Constant Aviation in Cleveland has installed an Aircell ATG 4000 High Speed Internet System on a Gulfstream IV equipped with the Aircell Axxess cabin communications system. It is the fourth Aircell High Speed Internet System that Constant Aviation has installed this year. In November, Constant Aviation launched the supplemental type certificate process for the installation of the Aircell High Speed Internet System, including Wi-Fi in the Embraer Legacy, Gulfstream IV, Citation X, Beechjet and Piaggio Avanti.
June 8-13 — Internationale Luftfahrt-Ausstellung Air Show, Berlin, Germany June 16 — The Wings Club Luncheon featuring Jim Guyette, President & CEO, Rolls-Royce North America, The Yale Club, New York, 212-867-1770, email: [email protected] June 24-26 — National Business Aviation Association 15th Annual Flight Attendants Conference, San Diego, Calif., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 19-25 — Farnborough International Airshow, Farnborough, England, +44(0) 1252 532800, www.farnborough.com
FAA has released a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) warning of an increase in the number of incidents in which pilots failed to activate the pilot controlled lighting system (PCL) at uncontrolled towers at night. “The rising trend of these incidents indicates manuals and training programs should be reviewed for clarity,” the agency says, adding that operators should ensure that their flight crews demonstrate a knowledge and proficiency in the use of the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and PCL systems.
Rolls-Royce recently took a step forward in its E3E (efficiency, environment, economy) two-shaft research program with a successful run of the latest core engine build, Core 3/2b. The E3E program is designed to develop new technologies that could reduce fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions by 15% over current in-service engines. The technologies would increase engine temperature, pressure ratio and component efficiencies, and have a 25%-plus increase in thrust-to-weight ratios. The program is targeting both corporate and narrowbody commercial aircraft.
Some 80% of Wichita aviation executives who responded to a recent survey do not expect payroll employment to surpass 2008 levels until 2015, according to Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. The center, which recently released results of its Aviation Industry Survey, says 60% of the respondents believe the “recession trough” will not occur until after the first quarter of 2011. Declining employment and income were cited as the most important factors dampening demand, followed by economic uncertainty and tight credit.
Cirrus is hoping to raise another $64 million to accelerate development of its SF50 Vision single-jet. Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters last week provided an update on the program’s status, saying the company is on a strong enough foundation to pursue the financing. If financing is secured, Cirrus would build a conforming prototype – “C0” – next year.
Gulfstream Aerospace has signed a deal with Beijing-based Deer Jet Co. to support the operator’s growing fleet of Gulfstream aircraft. Deer Jet, China’s largest business-jet charter operator, owns three Gulfstream G550s, two GVs, four GIVs and four Gulfstream G200s. Gulfstream will expand its support network in mainland China to provide Deer Jet with a maintenance support team that includes a maintenance technician, avionics technician and quality-control specialist.
Business jet operators have a new tool to show the financial costs of creating a safety management system (SMS) for flight operations. Baldwin Aviation and Gray Stone Advisors have partnered to develop a free, Web-based tool to do a financial analysis that helps flight department operators build a case to justify spending money on creating an SMS.
Charter broker Executive Charter Services (ECS) will enable clients to balance out their carbon dioxide emissions by purchasing reductions in greenhouse gases from carbon retailer TerraPass. TerraPass purchases support domestic wind farms, cow-power projects and energy efficiency projects. ECS estimates it will initially be offsetting about 500 hours of private jet travel equaling an estimated 1.7 million pounds of carbon emissions.
Nextant Aerospace is planning roadshows for its 400NEXT conversion of the Hawker Beechcraft 400A/400XP aircraft, including a display at the NBAA Business Aviation Regional Forum June 10 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The 400NEXT replaces Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines with Williams International FJ44-3AP computer-controlled engines and includes installation of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. As a result, the range of the 400NEXT will be increased from 1,333 nm to more than 2,000 nm, flying with four passengers and using NBAA IFR reserves.
The Chinese government has deregulated pricing of domestic business and first-class air fares, abolishing a rule that they must be set at 1.5 and 1.3 times the price of economy tickets, respectively. The change opens the way for China Southern to widely introduce lie-flat seats that it has tried in an Airbus A330. The carrier could not get permission to charge the price it wanted for that service level, three times the economy fare, a company executive says. Economy fares presumably remain regulated.
