The European General Aviation Manufacturers Association (EGAMA) issued May 12 for the first time a set of key Facts & Figures. EGAMA is an active grouping of ASD (AeroSpace & Defence Industries Association of Europe).
I read “Without Apology” (Viewpoint, January, page 7) with interest because of the negative spin placed on business aircraft by Congress, and of course the lapdog media with its pile-on mentality, during the hearings on the automotive industry bailout proposal. The fat, stupid cats running Detroit deserve an Oscar for sheer arrogance. However, you raise a very interesting issue once again — business aircraft as a sign of noblesse oblige.
With the latest proposal to limit the operational freedom of aircraft weighing over 12,500 pounds, I am surprised by how limited and guarded the responses have been from the aviation community. It seems that with every passing quarter, the TSA has issued some new restriction on our civil liberties. I don’t think I am alone in believing that the TSA is continuing to expand its sphere of influence, control and restrictions at a rate faster than it can effectively manage, or measure, its own effectiveness.
CAE has received Inspection Authorization (IA) approval from the FAA for six of its e-Learning maintenance training courses. The courses currently offered to maintenance technicians over the Web include B737NG engine ground operations, advanced digital principles, human factors, maintenance diagnostic systems (MDS) and RVSM. Maintenance technicians must train a specific number of hours in order to have their IA certificate renewed. Web-based courses offer a new way to gain qualified hours, previously available through instructor-led courses.
Oxford, U.K.-based PremiAir’s new fixed-wing maintenance facility has been named an authorized dealer for the Raisbeck line of performance-enhancing upgrades. PremiAir, a Hawker Beechcraft authorized service center, relocated its fixed-wing maintenance operations to new, dedicated hangar facilities at Oxford Airport in the fourth quarter of 2008. PremiAir’s Oxford facility has been approved for EASA Part 145 base maintenance on the full Beechcraft line. The $1.7 million investment in the facility includes new workshops, customer reception areas and office space.
PATS Aircraft Systems announced that the PATS BBJ and BBJ2 SFAR-88 Service Bulletins (SB) have been approved by the FAA as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) for AD 2008-22-01. The AD stemmed from fuel system reviews, conducted by PATS and reviewed with the FAA, that PATS auxiliary fuel tanks installed on BBJs and BBJ2s did not comply with new enhanced SFAR 88 safety requirements for preventing potential ignition sources in the auxiliary fuel system.
The FAA’s Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), first commissioned in 2003 and now fully operational, is providing large-scale benefits for operators flying WAAS-equipped aircraft. The system provides the levels of accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability needed to transform GPS from a supplemental-means navigation system into a primary- or sole-means nav system.
Although the first quarter delivery figures for general aviation manufacturers overall were negative, Cirrus Design Corp. President and CEO Brent Wouters is buoyed by his company’s performance. The manufacturer of the SR20 and SR22 series of light, piston-engine aircraft said that while international sales were still in decline his U.S. business was up 2 percent from 2008 and that this year the company planned total deliveries “around the mid-300s.” He said the financial improvement resulted from a combination of cost cutting and increased sales.
Aircraft and Turbine Support Inc. at Tulsa International Airport has completed the bulk of a multi-million-dollar expansion project, moving into its newly minted location in January and being fully operational ever since. The FBO expects to hold its grand opening in late spring of this year. New additions and updates include a remodeled terminal, a Corporate Aviation Complex for rentable executive office space and a 22,000-square-foot storage hangar. “Our facility is spacious,” General Manager Joe Cole said, “but it’s not overwhelming.
Stevens Aviation has received Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) for its avionics upgrade to the Learjet 60. Stevens owns an STC that covers installation of the Universal Avionics EFI-890R multifunction display with the application server unit and the optional Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System in the Learjet 60. Stevens Aviation is negotiating with several partners for distribution and installation of the Learjet 60 kit worldwide.
Cessna announced the 200th Citation Mustang delivery when Maritime Air Charters picked up its new aircraft at Cessna’s Independence, Kan., facility. Although based in Honolulu, Maritime Air Charters will operate the new Mustang in charter service from its facility in Newnan, Ga., outside Atlanta. Maritime intends to offer its services including aircraft management, flight crew service and charter management to other Mustang owners.
Piper Aircraft Co. was acquired May 7 by Imprimis Fund, which purchased 100 percent of Piper’s stock from The American Fund, which has owned the planemaker since 2003. The terms of the sale were not disclosed, but The American Fund announced that the acquisition price represented a $31 million increase over its original purchase of Piper. Imprimis is based in Singapore, but Stephen Berger, its managing partner, is a native of Philadelphia.
