of Hopkinsville, Ky. (HVC) Avbase of San Jose, Calif. (SJC)
Cessna Aircraft told employees in December that it will close its plant in Columbus, Ga., and move the work to plants in Independence, Kan., and Mexico over the next 24 months. The plant handles components and sub-assembly work for the full range of Cessna aircraft. In the memo, Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton did note some encouraging economic signs.
Thank you again for calling attention to one of the great misfortunes of the recent past (“Seeking the Sensible”) — the bullying and ultimately the destruction of TAG Aviation by the kind of authority that was so egregiously misused in that event. I had the honor of working with those you mentioned and others there whose integrity and professionalism were never in doubt. Their example of excellence caused the rest of us to want to be better. It was a great organization from the top to the bottom.
Mike Penrose (Via e-mail), Former AMIJC Chief Pilot (Via e-mail)
“Seeking the Sensible” (Viewpoint, December 2009, page 7) accurately summed up the TAG/AMIJC tragedy. [Impacted] 800 jobs, 800 families and 800 mortgages, for what?
GE Aviation has selected Premier Turbines of Neosho, Mo. as its Designated Repair Center in North America and South America for its Czech-built M601 and H80 turboprop engines. Premier Turbines will offer heavy repair services, exchange engines and rentals, line replacement unit rotable pools and field service support to all existing and future M601and H80 engines in the Americas region. GE Aviation will supply OEM parts to Premier. The company will be ready to accept M601 engines for repair in the first quarter of 2010.
What are you supposed to do when you are over the final approach fix with an iced-up airplane, have an unknown failure in the flight control system, there’s freezing drizzle above you, a slippery runway below, and the descent is unstabilized?
In the interest of fairness to the TSA, I need to state my bias: I fly about 300 hours a year, and half of the airports that I use don’t have a fence. I enjoy the freedom of driving straight to my airplane to load and unload, but I do recognize the threat. I want fences at these airports: Far too often have I had to conduct go-arounds at unfenced airports because of deer on their runways. Undoubtedly the TSA’s ever-lengthening reach will eventually extend to all of these airports. And the resulting fences (and perhaps background checks) will keep the deer away.
Harold Hoepf died on Nov. 3, 2009 at age 87 after a brief illness in Clinton Township, Mich. He served as aviation manger/chief pilot for the Valeron Corp. for over 20 years, retiring in 1987. He oversaw Valeron’s entry into the business jet era, flying and managing their Learjet 25s and 35s at their Detroit City Airport base. Hoepf grew up one of 11 children on a farm in McCutchenville, Ohio, and as a boy dreamed of flying. He was accepted into the Navy V5 program during World War II and flew Hellcats off the USS Chenango.
FlightSafety International will open a new airline learning center in Johannesburg, South Africa, with training to begin in March 2010. The first simulators installed will be used in the training of pilots and maintenance technicians who operate and support Hawker Beechcraft 1900 and Bombardier Dash 8-100 and Q300 aircraft.
FlightSafety International announced that FlightSafety Academy has entered into an agreement with CABAIR and its affiliate, Orlando Flight Training, to jointly offer JAA pilot training. FlightSafety Academy students wishing to qualify for a European license will be able to complete their FAA qualification in Vero Beach before moving to Orlando Flight Training in Kissimmee, Fla., for the JAA ATPL ground school/CPL course and then to CABAIR in the United Kingdom to obtain a JAA Instrument Rating.
Swiss-based RUAG Business Aviation is teaming with Rockwell Collins to offer a Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) retrofit for legacy Piaggio P180 Avantis. RUAG Business Aviation — which provides comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, modifications and upgrades for business aircraft from three facilities in Switzerland and one in Germany — is taking pre-orders for the flight deck makeover and is seeking a launch customer for the retrofit, which is expected to be available in the fourth quarter.
InspecTech Aero Service, Inc. is offering the Smart Cabin Automated Dimming System (SCADS) for its I-Shades, an advanced light-control window shading system for aircraft and helicopters, which is the only electronic dimmable window system currently on aircraft, according to the company.
Director of Operations Ken Gray believes the original intent of the ACSF audit was “worthy” because his company, Executive Fliteways of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., was undergoing a minimum of three safety audits a year. So when ACSF management approached him to become a charter member and help develop the new audit standard, Gray jumped at the chance.
