Piper Aircraft has selected Mecaer Aviation Group in Borgomanero, Italy, to supply the landing gear system for the PiperJet very light jet. Mecaer is responsible for the design, certification, system integration and production of complete “bolt-on” systems, including main and nose gears, electro-mechanical actuators, emergency release, wheels, brakes and tires.
Hawker Beechcraft recently rolled out the first of 24 Beechcraft T-6C military trainers ordered by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) to replace its existing fleet of T-34 and T-37 jet trainers. The T-6C incorporates a number of upgrades to the original T-6 single turboprop, including an integrated glass cockpit and hard-point wings that can accommodate auxiliary fuel tanks. The RMAF, the first customer for the T-6C, ordered the aircraft through a government-to-government agreement between Morocco and the U.S.
Eclipse Aerospace selected VNE Jet in Henderson, Nev., as the “Gold Service Center” for the Eclipse 500 aircraft in the Southwest region. VNE Jet will provide maintenance services, parts distribution, inspections, in addition to aircraft-on-ground services for Eclipse 500 very light jets in the southwestern U.S. Based at Henderson Executive Airport outside Las Vegas, VNE Jet primarily comprises former Eclipse Aviation Corp. (EAC) employees and has provided maintenance for EA500 aircraft since EAC entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
New York-based aviation services company Arcadia Aviation last week signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire financially troubled Wayfarer Aviation. The deal closed a month after Arcadia signed a letter of intent to buy Wayfarer, averting a shutdown of the charter management firm’s operations (BA, June 21/2). “The completion of the transaction ends speculation about the fate of Wayfarer Aviation, its operations and client base,” the company says.
Bombardier Aerospace booked nearly $1 billion in orders in the run-up to last week’s Farnborough International Airshow and its first two days, the company said last week. The Montreal-based manufacturer announced deals for 12 ultra-long-range Global Express XRS aircraft, two super-large-size Global 5000s and a pair of large-cabin Challenger 605s, worth in excess of $800 million in aggregate.
El Seif Group of Saudi Arabia added a Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft to its corporate jet fleet. The aircraft will be used for travel between the company’s Middle Eastern operations. El Seif, which also operates Challenger 600 and 601 jets, is a privately owned group of companies with diverse business interests, including engineering, construction, health care, real estate development, commercial investment and power generation.
DALE HAWKINS was appointed to the newly created position of airframe sales for StandardAero’s Business Aviation sector. Hawkins will be responsible for Falcon service sales. Hawkins formerly spent 28 years with Kal-Aero/Duncan Aviation as a technician, team leader, department manager and airframe service sales representative.
The Beechcraft Baron twin-piston aircraft recently was granted approval for operations at London City Airport, Hawker Beechcraft says, adding the Baron is the only aircraft in its class to receive such clearance. To win approval for London City operations, the aircraft must be able to demonstrate certain performance capabilities, including a 7.5-deg. approach, and receive authorization from both the European Aviation Safety Agency and London City Airport.
McCauley Propeller Systems has achieved ASTM compliance for a new two-blade, fixed-pitch composite propeller for the Cessna 162 Skycatcher, Cessna Aircraft announced. The propeller is the first in a family of composite propellers under development for a range of aircraft, the company says. Specifically designed for the Skycatcher’s Teledyne Continental Motors O-200D engine, the 1L100 propeller consists of a continuous-fiber, single-piece design that provides strength, as well as light weight.
Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture last week stressed that the company has not made any decision on whether to move work out of Wichita, but says that the company is analyzing alternatives and plans to make a series of decisions over the next six months.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0736; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-035-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to repetitively inspect the left-hand and the right-hand engine-mounted fuel heater for wear damage and minimum clearance, per the instructions of Piaggio Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-0175, Rev. N.1 (dated May 14, 2010). If any wear damage to the fuel heater or to the oil cooling system hose is detected, replace the hose assembly before further flight.
U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation has begun issuing its Multi Service Aviation Card to companies that operate aircraft in South Africa. Including South Africa, Multi Service Aviation issues cards in 35 countries. Sales in South Africa will be managed by Multi Service Aviation’s regional representative, MH Aviation Services in Johannesburg.
