HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model 390 (Premier) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0158; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-006-AD; Amendment 39-16289; AD 2010-10-10] — Inspect the essential bus lightning-strike protection for proper installation of metal oxide varistor (MOV) and spark gap wiring. Rework the wiring as necessary to achieve the required lightning strike/surge protection, per the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3995 (dated September 2009).
Belgian charter operator Philippe Bodson recently became the first European operator to place Hawker Beechcraft’s King Air 350i twin turboprop into service. Hawker Beechcraft obtained European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the 350i in December. Bodson founded and manages Antwerp-based charter ASL, which operates 14 aircraft throughout Europe and North Africa. The 350i is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system, which supports personal entertainment devices such as CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, MP3 players, gaming consoles and laptop computers.
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association’s annual Spring Conference drew more than 300 attendees to the three-day event this month in Scottsdale, Ariz. The conference included general meetings, vendor displays, a golf tournament, and breakout sessions covering safety, security, legal and tax issues. “This was our most successful Spring Conference ever,” says RACCA president Stan Bernstein, who adds the event had “an amazing turnout considering the current state of the economy.” RACCA represents more than 50 carriers, chiefly engaged in Part 135 cargo flying within the U.S.
Hundreds of charter operators last week were forced to verify their access to a Transportation Security Administration Webboard as part of the measures the agency is taking to tighten security in the wake of the failed bombing attempt on New York’s Times Square.
VICTORIA COLTON was named director, quality and product integrity for Sabreliner Corp. Colton previously was senior director of quality and mission success for GKN Aerospace. She also has held various positions with Lockheed Martin Aerospace.
FlightSafety International is increasing its capacity in Broken Arrow, Okla., with a new flight simulation equipment design and manufacturing facility. Construction is beginning this spring and should be completed in 2011, FlightSafety says. The new building, designed to incorporate Lean Manufacturing Flow processes, will have dedicated areas for component manufacturing, final assembly, shipping and receiving. The facility also will include areas for engineering, customer service and logistics support, administrative offices and service areas.
Cessna is planning to expand its Citation Mobile Service Unit (MSU) teams to Europe by year’s end. Part of Cessna’s ServiceDirect program, the mobile units already are established in the U.S. Cessna executives say the expansion to Europe is a “natural progression” of the program since more than 1,000 Citations have been delivered to customers in the region. Cessna has not yet determined the specific base for the European MSU, but expects the unit will be located in southern France and also cover Geneva, northern Italy and northern Spain.
Cleveland-based Flight Options has taken delivery of the first of 100 Embraer Phenom 300s on order for its fractional aircraft ownership program. Flight Options in 2007 selected the Phenoms to be the anchor of its fractional fleet, signing a deal valued at nearly $1 billion for 100 Phenoms and options for up to 50 more.
Viking Air has appointed Team JAS of Jacksonville, Fla., and Universal Avionique Inc. of Miami as the first factory-endorsed component centers for its Twin Otter Series 400 and legacy de Havilland Canada aircraft support network. Both companies have a history of serving the Twin Otter fleet, Viking says. Viking is building a network through strategic partnerships with industry specialists to provide factory-certified service and warranty repairs on items such as main and nose landing gear and rotable components.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support has signed an agreement naming EADS SECA a preferred engine maintenance service provider for Asia and the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. EADS SECA is authorized to perform maintenance on Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell engines, positioning the Gonesse, France facility to provide maintenance on active Hawker and King Air aircraft models. EADS SECA provides a range of scheduled and unscheduled engine maintenance, including hot section inspections, major periodic checks, engine overhauls and core zone inspections.
Future regulation of small aircraft will continue to be discussed at a public meeting June 8-9 in Scottsdale, Ariz. FAA’s Small Airplane Directorate wants to examine policy and rulemaking ideas “to determine the adequacy of the current airworthiness standards throughout a small airplane’s service life, while anticipating future requirements. The outcome could affect the next 20 years of small airplane design, certification and operations,” agency officials say (BA, Feb. 1/49).