ARINC Direct is offering a new Web-based package of flight support services for VLJs, plus other general aviation aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds at takeoff. The subscription price of only $1,500 per year, includes flight planning, complete weather information, aircraft tracking, runway analysis and weight and balance calculations. It also includes participation in ARINC’s discount fuel service. Dispatchers and crews can access the service from anywhere using any Internet device or smartphone.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of a midair collision between two EMS helicopters last year was both pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of one of the pilots to follow arrival and noise abatement guidelines and the failure of the other pilot to follow communications guidelines. On June 29, 2008, about 3:47 p.m. MST, two Bell 407 EMS helicopters, operated by Air Methods Corp.
June 15-21: International Paris Air Show, Le Bourget Exhibition Centre, Le Bourget, France. www.paris-air-show.com June 24: NBAA Regional Forum, Signature Flight Support, St. Paul Downtown Airport, Minn. www.nbaa.org June 25-27: 14th Annual Flight Attendants Conference, Doubletree Hotel, New Orleans. www.nbaa.org July 16: Demonstrating & Quantifying the Value of Business Aviation, McGraw-Hill Corporate Headquarters, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. (800) 240-7645. www.aviationweek.com/conferences
Executive AirShare took delivery of its first Embraer Phenom 100 in early April. The fractional aircraft ownership company based in Kansas City, Mo., is the first fleet customer to receive a Phenom jet, out of a total firm order for 44 Phenom 100s and six Phenom 300s. In May 2007, Executive AirShare placed its initial order for seven Phenom 100s, with options for seven more. The order was expanded in September of the same year to include two Phenom 300s and options for two more jets.
The ninth European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) drew to a close May 14. Event organizers cheered the show as the third-largest EBACE ever, with 10,917 registered attendees. The three-day event opened May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland with 9,300 pre-registered attendees, 411 exhibitors and 65 aircraft on static display — five more aircraft than in 2008. BCA had our Show News staff on site, where they published an issue each day and posted it to the AviationWeek.com free Web site, where they’re still available.
All large aircraft operators intending to fly in European airspace after Jan. 1, 2012, must file Monitoring, Reporting and Verification [MRV] procedures for computing the precise quantity of CO2 their aircraft emit on each flight and their plans to offset the effects of those carbon emissions by Aug. 31, 2009, according to Brian Humphries, president of the European Business Aviation Association.
Final Rules Agusta AB139 and AW139 helicopters — Remove the left-hand and right-hand side cockpit door windows and replace them with airworthy cockpit door windows. Also, install an emergency jettison strap with each cockpit door window, along with an external emergency-exit placard, on each cockpit door external side. Bell 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427 and 430 helicopters — Before further flight, replace certain rotor blades with an airworthy blade.
I’d joined the U.S. Army as a teenager, hoping to become a pilot, and after a couple of years working as a missile technician, I got the chance, but only if I reenlisted. I chose to get a degree at Embry-Riddle instead. That was in 1962.
GAMA reported a 41.1-percent drop in general aviation shipments in the first three months of 2009 compared to the same period last year. Deliveries of general aviation airplanes totaled 462 units, with industry billings falling 18.2 percent to $4.34 billion. “This is an extremely difficult time for our industry,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We are dealing first and foremost with the severe negative effects of a worldwide economic downturn, but also with unwarranted criticism focused on the industry.
Embraer has been awarded two Diamond Certificates of Excellence by the U.S. FAA for its recently certified company-owned executive jet service centers in Mesa, Ariz., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Diamond Certificate of Excellence is the FAA’s highest award for excellence in aviation maintenance training. Both Embraer service centers are part of a $100 million investment by the company to support executive jets
The May edition of J.P. Morgan’s Business Jet Monthly reported that inventories of used business jets fell 10 basis points in April, the first drop in 18 months. “While one data point does not make a trend, we’ll be watching closely for further signs of inventory stabilization,” declared the analysts at the financial services company. “We believe the business jet downturn still has a long way to run, but it appears we could be approaching the end of the beginning of it.”
I have an acquaintance — a light-twin business pilot — who always files IFR for any trip away from his immediate local area for two reasons: “One, I’ve got someone to talk to and help me watch for traffic; and, two, staying IFR keeps me on track for the correct airport, especially at night.” Not a bad idea, especially for a lone pilot in busy airspace.