Jet Works Air Center has received FAA authorization to perform routine inspections and maintenance on Learjet 45 business jets. The Denton, Texas company has long held authorizations for Learjet 55 and 60 maintenance, including the 12-year wing de-mate. The company added certified personnel and equipment to obtain approval for the Learjet 45.
SIKORSKY S-76A, B and C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-24587; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-05-AD; Amendment 39-16281; AD 2010-10-02] – Inspect each installed Woodward HRT (formerly HR Textron) main-rotor servo actuator for a high rate of leakage. Replace each affected servo actuator with a new one containing a redesigned servo actuator piston. This AD, which was prompted by an NTSB safety recommendation issued in response to an accident, is intended to prevent degraded servo actuator performance from causing loss of control of the helicopter.
General Electric and Pratt & Whitney appear to be poised for battle over Gulfstream’s new large cabin design after the business jet maker apparently has ousted longtime supplier Rolls-Royce from the contest.
RALPH D’AMBROSIO was promoted to senior vice president of L-3 Communications. D’Ambrosio joined L-3 in August 1997, serving in roles of increasing responsibility within the company’s finance organization. He was appointed chief financial officer in January 2007 and also has served as principal accounting officer and controller. Before joining L-3, he was a senior manager with Coopers & Lybrand.
Business jet takeoff and landing data is up year-over-year for the fifth consecutive month, Morgan Stanley notes. Citing FAA data, Morgan Stanley says business jet activity increased 17.9% in April. The increases trended across aircraft models, says analyst Heidi Wood. “Cessna and Gulfstream posted mid-teens growth compared to April 2009,” when both manufacturers started to show “signs of stabilization,” she says. “The U.S.
Although the high inventories of used business jets seen in 2009 are gradually being reduced, it remains a buyer’s market, says a new report by aviation consultancy Jetnet LLC.
CitationAir by Cessna has formed a strategic alliance with Barnsley Gardens Resort north of Atlanta. Under the deal, CitationAir customers get special access to the resort, while Barnsley Gardens’ customers can learn about the benefits of CitationAir’s business jet programs. CitationAir is now Barnsley Gardens’ official business jet service provider, and customers now have access to two special packages at the resort: The Couples Escape and CitationAir Family Adventures.
JAMES BENNETT was elected chairman of the American Association of Airport Executives. Bennett is chief executive of Abu Dhabi Airports Company and previously spent 14 years as president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. He also has been assistant aviation director at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, director of the Shreveport, La., Airport Authority, director of aeronautics in Flint, Mich., and manager of technical services for Airport Operators Council International, the predecessor of Airports Council International-North America.
ARGUS International has published four documents on safety management systems (SMS) covering how to promote and understand SMS within a flight operation. The documents are available for free through the ARGUS website at tp://www.aviationresearch.com/free_data.asp. The four different reports are titled, “Confused About SMS?,” “SMS for Senior Leaders,” “Being Proactive About SMS” and “SMS Implementation Plan of Action.”
Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 Technology demonstrator expanded its speed envelope, reaching 181 knots during a test flight last week at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The helicopter is designed to cruise at 250 knots – well above the 160-170-knot average speeds of conventional helicopters. “The demonstrator is proving out the technologies very well, from the active vibration-control system to the fly-by-wire controls,” says Jim Kagdis, program manager, Sikorsky advanced programs.
Triumph Group’s stockholders May 28 approved the issuance of common stock to move forward with the acquisition of Vought Aircraft Industries. Triumph announced in March plans to buy Dallas-based Vought from private equity firm Carlyle Group for $1.4 billion. Under the deal, Triumph agreed to pay $525 million in cash and 7.5 million in shares of stock for Vought, which supplies fuselages, wings, empennages, nacelles and helicopter cabins for commercial, military and business jets, including the Gulfstream G450 and G550.
DAN HODGINS joined West Star Aviation as a regional sales manager. He will be responsible for the Northeast sales territory. Hodgins has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience and has held management roles with Starport Aviation, Elliott Aviation, Raytheon Aircraft Services, Suntech Aerospace, Turbine Solutions, GE Engine Services and Evergreen Airlines.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW615F-A engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0245; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-15-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the fuel filter bypass valve and replace any discrepant valve, per the instructions of Pratt & Whitney Canada Alert Service Bulletin PW600-72-A66021, Rev. 1 (dated Jan. 7, 2010). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by Transport Canada, was prompted by an incident in which a PW617F-E-powered twin-engine aircraft recently experienced an uncommanded power reduction on one of its engines.
