The Southeast Corporate Aviation Management Association (SECAMA) will hold its first annual Training, Standardization and Compliance Conference (TSCC 2010) Tuesday in Concord, N.C. The day-long gathering will bring together regulators, vendors, flight managers, training staff and administrators to meet, learn and share their knowledge. The event is being co-hosted by the aviation departments of SECAMA members Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Hendrick Motorsports.
PATTI ANN SULLIVAN was named vice president, corporate aviation finance for Key Equipment Foundation. Sullivan will be responsible for corporate aviation originations in the eastern U.S. She has 28 years of corporate aviation sales and business development experience, most recently as director of business development, structured aviation finance for Aviation Resource Group International. She also has held positions with Daimler Chrysler Capital Services, Textron Financial Corp., Aircraft Finance Group Inc. and Key Financial Services.
Hawker Beechcraft, buoyed by growing interest in Latin America, this month launched a second tour of its product lines in Central and South America. The Wichita plane maker, which earlier this year completed a tour of its Hawker 900XP in Central and South America, used this month’s Latin America Business Aircraft Convention and Exhibition in Sao Paulo, Brazil as a starting point for the sales and marketing tour of several of its aircraft.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has classified as serious an incident that occurred earlier this month in which a small commercial aircraft entered the runway at Newcastle Airport as two Boeing F/A 18s were taking off. “The aircraft entered the runway without clearance, resulting in a breakdown of runway separation standards with two F/A 18s departing in formation,” says the ATSB. An investigation has been launched into the Aug. 5 incident, which has been classified as “serious,” the safety bureau says.
While last week’s reopening of contract negotiations between Hawker Beechcraft and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) has gained considerable attention (BA, Aug. 16/1), the IAM also last week kicked off formal negotiations with Cessna Aircraft. The current contract with Cessna expires Sept. 19, and the IAM Local Lodge 774 representing Cessna workers voted by a 99% margin on July 17 for a strike sanction, which is a legal and procedural action that lays the groundwork for the union in the negotiations (BA, July 26/1).
PILATUS PC-12/47E airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0583 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-028-AD; Amendment 39-16401; AD 2010-17-09] – Inspect the power control lever (PCL) reverse-thrust latch handle for free movement, per the instructions of Pilatus Aircraft Service Bulletin No: 76-002 (dated Oct. 15, 2009). If the reverse thrust latch sticks, or the idle detent is not present, modify the engine control console assembly.
RON GUNNARSON was named vice president of marketing and communications for Hawker Beechcraft. Gunnarson is responsible for global marketing and branding for the company’s commercial, government and special-mission aircraft. He also will oversee corporate communications and marketing efforts for the global customer support organization and international dealer network. Gunnarson has served with the company for more than 20 years, most recently as director of marketing.
Aug. 16-20—Terrapinn’s Aviation Outlook Africa, BMW Pavilion Convention Center, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 (11) 463-6001, www.terrapinn.com/2010/aviationza Aug. 17-18—NATA Commercial Operators Tax Seminar, Indianapolis, www.nata.aero/Event.aspx?page=1354§ionid=553 Aug. 24-27—Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Unmanned Systems North America, Colorado Convention Center, www.auvsi.org Aug. 27-28—FltOps.com Global Pilot Career Conference & Job Fair, Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, www.fltops.com/jobs
The general aviation community paid tribute to Sen. Ted Steven’s (R - Alaska) strong support of the industry after a de Havilland DCH-3T crashed Aug. 9 near Dillingham, Alaska, claiming his life and four others. The 1957 aircraft, Registration Number N455A, crashed at about 8 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time during a VFR flight between two lodges. The pilot and four passengers died, while four others, including former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, survived.
Honeywell’s new HTF7500E engine continues toward a 2011 certification, completing the “First Engine To Test” (FETT) and achieving full-rated thrust in static and flight testing. Based on the HTF7000 that powers the Bombardier Challenger 300, the HTF7500E is under development for Embraer’s Legacy 450 and 500.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has scheduled its first EBAA Emergency Response Planning (ERP) Workshop Sept. 9-10 in Brussels. The workshop will provide operators with guidance on what is required in the aftermath of a major incident or accident. The workshop is part of an effort by EBAA to help prepare members for appropriate emergency response. That effort was spurred by research revealing that nearly one-third of operators do not have emergency response plans (BA, April 26/5).
Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 technology demonstrator recently achieved the maximum speed of 225 kt. in tests at the Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The speed represents an unofficial record. The previous record for a 3,500-kg. class of rotorcraft was 216 kt., set by a Westland Lynx in the mid-1980s. The demonstrator incorporated a new tail configuration to decrease pilot workload as aircraft speed increases and improve aircraft handling qualities.
XOJet is planning to expand operations in New York City and Los Angeles, citing steady growth and increased demand for its services. “We’ve always flown out of these two markets, but our steady growth, including the addition of new employees, and the overall increase in demand for our services has created the need to establish business offices in each market,” says XOJet CEO Blair LaCorte. XOJet has built a fleet to include “super midrange planes” that are suited for transcontinental flying between Los Angeles and New York, LaCorte says.
Despite its initial concerns about receiving little benefit from opening negotiations with Hawker Beechcraft, the International Association of Machinists (IAM) is returning to the bargaining table (BA, July 19/1). “We have decided the consequences of inaction would be grim, drastically affecting the employment levels and the future of the Wichita operations,” IAM officials told members Friday. The union noted the company’s request for cost savings, flexibility and a longer-term agreement.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B3 and EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0779; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-84-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a functional check of contactors 53Ka and 53Kb by rotating the pilot and co-pilot throttle twist grip controls between the “IDLE” and “FLIGHT” position. If the throttle twist grip controls are not functioning properly, repair the controls, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.61 for AS350B3 helicopters or ASB No. 05A009 for EC130 B4 helicopters (both dated Nov. 16, 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC 130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0713; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-63-AD; Amendment 39-16369; AD 2010-15-03] – Inspect certain electrical harnesses for damage, per the instructions of Eurocopter France Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 88A001 R1 (dated April 17, 2007). If damage is found, repair the harness. Even if damage is not found, protect the harness from possible future damage by installing harness clamp blocks.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0780; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-68-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive visual inspections of the tail-rotor control lever in the area around the split pin bore for score marks, notching, scratching, or cracks, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin MBB BK 117 C-2-64A-002, Rev. 2 (dated Aug. 6, 2007).
Million Air-Salt Lake City was added to the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard Registry. Million Air underwent the ACSF audit, which entails a review of an operator’s processes and procedures, regulatory compliance and implementation of a safety management system. The ACSF is scheduled to conduct 30 audits of Part 135 operators this year using the Industry Audit Standard.
As Los Angeles-based TWC Aviation continues to add to its managed fleet, its recent International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certification helps sell its services and show its customers that it adheres to best practices, the company says. TWC Aviation opted for IS-BAO because it is administered by the International Business Aviation Council, an independent organization, and is accepted by the European Union, says Scott Cutshall, director of sales and aircraft management services.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS-365N2, AS-365 N3 and SA-365N1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0781; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-49-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the aluminum tail-rotor blade pitch control shaft with a steel tail-rotor blade pitch control shaft. This proposal was prompted by an incident in which loss of tail rotor control occurred after the tail-rotor shaft broke. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 36 helicopters on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $163,620, or $4,545 per helicopter.
STUART KUPFER was appointed vice president of hospitality for Jet Aviation U.S., where he will be responsible for developing and implementing hospitality initiatives for the company’s fixed-based operation, charter and aircraft management services. He will focus on new service initiatives for Jet Aviation’s U.S. FBOs and the development of a new customer, service standard for domestic and international visiting flight crews, as well as for the passengers on board the aircraft. He has worked with five-star hotels across the U.S.
CHRISTOPHE NURIT was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for MD Helicopters. Nurit previously spent 11 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Bell Helicopter, most recently as marketing and sales director for the Middle East and Africa.
MARISSA REDDICK was promoted to purchasing manager for Mid-Continent Instruments. Most recently purchasing supervisor, Reddick will continue to work with vendors. Reddick has served with Mid-Continent since February 1997, and has a background in lean manufacturing, material resource planning and inventory management.