NetJets marked a dramatic turnaround in its first-quarter results, posting pre-tax earnings of $57 million. That compares with a pre-tax loss of $96 million in 2009. Parent company Berkshire Hathaway painted a more optimistic picture for NetJets in its first-quarter statement, saying the fractional aircraft ownership provider’s “operating cost structure has been reduced to better match customer demand, and we continue to believe that NetJets will operate profitably in the future.”
New Zealand’s Aerospace Interiors and Dubai-based Greenline Interiors have signed a cooperative agreement to work together to expand their presence in the international market for luxury aircraft interiors. The companies say the deal would allow them to develop new opportunities and give them the capability to undertake high-profile projects currently being negotiated within the Middle Eastern market. They will develop a comprehensive base in Dubai from which to increase market presence in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, India and Asia.
Position Description Assistant Commissioner 4800 - Security Operations -ORD 085-2010-024 Assistant Commissioner - Security Operations The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner - Security Operations to plan and direct security activities in compliance with an approved federally mandated Airport Security Plan. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to:
Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture was encouraged that this month’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition in Geneva not only drew an expected level of European interest, but also moderate traffic from prospects outside Europe. Potential buyers from Africa, the Middle East and Russia also showed interest at the convention, Boisture told analysts. But even with increased international demand, the market for business and general aviation remains “depressed,” Boisture says.
Chevron has announced a major restructuring of its general aviation business that will result in the loss of marketing for Chevron- and Texaco-branded aviation fuels in approximately 200 locations in 27 states.
Position Description Assistant Commissioner 4510 – Legal/Government Affairs -ORD 085-2010-026 Assistant Commissioner – Legal/Government Affairs The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner – Legal/Government Affairs to monitor local, state, regional and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives that impact upon the policies, plans and operations of Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports.
Business aircraft activity was down 5.3% from March 2010, according to the latest ARGUS TRAQPak data for April 2010. Turboprop activity was the only aircraft sector up from the previous month at a modest 0.7%. Large cabin jets showed the largest decline at 14.7%, possibly due to the negative impact of the European airspace closures due to the volcanic ash eruptions in Iceland. “The fractional turboprop category continued to be the bright spot in the market with a 7.2% increase over March,” says ARGUS.
Embraer executives are expecting to build market share as the Brazilian airframer increases production of its Phenom 100 and 300, says Luis Carlos Affonso, executive vice president of Embraer Executive Jets.
Although the sharp drop in flight hours slowed the services business to a trickle last year, StandardAero weathered the downturn with a diverse portfolio of services for airline, military, helicopter and business jet operations, says Scott Taylor, senior vice president, business aviation. In fact, Taylors says, “2009 was an outstanding year for StandardAero.”
Private aviation service provider Air Partner is “cautiously optimistic” about the current state of the business jet charter market. “Significantly, if we look at a list of who is chartering now, we see that some of the big-name banks and financial institutions are back on it,” says Phil Mathews, Air Partner director of U.K. trading. “All of them were notably absent this time last year. There weren’t any financial road shows or bank-related IPO trips then, but I’m pleased to see these bookings are coming back.”
Embraer executives are expecting to build market share as the Brazilian airframer increases production of its Phenom 100 and 300, says Luis Carlos Affonso, executive vice president of Embraer Executive Jets.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0435; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-084-AD; Amendment 39-16283; AD 2010-10-04] – Replace the blind fasteners with solid rivets at the four wiring harness tiedown mount locations, and conduct a detailed inspection for chafing and damage to the wires and Teflon tubing. Repair or replace any chafed or damaged wire or Teflon tubing before further flight, per the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A84-24-44, Rev. A (dated Feb. 2, 2010).
Gulfstream’s long-range G650 and super midsize G250 programs have remained on track to enter the market in 2011, company executives say, with each program recently reaching key milestones. The G650, which will be the flagship of the Gulfstream fleet, continues to expand the flight envelope, setting a new speed record of 0.925 Mach at an altitude of 42,500 ft. Pres Henne, senior vice president of programs, says the G650 maneuvered easily at the altitude, adding, “There was a little nibble but no buffet at 45º of bank.”
