Jet Aviation, Teterboro, N.J., named Richard Kunert as vice president of safety, standards and regulatory affairs in the United States. He reports to Theo Staub, president and chief operating officer of Jet Aviation North America.
-Eurocopter AS350B, C and D helicopters -- For aircraft that have a Geneva Aviation P132 console, install right- and left-side Geneva cyclic control sticks and modify the cyclic grips and the copilot cyclic stand.
April 11, 2006 was the 10th anniversary of the death of Jessica Dubroff, a seven-year-old caught up in a stunt "record" attempt by self-serving adults. She was supposedly pursuing the goal of becoming the youngest pilot to make a transcontinental flight, an impossible record since she could not qualify as PIC.
The following publications provide insight into writing effective procedures as well as templates to help you get started: -Degani, Asaf and Wiener, Earl L. "On the Design of Flight Deck Procedures." NASA Contractor Report 177642, June 1994. Moffett Field, Calif.: NASA Ames Research Center. (Also available in the Flight Safety Digest, Vol. 13, No. 8, August 1994.) -Degani, Asaf and Wiener, Earl L. "The Human Factors of Flight Deck Checklists." NASA Contractor Report 177549, 1990. Moffett Field, Calif.: NASA Ames Research Center.
Far East Russia Aviation Services, an aircraft ground handling network, has extended its presence to over 100 airports that stretch from Brussels to, well, Far Eastern Russia. According to Chris Cartwright, the U.S.-born joint managing director of FERAS, in Russia alone the company has established over 12 new locations and employs its own ground staff. "This sets us apart from the other Russian companies that mainly specialize in confirming credit and fuel -- but don't have personnel on the ground," he said. It was the first company into Vnukovo in 1993.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has officially released the equivalent of FAR Part 135 operating standards and CCAR 135 is now in the rule book. This is expected to further encourage growth in both business and regional aviation. Asia Business Aviation Association President Jason Liao says that Hainan Airlines' business jet subsidiary, Deerjet, will be operating its five Hawker 800XPs under Part 135 and its managed Beechcraft Premier Is under CCAR Part 91.
S-TEC has received FAA STC approval to install its MAGIC EFIS and the MAGIC 2100 digital flight control system (DFCS) in the King Air E90. This approval gives operators an opportunity to replace their aging flight control systems while upgrading their panel to a modern glass cockpit. "For safety purposes it's imperative to have the latest technology available. Now King Air E90 operators do," said S-TEC Director of Sales Greg Plantz.
Gulfstream Aerospace is claiming a speed record for a G550 flight between Seoul, South Korea, and Salt Lake City -- 10 hours and 19 minutes. Carrying four crewmembers and seven passengers, the G550 departed Incheon International Airport at 10:30 p.m. local time March 25 and flew 5,642 nm, landing at Salt Lake City International at 4:27 p.m. the same day. Average airspeed was 0.85 Mach with what Gulfstream described as "an average headwind of 64 knots." The aircraft landed with 4,000 pounds of fuel remaining.
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Stans, Switzerland. Thomas Bosshard, has been named chief operating officer of Pilatus in Stans. Thomas Hunziker has been appointed president and CEO of the company's U.S. division in Broomfield, Colo., and Mike Rector has been named vice president of production for the company. He will be based in Stans.
During the past two years, international sales of business aircraft have become an increasingly important part of the market for both new and used turbine-powered airplanes.
AircraftLogs, Columbus, Ohio. Eric P. Roy has joined the company as executive vice president. He will be responsible for corporate sales and development.
The Vref Turboprop Index -- a compilation of quarterly prices recorded for the Beech King Air C90A and B200, Cessna Conquest I and II, Piper Cheyenne II and Twin Commander 690B for more than a decade -- shows that the average value of these aircraft now exceeds $1.1 million. The index has risen for 10 straight quarters since bottoming out at just over $900,000 in third quarter 2003.
FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS of aircraft, "Cape Town" has become part of the argot of a transaction, and part of the cost. At the very least, it can slow things down. At worst, it can really queer a deal. So, what is it?
For more than a year, a great confrontation expected to be decided a year from now has been escalating between long-term antagonists over the classic prize of turf and how it will be governed and administered.
Executive Jet Management claims it is generating lots of revenue for its management clients who put their aircraft on EJM's charter certificate. Cincinnati-based EJM said 32 client aircraft in its charter fleet each generated more than $1 million in gross charter revenue in 2005, compared with 25 aircraft that reached the $1 million mark in 2004. "All of these management clients exhibit similar traits," said Albert C. Pod, president and CEO of EJM.
After a five-month delay, five new Piaggio Avanti IIs have left the Genoa, Italy, factory complete with their all-new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suites. However, the $6.195 million aircraft are not yet fitted with their newer Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66Bs since engine certification on the twin pusher is not anticipated until the end of this year or early 2007. Piaggio Aero board member Alberto Galassi said that while the company had thought the change to the Pro Line 21 cockpit would be relatively easy, "It wasn't.
Eurocopter sold 87 EC 135 helicopters in 2005 -- 50 percent destined for the United States. The company has also certified an increased takeoff weight of 2,910 kilograms (6,425 pounds), from 2,835 kilograms (6,250 pounds), with LBA/EASA OK'ing the EC 135 T2i/P2i variants on Feb. 21, 2006. Deliveries will start in late September. The empty weight has been reduced to 1,455 kilograms (3,208 pounds), giving the EC 135 an empty weight ratio of 50 percent.
IT WAS SUPER BOWL Sunday 2006, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Seattle Seahawks in the 40th star-studded showdown, this time in Detroit. Fans by the tens of thousands were descending upon Ford Field, and as Jerome "The Bus" Bettis and his football battle-tested colleagues were suiting up, 250 miles to the west other teams of professionals were getting ready for a different kind of contest.
Jet Aviation has completed its acquisition of Midcoast Aviation, the St. Louis-based business aviation maintenance and modification facility that also provides FBO services. Jet Aviation announced the acquisition plan in January; Midcoast specializes in Dassault Falcon, Raytheon and Bombardier aircraft.
Premier Jet, San Diego, has announced that Craig Foster is the FBO's general manager. Previously, Foster was the regional director of Atlantic Aviation at John Wayne Airport. Premier Jet is located at Palomar-McClellan Airport.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is creating a company to provide liability insurance to repair stations. The association said 20 of its members have agreed to help launch the Aviation Alliance Insurance Risk Retention Group (AAIRG) and hopes the new company will be operational in the second half of this year. ARSA will limit participation in AAIRG to association members. AAIRG members will pay an up-front capitalization fee, projected at about 30 percent of a member's current annual insurance premium, and will have a stake in the new company.
"Certificate holders, including repair stations, are the safety net in the FAA's system," Aeronautical Repair Station Association Executive Director Sarah MacLeod said recently in connection with a suit filed in federal court by the association to block implementation of a rule extending drug and alcohol testing.
