Edinburgh, Scotland-based charter broker JetLogic says it managed to earn £4.5 million ($6.9 million) in its first year of operation despite the ongoing global economic recession. JetLogic credits its early success in part to its jet card that does not require an up-front deposit.
The Corporate Angel Network (CAN) reached an all-time high for flights in July, carrying 307 patients to treatment. The 307 is the largest monthly number in the nearly 30-year history of the charity that arranges flights for cancer patients aboard business jets. Corporate Angel Network has arranged for almost 35,000 flights since its founding in 1981, working with physicians, corporate flight departments and leading treatment centers. “This record reflects the increasing support of business aviation for the work that we do,” says CAN Executive Director Peter Fleiss.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the Aug. 9 crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and four others details the difficult weather conditions encountered during the search and rescue process and possibly during the time of the accident. The aircraft, a single-turboprop de Havilland DHC-3, N455A, crashed into mountainous, tree-covered terrain about 10 mi. northeast of Aleknagik, Alaska.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW615F-A engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0245; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-15-AD; Amendment 39-16398; AD 2010-17-06] – Replace the Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger (FOHE) fuel filter bypass poppet valve with a larger, improved-design fuel filter bypass poppet valve, per the instructions of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Alert Service Bulletin No. PW600-72-A63071, Rev. 1 (dated Jan. 7, 2010). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent uncommanded power reduction caused by a worn poppet.
Maintenance logistics specialist Pattonair will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. center in Indianapolis on Dec. 1 to support aftermarket services for the former Allison engine lineup now owned by Rolls-Royce. The seven-year contract extends to North America the parts delivery services relationship that Pattonair already holds in support of Rolls-Royce’s commercial engines in Darby, U.K., and business and regional jets from Dahlewitz, Germany. Engines supported from Indianapolis will include the AE 2100, AE 3007, and Model 250 for business and regional jets.
A Bellanca 7GCBC crashed Aug. 16 near Douglas, Wyo., while on a Part 135 aerial wildlife spotting flight, the National Transportation Safety Board says. The pilot and the passenger were seriously injured, and the aircraft, N5034K, was substantially damaged. Owned and operated by Laird Flying Service, the aircraft departed Douglas at about 6:35 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot was maneuvering at about 300 ft. above ground level to enable the passenger, a wildlife biologist, to count the antelope in the field.
Charter broker Executive Charter Services (ECS) is offering clients carbon offsets through carbon retailer TerraPass. TerraPass supports domestic wind farms, “cow-power” projects and energy efficiency projects. ECS estimates it initially will offset about 500 hr. of private jet travel equaling an estimated 1.7 million lb. of carbon emissions.
International Association of Machinists (IAM) President Tom Buffenbarger and Cessna Chairman Jack Pelton both agree they are facing different times in their new contract negotiations.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0800; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-162-AD; Amendment 39-16416; AD 2010-18-03] – For airplanes that do not include Modification M724, alter certain procedures in the Airplane Flight Manual to reduce the time of exposure to further failures whenever a Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diode failure occurs. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by several in-service electrical system events that caused a leakage failure mode of the TVS diodes.
TrueView Enhanced Vision Systems of Sackets Harbor, N.Y., has obtained supplemental type certificate approval for installation of its infrared enhanced vision system (EVS), TrueView Model 2061-200-320/640, on Bell 206 and 206L series helicopters. TrueView provides the TrueView EVS in a kit, including a camera module, complete wiring harness, all miscellaneous hardware, switches, circuit breakers, and LCD monitor, monitor mount and glare shield.
GARY MERRILL was named vice president of quality assurance for San Antonio, Texas-based M7 Aerospace. Merrill will oversee all aspects of the quality assurance programs in aerostructures manufacturing; maintenance, repair and overhaul; government logistics support contracting; supply chain management; aircraft parts and engineering business segments. He previously worked with US Airways, where he was managing director of quality assurance and technical programs.