A small-business tax bill in the Senate has become a potential vehicle for a measure to extend bonus depreciation for the purchase of business assets, including aircraft, the National Business Aviation Association notes. The bill has been under debate in the Senate this month and consideration is expected to continue this week. The House passed its own version earlier this month. Attempts to attach bonus depreciation to other bills have proved unsuccessful, primarily because concerns raised by key House Democrats.
JIM HEASLEY was promoted to general manager of Cessna Aircraft’s Citation Service Center in Greensboro, N.C. Heasley formerly was maintenance manager at Greensboro. He has been with Cessna for 13 years and has 20 years of aerospace experience.
RICHARD SHAW was appointed manager of Gulfstream Aerospace’s PlaneParts spare parts subscription service. Shaw formerly spent 25 years with the product support unit of Bombardier Aerospace in Montreal.
EMBRAER EMB-500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0733; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-038-AD; Amendment 39-16375; AD 2010-15-09] – Insert new information regarding the Air Data System (ADS) sensors into the “Abnormal Procedures” section of the Airplane Flight Manual. This new AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2009-23-11) and resulted from an MCAI issued by the aviation authority of Brazil, was prompted by the discovery that the heating function of the ADS sensors could deactivate.
The U.S. is re-emerging as a leading market for business jet orders, at least for Cessna Aircraft, notes Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft parent Textron. “Order activity has been probably stronger in the U.S. than anywhere,” he says, adding there is “still some reasonable strength in Latin America and some in Asia.” The weakening of the European currency against the dollar at the end of the second quarter “slowed down Europe as a region,” Donnelly says.
Rockwell Collins and Bombardier Aerospace have released an enhanced cabin electronics system (CES) for Bombardier Global 5000 and Global Express XRS business jets. The V7 CES software features a new graphical user interface with improved intuitiveness and ease of use. The interface includes an icon-based menu that is less dependent on language, reflecting advances in modern user interface design. The upgrade will be retrofitted on in-service aircraft beginning this fall.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) received a contract to provide its 135Pro certification support program for Nicholas Services, a Columbus, Miss. startup charter operator that will be doing business as Nick Air Service. JDA created 135Pro to provide low-cost support to simplify the process of obtaining a Part 135 certificate. The program includes manuals to help satisfy FAA requirements. The program also includes a customized Web application and document manager, enabling the owner/operator to store and access Part 135 requirements.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0737; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-037-AD] –This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive visual checks of the engine oil levels to prevent an undetected low-level condition. Also, this proposal would mandate repetitive inspections of the oil dipsticks to detect faulty units and replacement of faulty oil dipsticks or visual checks of the oil level at reduced not-to-exceed intervals until the faulty units are replaced.
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has confirmed a recent speed record that a Gulfstream G450 business jet recently set between Tokyo and Hong Kong, Gulfstream says. The G450 departed Tokyo’s Narita International at 10:50 a.m. local time June 7 and arrived at Hong Kong International 3 hr. and 58 min. later at 1:48 p.m. local time. The aircraft flew the 1,694-nm. trip at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.85. The crew reported that the first 300 mi. were flown at reduced speed because headwinds of more than 100 kt. caused turbulence.
Hawker Beechcraft has named Dublin, Ireland-based Mach Aviation Services as an authorized sales representative in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Mach Aviation has been a Hawker Beechcraft authorized sales representative in Ireland since 2007. Founded in 2003, Mach Aviation offers aircraft sales, consultancy and management services, as well as a full charter operation.
AgustaWestland plans to have its new AW169 helicopter available in 2015, with its eye on the government and emergency medical services markets. Unveiling the AW169 during last week’s Farnborough International Airshow, the company says the helicopter is being designed to fit a hole in Agusta’s product line between the AW139 and the Grand. The new model has a design weight of 4.5 metric tons, measuring 13 meters in length and 2 meters wide.
SHEILA KREHBIEL was named marketing specialist for Mid-Continent Instruments. Krehbiel is assisting in print and marketing activities for the company, including copywriting, editing, pre-press production of advertising materials and direct mail project management. She has more than 12 years of advertising and marketing experience.
