I have some experience in flying the Mitsubishi MU-2. I first flew it in 1967 and have flown every model, with the exception of the "A" and "C". By way of qualifications, I have an ATP, Multi, CFI, CFII and am typed in the Gulfstream II and III. In flying the MU-2 alone, I have accumulated 15,000 plus hours of safe operation.
Rolls-Royce and Helijet International have signed an exclusive agreement on the supply of Model 250 engine service parts and support. Under the arrangement, Rolls-Royce will provide a custom package of parts and services designed to lower Helijet's DOCs. Helijet, based at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, Canada, will also benefit from its exclusive use of the Rolls-Royce Model 250 FIRST (Full-service Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team) network of repair and overhaul providers.
Flight Safety Foundation, Alexandria, Va., announced that Jay Donoghue will join the staff as director of publications. Most recently, Donogue served as editorial director of Air Transport World magazine.
On Jan. 30, Pratt & Whitney Canada marked a major milestone in its 77-year history with the production of its 60,000th engine. A special ceremony was held in its Mississauga, Ontario, plant to commemorate the event. Of those engines, more than 40,000 are still in operation with close to 9,000 operators worldwide. In the last decade alone, the company has certified more than 50 engines. These include new engines among its current engine series - the PT6, PW100, PW200, PW300, PW500, JT15D and PW900.
Grumman dominated the large-cabin business jet aircraft market after introducing the Gulfstream II in 1967. When the Canadians later announced they would challenge with their new CL600, Grumman elected to develop a G1159 derivative that would have an eight-hour, 3,750 mile-range, with basic reserves and feature a modified airfoil and winglets. Most GII systems were retained, along with its twin 11,400-pound-thrust Rolls-Royce Spey 511-8 engines. But Grumman never proceeded with it.
Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, has named Doug Oliver as communications director. Oliver has more than 16 years experience in aerospace communications, most recently at Embraer. Oliver also served in media relations at Fairchild Dornier and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
Dallas Airmotive, Dallas, named Dave Rassett as regional engine manager TFE731 for the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions. John Trull was named regional engine manager for Rolls-Royce programs in the Mid-Atlantic region. Denise Turner has been named director of field service and rental engine programs.
"We were the first company to install the Chelton EFIS equipment in a helicopter," states Max Lyons, president of Hillsboro Aviation. "In addition to providing quality Chelton EFIS installations to our customers, we have also upgraded one-third of our own turbine helicopter fleet to the FlightLogic system. We have found that the additional safety factor far outweighs the investment.
The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) held its annual group meeting at February's Asian Aerospace event in Singapore. The association has some 30 members and is working to expand that number. Jason Liao, Beijing-based chairman of AsBAA and Raytheon's regional sales director North Asia, says that the association has gained a higher profile thanks to the Hong Kong business aviation gathering held in 2004, and the first NBAA-run ABACE at Shanghai in 2005. The latter event "showed everyone that we were serious," said Liao.
James Gilbert, aviator, journalist and gentleman, who prized the freedom of the skies and loved confronting officialdom, died of cancer on Feb., 14; he was 70. Admired for his aviation passion, sparkling intellect and lively good humor, Gilbert was editor and publisher of Pilot, a British monthly, which he purchased as a basket case in 1972 and developed into a popular, profitable and award-winning periodical that he sold five years ago when he began his fight against his terminal illness.
Raisbeck Engineering of Seattle launched an upgraded Web site for researching myriad performance systems and modifications (www.raisbeck.com). Users can search by aircraft model - or by broad categories such as commercial or government products. The site also contains a listing of qualified sales and installation facilities. There a lots of pictures, technical information and lots and lots of King Air and Learjet stuff.
Aerospace Industries Association (AIS), Washington, D.C., elected Ronald Sugar of Northrop Grumman the new chairman for 2006. He succeeds Robert Johnson of Honeywell Aerospace.
George Galanopoulos, managing director of London Executive Aviation, says he expects the DOCs for the Citation Mustang to be around $400 per hour, a calculation of some import since LEA has seven of the VLJs on order. With Mustang's fuel-efficient engines and easier maintenance, DOCs should be 20- to 30-percent lower than the Citation II/Bravo or their equivalent, he believes, and will therefore revolutionize the air charter business in Europe and put middle managers in business jets. He says the Mustang should be capable of delivering 700 to 1,000 flight hours per year.
Jet Source Inc. has been awarded an airframe and avionics completion contract for the San Diego Police Department's four new American Eurocopter AS350B-3s, which are scheduled for delivery this year. The A-Stars will replace a 38-year-old Bell 206, the nation's oldest police helicopter, along with a 33-year-old helicopter and two that go back 12 years.
Lee County Port Authority, Fort Myers, Fla., has named Adam Nguyen senior manager of engineering and construction for Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field General Aviation Airport.
Embraer announced on Feb. 15 that the Embraer 170 received CAT IIIa certification from Brazilian aviation authority Centro Técnico Aeroespacial (CTA) and from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Category IIIa Autolanding requires an autopilot system to safely land the airplane at low visibility (600 feet or 200 meters RVR) and in adverse weather conditions. The autolanding function was also certified for CAT I and CAT II operational conditions. FAA certification is expected shortly.
The DOT has sent letters to the House and Senate Appropriations committees outlining the FAA's proposed $57.8 million investment in the Gary/Chicago Airport (GCA) over a 10-year period. The committees now have 30 days to review the letters, after which Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is expected to make the formal offer to the city of Gary. Long-term funding means that the GCA will no longer be dependent on yearly appropriations from Congress and instead will be able to move forward with long-term efforts outlined in its 20-year Master Plan.
Southbound from Indianapolis to Marco Island, Fla., the Beechjet 400A was cleared to descend from FL 380 to FL 330. As they started coming down, the pilots heard a loud pop from the right engine followed about 10 seconds later by a loud pop from the left and then the engine indicators quickly rolled back. Donning their oxygen masks, the pilots declared an emergency with a double engine failure. ATC then advised the distances to Gainesville and to Jacksonville and they elected to divert to the latter where the weather was better and the runways longer.
Comments on the FAA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding new standards for fuel tank flammability are due March 23. The proposed rule, which could require the retrofit of approximately 3,200 Boeing and Airbus aircraft over a seven-year period, is aimed at reducing the risk of explosion from the buildup of fuel vapor in aircraft tanks.
CJ Systems Aviation Group opened a new base in Bonifay, Fla., supplementing two other AirMedic sites in Quincy and Perry to serve the panhandle of Florida. The Quincy facility received a new EC 135 aircraft, replacing a BK 117 that has been transferred to Bonifay. The BK 117 will be used at Bonifay until a new EC 135 arrives there this spring, which will bring the number of EC 135s in the AirMedic fleet to three. CJ Systems will place the BK 117 into its backup fleet at that time. The EC 135 aircraft features highly reliable technology and a superior maintenance record.
AeroMech Inc. has earned an FAA STC for its Hawker 400 and 600 RVSM retrofit. This approval is the 50th RVSM group certification that the Everett, Wash.-based company has won.
All international flights pose challenges -- of procedures, customs, language, currency, distance, time changes and more. And even though the United States shares a long southern border with it, for American operators Mexico very much qualifies as an international destination with all the caveats that description entails. And more.
