The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) calling for new equipment and operating requirements for commercial helicopter operations. The NPRM, cleared by OMB last week, stems from concerns raised over the increasing number of accidents involving commercial helicopter operations and air ambulance operations in particular. OMB approval is one of the last steps before FAA releases a proposal.
STEVE JONES is taking a new position as general manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. Currently the managing director of London Oxford Airport, Jones will step into his new duties Nov. 17. He has more than 36 years of aviation experience, including 10 years at Oxford Airport. He began with British Aerospace in 1974 as an apprentice with Hawker Siddeley. He subsequently was a quality manager for the certification of all British Aerospace’s aircraft built in Chester, U.K. He also was responsible for the operations of the Hawker 125 business jet.
The National Business Aviation Association has released its 2010 Business Aviation Fact Book, a profile of the industry that offers real-world information and data about its value to citizens, companies and communities across the country. NBAA’s Business Aviation Fact Book notes on the first page that business aviation contributes $150 billion to U.S. economic output and generates more than 1 million jobs.
The tepid recovery in the general aviation market has faltered, industry leaders believe, pushing several manufacturers into another round of layoffs. Employees at both Hawker Beechcraft and Piper Aircraft were warned late last month of upcoming layoffs. Those notices followed announced plans to cut another 700 positions at Cessna (BA, Sept. 27/1).
Garmin International was awarded FAA supplemental type certificate approval for its Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS), clearing the unit for installation. Added to Garmin’s GNW 430W/530W avionics, the HTAWS provides graphical and audible alerts of potential terrain and obstacle conflicts. The system has forward-looking terrain avoidance capability with visual and aural advisories. HTAWS also provides a reduced-protection mode that enables low-level operations with minimal alerting while continuing to provide terrain and obstacle protection.
A Piaggio P-180 came to rest with the landing gear retracted at St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., International Airport, after the pilot had aborted the flight on Sept. 12, the National Transportation Safety Board says. The aircraft, N590JL, registered to Get Me There LLC, was on a local maintenance test flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, but neither the pilot nor the co-pilot were injured. The aircraft was in for an inspection, which involved the removal and replacement of the left elevator.
FAA has awarded Lockheed Martin a three-year contract extension to continue to provide automated flight service station services. The contract option that is being exercised is worth $356 million and is a follow-on to the initial contract awarded in 2005. This agreement was unusual for the FAA at the time, as it covered the provision of service as well as the system technology.
Oct. 19–21—National Business Aviation Association 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention, Atlanta, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Oct. 22—The Wings Club’s 68th Annual Dinner-Dance Honoring Allan McArtor, Chairman Airbus Americas, with its Distinguished Achievement Award, The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] Oct. 22—European Aviation Club seminar on passenger rights, Hotel Bristol Stephanie, Brussels, e-mail: [email protected]
Bombardier Aerospace’s board of directors last week gave the go-ahead to expand the company’s family of large business jets that will “build upon” the Global 5000 and Global Express XRS jets already in service, in a move that is widely viewed as a head-on challenge to Gulfstream’s new G650 jet.
KEVIN CONNELLY was appointed vice president, aftermarket services for Sargent Aerospace & Defense. Connelly will oversee Sargent’s aftermarket services business, including original equipment and third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work in Miami; Tucson, Ariz; Franklin, Ind.; and Torrance, Calif. He has 16 years of MRO experience, most recently as general manager for ACE Service, a joint venture between Parker Aerospace and Singapore Airlines.
Farnborough-based business aircraft management and charter group Gama Aviation has added a Learjet 60XR to its U.K. air operator certificate. The aircraft is available for third-party charter from its European base and joins two Hawker 800s, a Hawker 1000, a Gulfstream 550, two Learjet 45s, one Beechcraft 200 Super King Air and two Challenger 604s.
The governors of Maryland and New Jersey have become the latest to issue proclamations lauding general aviation and small airports. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) declared September “General Aviation and Community Airport Month.” “I am pleased to recognize this vital system of community airports and aircraft that contributes $2.1 billion into our local economy and creates nearly 6,800 jobs to our state,” says O’Malley. “It’s important that we continue to support this industry, which is vital to not only Maryland, but the entire country.”