SUSAN COTTEN was named manager of patient transport development for the Corporate Angel Network. Cotten will work to increase the number of corporations that donate empty seats to cancer patients on their business flights. She also will visit major cancer treatment centers to increase the awareness of Corporate Angel Network services. Cotten previously was a corporate flight attendant for the American Express Company, as well as a contract employee for New York area flight departments. She also has marketing and sales experience in the travel industry.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked the government to make changes to the aviation policy that currently waives landing and parking charges for aircraft with less than 80 seats operated by domestic scheduled operators and helicopters of all types. AAI believes the charges will give a boost to the development of regional airports construction and upgrade projects. Some private regional airports are losing money, including five in Maharashtra set up by the Reliance Group.
40 Years Ago Aug. 10, 1970 – Swearingen Aircraft receives FAA type certification for Merlin III twin-turboprop business aircraft. 30 Years Ago Aug. 4, 1980 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association lobbies for tax incentives for commuter aircraft development to help U.S. compete against foreign rivals such as Embraer. 20 Years Ago
STAN ROSE has joined Helicopter Association International as director of safety. Rose has 40 years of helicopter experience, beginning as a U.S. Army pilot in Vietnam and later holding positions as a line pilot in the Gulf of Mexico, a lead pilot and program director for air medical operations and chief pilot of a law enforcement helicopter support unit.
FAA is requiring Cirrus to complete function and reliability (F&R) tests on its new Model SF50 Vision single-engine personal jet as part of special conditions for completing the certification process. The agency proposed the F&R special conditions in June, saying the conditions were necessary because the Vision would have complex design and performance features typically found with larger airplanes (BA, June 7/3).
SaxonAir has received a 10-year contract as the preferred handling agent to supply ground-handling services at Norwich Airport in the U.K. for all non-scheduled business, private and general aviation aircraft. SaxonAir recently was given full planning permission for its new business aviation center at Norwich Airport and construction is under way.
Era Training Center (ETC) has obtained Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) approval for its CFR 142 Training Center, making the facility the first foreign helicopter training center certified by Brazil, the company says. “ANAC approval is a fundamental step toward providing regulatory approved courses for Brazil and Latin American countries,” says Paul White, general manager of ETC.
CHRISTOPHE NURIT was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for MD Helicopters, Inc. Nurit previously spent more than 11 years with Bell Helicopter, most recently as marketing and sales director for the Middle East and Africa. He also served as sales manager for Europe and the CIS for Bell.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model 390 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0523; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-018-AD; Amendment 39-16407; AD 2010-17-15] – inspect for installation of certain serial number (S/N) starter generators and replace the starter generator if one with an affected serial number is found. This AD results from reports that starter generators with deficient armature insulating materials may have been installed on certain airplanes. FAA is issuing this AD to detect and replace starter generators with defective armature insulating materials.
The National Business Aviation Association’s 63rd Annual Meeting and Convention, to be held Oct. 19-21 in Atlanta, has been tracking closely to last year’s event in terms of exhibitors and attendance. The 2009 event, held in Orlando, Fla., marked the second-lowest level of attendance in 15 years and some key exhibitors missing on the convention floor, notably Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft. But the event still drew 23,000 attendees, 1,075 exhibitors and nearly 100 aircraft on static display.
DOWTY R408/6-123-F/17 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2009-0776; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-32-AD; Amendment 39-16403; AD 2010-17-11] – Apply sealant between the bus bar assemblies and the backplate assembly, per the instructions of Dowty Propellers Alert Service Bulletin No. D8400-61-A66, Revision 5 (dated June 16, 2010).
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW617F-E engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0246; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-16-AD; Amendment 39-16391; AD 2010-17-01] – Replace the Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger (FOHE) fuel filter bypass poppet valve with a larger, improved-design fuel filter bypass poppet valve, per the instructions of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Alert Service Bulletin No. PW600-72-A66021, Rev. 1 (dated Jan. 7, 2010). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent uncommanded power reduction caused by a worn poppet.
