Dassault says A, B and C checks intervals for the Falcon 7X average 50 percent greater than on any previous Falcon model, which the company says cuts maintenance costs and increases aircraft availability. Compared with previous Falcon 900 models, the F7X "A" check has gone up to nine months/600 flight hours from six months/300 flight hours. The "B" check has been extended to 2,400 flight hours from 1,500, and the most intensive, the "C" check, is now eight years or 4,000 flight cycles instead of six years and 3,750 flight cycles.
I very much enjoyed David Esler's "Coping With the Future: Major Business Airports" (May, page 76). Each airport has its unique set of plusses and minuses.
Mooney Airplane Co., Kerrville, Texas, appointed John McCoury as vice president of engineering. Jon Greenwood is the company's new vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Barry Hodkin, who has been appointed vice president of corporate planning.
Embraer has started its fastest ramp-up for aircraft production ever. At its Gavião Peixoto Test Center, a 128,844-square-foot Phenom final assembly facility is under construction, to be completed by the end of this month. The first aircraft to be assembled there will be the fourth Phenom 100. The final assembly of the initial six test aircraft (three each of the Phenom 100 and 300) will be at São José dos Campos, where the first Phenom 100 has rapidly taken shape since March.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings has renamed itself DeCrane Aerospace to emphasize its stronger integration among its component businesses to provide seamless customer solutions across former business boundaries. DeCrane Aircraft Holdings was initially, indeed, a holding company for businesses acquired by founder Jack DeCrane and did little or no business of its own.
Avotek Information Resources has just published Introduction to Aircraft Maintenance, Revised Edition. This book is part of the company's AMT series, consisting of four textbooks that cover the FAA curriculum requirements for A&P training. New material and updated information covers electronic motors and generators, maintenance forms and records, mechanics' privileges and responsibilities and human factors. Price: $44.95 Avotek Information Resources (800) 828-6835 www.avotekbooks.com or www.amtbooks.com
Robert E. Breiling's new edition of the Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Review is now available. It identifies the potential accident/incident cause factors that will aid you and your pilots in supporting the procedures and standards already established to continue to maintain the highest levels of safety. There are 187 business jet and turboprop accidents and incidents and 175 turbine helicopter accidents identified in this 500-page review.
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots said it is "outraged" about the decision to prosecute the ExcelAire pilots. IFALPA said the decision "is flawed on a number of levels" because it violates ICAO Annex 13, Attachment E, which states "that there can be no criminal liability without intent. Brazilian law should respect this fundamental principle in all cases." IFALPA also faulted the decision to exclude the Brazilian military - which operates the air traffic control system in that country - from the investigation.
In the past year, both the Cessna Mustang and the Eclipse 500 have received type certification and more models of very light jets (VLJs) are soon to follow. Considering these aircraft fly in the same airspace as the big jets, they need many of the same systems, but in a much smaller package. With a full suite of navigation and communications gear and IFR capability, VLJs must still meet the demands of passenger comfort with a quiet and smooth cabin, and be both efficient and reliable.
(Montreal) -- Ed Thomas has been appointed regional vice president of Learjet sales in the United States. Paul Schenian has been named managing director of pre-owned aircraft and is responsible for used aircraft sales worldwide. He is based in Dallas.
The FAA issued a rule essentially banning U.S. civilian operations in Somalia -- prohibiting flying at altitudes below 20,000 feet in Somalian airspace. The rule applies to U.S. carriers, U.S. commercial operators, operators of U.S.-registered aircraft and persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate with a few exceptions. Special approval will be given for operations within Somalian airspace that result from a contract with a U.S. government agency. The rule comes after two incidents at Mogadishu International Airport.
King Schools' "Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000" course is now updated to cover the Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), XM Weather, en route and approach holding, and OBS lessons as well as expanded coverage about setting fuel information, bearing pointers, updating the Jeppesen database, and course reversals including procedure turns. Interactive questions following each lesson test the pilot's G1000 knowledge and teach G1000 procedures. The course contains nine CDs and runs about five hours before the interactive questions. Price: $249
Eclipse Aviation won a Production Certificate for its Eclipse 500 VLJ on April 26 that will yield increased production and delivery rates of the new aircraft. With a PC, aircraft coming off the production line (with its attendant inspection and QA procedures) is certified. Previously, each Eclipse 500 had to be individually certified as to conformity with the TC before it received a Certificate of Airworthiness. The type certification for the Eclipse 500 was awarded in fall 2006; Eclipse delivered the first customer aircraft just before year-end.
Airports would use six key tools, including behavioral recognition, targeted physical inspection and biometrics, as part of a new, risk-based approach to screen employees with access to secure areas under a measure unveiled in May by the TSA, in partnership with industry associations.
DeCrane Aerospace, Georgetown, Del., announced that William "Bill" Weaver has been appointed president of PATS Aircraft LLC. Weaver has been with DeCrane since 1997 and will continue his present duties as president of Hollingsead International, Inc.
Jet Linx Aviation, Omaha, announced that Justin R. Kuykendall joined the company in the newly established position of executive vice president of business development and chief financial officer.
