Uvalde, Texas-based Sierra Industries has partnered with Helio Aircraft to provide support, maintenance and repair for Helio Courier and Stallion aircraft. The exclusive contract covers the worldwide fleet of aircraft. Sierra, which specializes in support for a range of aircraft and warbird restorations, will produce replacement parts and develop upgrades for the aircraft.
EADS’ all-electric aircraft flew for the first time from Le Bourget Airport in Paris on Sept. 2. The composite-structure, four-engine, aerobatic Cri-Cri—which was jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association—reportedly performed well during the seven-minute initial flight.
New AW139 orders from PHI and Weststar Aviation have bolstered AgustaWestland’s backlog for the twin-engine medium helicopter. PHI has signed a contract for 10 AW139 helicopters, which are to be used for offshore oil and gas support. Weststar Aviation Services has ordered nine AW139s, which also will be used in offshore oil-support missions, marking the entrance of the AW139 in the Southeast Asia offshore helicopter market.
EDMO Distributors was selected to distribute ICON flashlights and headlamps to the aviation market. EDMO dealers will have full access to the entire line of ICON flashlight and headlamp products.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0851; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-171-AD; Amendment 39-16424; AD 2010-18-11] – Replace certain horizontal stabilizer trim actuators (HSTAs) with serviceable HSTAs, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-057 (dated June 14, 2010). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by the discovery that some installed HSTAs have lower wear characteristics and shorter expected lives.
CHARLES YAWN was appointed senior regional sales manager, eastern region, product support sales for Gulfstream Aerospace. Based in Savannah, Ga., Yawn is responsible for maintenance sales to Gulfstream and non-Gulfstream aircraft operators in Alabama, Georgia and north Florida. He has worked for Gulfstream for more than 26 years, serving in various materials, sales and management positions, most recently as a program manager for product support sales.
Avfuel Corp. recently added two more fixed-base operators to its network of branded dealers – ProJet Aviation at Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia (KJYO) and Salt Lake jetCenter at Salt Lake International Airport (SLC). ProJet, which also has flight operations in Winchester and Manassas, Va., earlier this year opened the new Leesburg facility which has more than 25,000-sq.-ft. of hangar and office space. The facility also includes fuel services, overnight hangar parking, line services, rental cars and catering.
AGUSTA A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0824; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-045-AD; Amendment 39-16409; AD 2010-12-51] – Before further flight, remove the forward boot from the hub-locking nut of the tail-rotor gearbox (TRG) and insert a gauge between the tail-rotor control rod and nut until the gauge stops. Depending on the depth measurement from the face of the nut, either re-identify the TGB with a new part number, or replace the TGB and its associated parts with airworthy parts, per the instructions of Agusta Alert Bollettino Tecnico No.
Goodrich Corporation’s rotorblade ice-protection system for the AgustaWestland AW139 medium-twin-engine helicopter won certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency, U.S. FAA and Transport Canada Civil Aviation. The rotorblade ice-protection system (RIPS) is part of the helicopter’s full ice-protection system that provides its all-weather capability, making the AW139it the first helicopter in its category certified to fly into known icing conditions.
ISR versions of the TBM 700 and 850 have been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The approval of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance variant of Daher-Socata’s single-engine turboprops will enable the company to market the multi-mission models to government organizations, military services, civilian agencies and contract operators. A TBM 700B demonstrator has been outfitted with the Thales AGILE 2 gyro-stabilized multi-sensor turret.
A new website launching Sept. 13 is hoping to cash in on the online group-deals craze started by sites like Groupon and Living Social and bring it to the aviation arena. Chase Larabee, founder of ALLFBO.com, has created the website Aviation Dealy, which will specialize in selling one notable aviation deal daily. “This is a great way to showcase one product a day to multiple aviation markets in one place.” Aviation Dealy is targeting a variety of vendors, including those selling to pilots and fixed-base operators, says Larabee. “The deals are 100% aviation.