Hawker Beechcraft has unveiled Bonanza XTRA, a new program that offers the company’s most popular upgrades in a bundled package directly from Hawker Beechcraft Parts & Distribution. The company will offer turnkey aircraft installation of the packages through its factory-owned service network. The primary XTRA bundle includes Garmin G500 avionics, D’Shannon tip tanks and gross weight increase, Aviation Design new interior and a new paint scheme. Other options include a performance package, avionics package and interior package.
While the U.S. Congress has approved the 16th short-term extension of the FAA’s operating authority, which expired three years ago, companies wanting to be designated as foreign repair stations must continue to wait.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0948; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-041-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to remove the pulley drive assembly, torque limiter, compressor drive belt and alternator/compressor support in order to inspect the pulley drive surfaces and the alternator/compressor support welds for cracks. If any cracks were detected, the pulley drive assembly would need to be replaced before further flight, per the instructions of Socata Mandatory TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 70-176, Amendment 1 (dated February 2010).
The home airport for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association – Maryland’s Frederick Municipal (FDK) – will receive a new $4.8 million air traffic control tower. The tower is being funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). FDK currently handles 130,000 annual operations (which are expected to increase to 165,000 by 2025) serves as a reliever airport and is the second-busiest airport in Maryland in takeoffs and landings after BWI/Thurgood Marshall.
Former Air Line Pilots Association President Duane Woerth was confirmed last week as U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Woerth was nominated to the post in July and received U.S. Senate approval Sept. 30 (BA, July 12/7).
BOMBARDIER CL-604 and CL-605 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0439; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-029-AD; Amendment 39-16437; AD 2010-20-03] – Replace certain balance washer screws installed in the air-driven generators (ADGs) with new screws. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by five reported cases of balance washer screw failures because of metallographic nonconformity on similar aircraft types. Failure of a balance washer screw can result in loss of the related balance washer, causing turbine imbalance.
FlightSafety International plans to offer Beechcraft King Air 350 training in Australia. The company expects to install a King Air full-flight simulator at the Ansett Aviation Training facility in Melbourne, Australia by the end of 2011. The move expands FlightSafety’s partnership with Ansett and comes as the number of King Air owners and operators continues to grow in the region.
StandardAero reopened its engine shop at its Springfield, Ill., service center last week. Company officials and customers were on hand for an event and reception to celebrate the opening. The 265,000-sq.-ft. facility services TFE731-powered aircraft. “Customer feedback indicated there was a strong desire in re-establishing an engine shop in Springfield to support their need for ‘one-stop-shop’ capabilities,” says Scott Taylor, senior vice president, Business aviation. Initially, the shop will provide major periodic inspections for TFE731 engines.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2B and 2B1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-28077; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-16445; AD 2009-09-03R1] – Perform repetitive borescope inspections of the high-pressure (HP) turbine, per the instructions of Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 292 72 2825, Version B (dated Sept. 21, 2009). If the rearward displacement of the blades is less than 0.2 mm., replace the HP turbine modules with rearward turbine blades whose displacement is greater than 0.5 mm.
Saltspring Air is working with Viking Air to install emergency exit pop-out windows in its fleet of de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver aircraft. Saltspring is the first Canadian airline to install the modification, which provides an alternate exit to the main cabin doors in case of an emergency. “With float planes making 130,000 flights a year in British Columbia, safety has always been paramount for the operators and this new modification is one that I believe makes a lot of sense,” says St. Clair McColl, president of Saltspring Air.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last week signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a Global Safety Information Exchange (GSIE). Also signing the MOU on Sept. 28 were the International Air Transport Association, the U.S. Transportation Department and the European Commission. A steering group will be formed and have representatives from each of the four organizations. ICAO will act as the coordinator of the information exchange.
AUSTIN SHONTZ was named vice president of final phase operations for Gulfstream Aerospace. Shontz is responsible for final phase operations in Savannah, Ga., for Gulfstream’s large-cabin aircraft, as well as final phase engineering, research and development and interior design. He also shares responsibility for final phase material in Savannah and engineering at Gulfstream facilities in Appleton, Wis.; Long Beach, Calif.; and Dallas.