EMBRAER ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0799; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-157-AD; Amendment 39-16414; AD 2010-18-01] – Revise the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual to inform operators about the possibility of having an engine stall after the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) becomes the active bleed source for the left side and to specify the condition where APU bleed must not be used.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0805; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-042-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install a new aileron-input quadrant support bracket by incorporating MODSUM 8Q101250, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-57-43, Rev. B (dated Oct. 7, 2009). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by several cases of fatigue failure of the support bracket for the aileron terminal quadrant.
STEVE FLEEMAN joined West Star Aviation, Inc. as accessory sales manager. Fleeman will be based at the company’s Grand Junction, Colo., facility and be responsible for expanding West Star’s accessory program business. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, formerly with the U.S. Air Force and then in positions of increasing responsibility with Midcoast Aviation.
The Trasportation Security Administration (TSA) is altering its rules so as to make it easier for foreign pilots to take recurrent training in the U.S. The new policy is expected to take effect this week. Currently, active foreign pilots with type ratings in large (>12,500 lb MTOW) aircraft must undergo a vetting process each time they want to come into the country for training. Thus, pilots with dual type ratings might have to go through the process twice or more annually.
The first CAE 3000 series helicopter mission simulator has been qualified for training by FAA. The Eurocopter AS350B2 simulator, which is located at a Phoenix facility near Sky Harbor International Airport, has been qualified for Level 7 flight training device credits. The CAE 3000 series simulator features CAE’s TroposTM-6000 advanced visual system with direct projection dome, high-definition commercial off-the-shelf projectors, and up to a 220-degree horizontal by 80-degree vertical field of view display system with full chin-window coverage.
Al Jaber Aviation has become the first Middle East customer to offer an Airbus aircraft for VVIP charter flights, following the delivery of its first A318 Elite. It has another three A318 Elites and two Airbus Corporate Jetliners on order, which will make it the largest operator of Airbus corporate jets in the region.
The U.S. Navy is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to “consider potential implications of future regulations” that would be driven by an “endangerment finding” of the use of lead in aviation gasoline. In comments on the EPA’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the use of lead in avgas, the Navy stressed ongoing research, but expressed concern how restricting the use without an alternative could impact military applications. The General Aviation Avgas Coalition further told the EPA that it did not believe the endangerment finding is warranted.
U.K-based aviation service company PremiAir has added a Learjet 45 to its air operator’s certificate, which is now available for charter. PremiAir bases its Learjets throughout Europe and maintains the aircraft at its London Biggin Hill facility.
StandardAero’s business aviation services facility in Springfield, Ill. will receive a facility site-improvement investment worth $500,000. Work is expected to be completed over the next six months. The project involves repainting of the facility’s hangar floors and walls, in addition to the installation of large-facility ventilation fans and new energy-efficient lighting.
Although President Obama wants to use a new round of stimulus money to help fund the the NextGen air traffic control system, the leading Republic legislator on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said yesterday that he’ll oppose any such move.
DAVIS FORD was named vice president of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for Erickson Air-Crane (EAC). Based at Erickson Air-Crane’s manufacturing and MRO facilities in Central Point, Ore., Ford will oversee the team that builds, modifies and maintains the Erickson S-64 helicopter. He has more than 30 years of management experience in the aerospace industry, most recently as general manager of Sikorsky Global Helicopter.
Miami-based engine maintenance provider AeroThrus is auctioning off its assets after failing to find a buyer that met its expectations. Heritage Global Partners, which is working with Hilco Industrial and Counsel RB Capital to manage the sale, says potential buyers in the Middle East, U.S., and South America have expressed “tremendous interest” in many big-ticket items, such as Pratt & Whitney JT8D and CFM International CFM56 engines, components and tooling.
While business jet demand sputtered in the summer, the industry will see a recovery as consumer confidence increases, according to a Morgan Stanley report release at its recent Global Industrials Unplugged Conference. “Broadly speaking, cautiously optimistic management commentary was viewed positively given heavily bearish investor sentiment heading into the conference,” it says. Gulfstream Aerospace remains upbeat, seeing recovery in mid sized cabins, whereas the leader in the niche just below – Cessna – saw a big slowdown through the summer, says the report.
