Phillips 66 Aviation has launched a $1-per-gallon rebate program for pilots flying missions organized and approved by Angel Flight Northeast and Mercy Medical Airlift. Rebates will be given for fuel purchased using the Phillips 66 Aviation credit card at Phillips 66 Aviation-branded fixed-base operations. Some 1,600 pilots fly missions for Angel Flight Northeast and Mercy Medical Airlift. Angel Flight Northeast has flown more than 53,000 patients to medical care.
Original Equipment Manufacturers received some good news with the latest traffic reports. March takeoff and landing data released by FAA shows accelerating business jet traffic, with the fourth consecutive year-over-year positive month up 23.3%, reports Morgan Stanley Research. The Cessna fleet posted a significant jump in its March traffic, with takeoffs and landings up 19.1%, while Bombardier business jet operations jumped 23.3%. Gulfstream aircraft operations, meanwhile, were up for the fifth consecutive month in March.
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES L 23 Super Blanik gliders [Docket No. FAA-2010-0357; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-017-AD; Amendment 39-16256; AD 2010-08-01] – Before further flight, inspect the elevator inner hinges on the stabilizer in accordance with Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin No. L23/052a (dated March 2, 2010). If any elevator inner hinge is cracked or damaged, replace it before further flight.
Darby Aviation is appealing the FAA’s emergency order suspending the Muscle Shoals, Ala., air carrier’s certificate, and company legal representatives are vowing to “appeal any other frivolous and unfounded orders entered by the Administrator or the FAA.” Darby has waived the emergency portion of the suspension so it can fully delve into all the issues surrounding the case, Darby legal counsel Deanna Weidner, of Anderson & Weidner, told BA. The National Transportation Safety Board will review the case.
Sierra Industries has signed a long-term contract with an undisclosed original equipment manufacturer to jointly develop new aerospace technologies. The Uvalde, Texas-based company, which specializes in Cessna Citation modifications, will conduct the work under a newly created division, SkyWay Aerospace Technologies.
Textron President and CEO Scott Donnelly, while offering analysts some optimism that sales of Cessna light and mid-size models are starting to pick up, is less confident about the potential for renewed orders from fractional aircraft ownership providers – which had been a staple in the business jet backlogs. Cessna affiliate and fractional ownership provider CitationAir has seen “a little bit of uptick” as far as customers returning, he says. “But we have to recognize that there’s a lot of capacity out there,” Donnelly adds.
All work on the collapsed Dulles Jet Center (DJC) is on hold due to insurance disputes, but the structural engineer overseeing the building’s deconstruction and salvage of the aircraft trapped within says the effort might restart within the next two weeks.
Analysts from Bank of America Merrill Lynch are concerned over the increase in “white tails” (aircraft produced but not sold) that Cessna Aircraft parent Textron reported in the first quarter release. While not providing specifics, Textron officials conceded production and delivery rates were not in line and inventories increased for the first time in a year (BA, April 26/2). “In our view, this ‘build it and they will come’ strategy is very risky, especially when combined with a dwindling backlog,” say the Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts.
Bombardier expanded its presence in China with recent deliveries of the first Learjet 60 XR and Challenger 850 to a customer based in the country. “China is among a number of countries identified as emerging markets for business aviation,” says Ray Jones, vice president, international sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft.
TOM HENDRICKS is joining the Air Transport Association of America as vice president of operations and safety, effective June 1. Hendricks will manage the association’s operations, safety, engineering and air traffic issues. He currently is director of line operations for Delta Air Lines in Atlanta.
Quest Aircraft has received FAA approval for an increase in the maximum gross weight of its Kodiak utility aircraft. The single-engine airplane is now approved to operate at up to 7,255 lbs., up from 6,750 lbs. Also, useful load has increased to 3,535 lbs. The increases are part of a continuous improvement program that has been ongoing since Quest first received certification for the Kodiak in 2007. Customers have requested the weight changes to increase payload capacity, the company says.
Actor Harrison Ford, who has become a leading industry advocate and the face of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s GA Serves America campaign, spoke of the importance of general aviation and the need to bolster the pilot population before the House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses last week.
Jet Aviation Dubai has received General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates base maintenance approval for the Embraer Legacy. The new approval, together with the recently issued European Aviation Safety Agency and FAA Legacy approvals, enables Jet Aviation to support Legacy customers worldwide, the company says. The company’s maintenance and fixed-base operation was established in May 2005 and has 45,192 square ft. of hangar space, 10,760 square ft. of workshop space and a two-story, 11,300-square-ft. FBO building.
JOE SAMBIASE was named manager of airworthiness and maintenance for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Sambiase is responsible for GAMA’s airworthiness, production and maintenance regulatory activities. Sambiase has more than 10 years of aviation technical experience, most recently with Compass Airlines. There, he participated in the company’s Part 121 air carrier certification process and held a lead position for new aircraft deliveries. He also has served with US Airways, Independence Air and Jet Aircraft Maintenance.
May 4-6 – 10th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, Geneva, (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org May 11-13 – Flight Safety Foundation Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar, Hilton El Conquistador, Tucson, Ariz., www.flightsafety.org May 16-19 – AAAE/Annual Conference & Exposition, Dallas, Texas, www.aaae.org May 19-20 – NATA Line Service Supervisor Training, Windsor Locks, Conn., (800) 808-6282, www.nata.aero
Canada’s government of Manitoba is upgrading its amphibious fleet with the recently announced purchase of four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin during the fourth quarter of 2010 and will continue until 2012. Manitoba currently operates seven CL-215 aircraft, and the 415 will replace four of them.
Business Jet Access (BJA) has been awarded a Part 145 repair station certificate. The certificate will enable BJA to expand on-site maintenance services to include routine inspections, repair, troubleshooting and line replaceable units, the company says. It includes limited airframe ratings for Falcon 900 series, Hawker 800 series, Hawker 850XP and Citation 650 aircraft. Also covered are limited powerplant ratings for various TFE731 engine derivatives.
The Presidential Flight of Abu Dhabi recently added a second BAE Systems Avro Business Jet to its fleet. The late-model Avro RJ100 joins an existing RJ70 in the operator’s inventory. The RJ100 was converted into a VIP transport by Inflite Engineering Limited at London-Stansted Airport. BAE Systems says there are now 25 Avro Business Jets either in VIP service or in the process of being converted for such use.
Two More Months: Aviation officials are encouraged that House and Senate staff members appear to be laying the groundwork for a conference on a longer-term FAA reauthorization bill. The House and Senate, unable to reach a conference agreement before FAA’s authorization was set to expire April 30, last week adopted another short-term extension of FAA’s authorization. The latest short-term measure extends the authorization until July 3.
Head-up guidance systems could have prevented or positively influenced 38% of all commercial, business and corporate aircraft accidents that occurred over a recent 13-year period, according to a study conducted by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). “Head-up Guidance Technology – A Clear Path to Increasing Flight Safety,” an independent third-party study commissioned by Rockwell Collins, involved an FSF review of information about 983 accidents between 1995 and 2007.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-200 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0432; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-001-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a one-time detailed inspection of each of the six flapper valves in the fuel system’s collector tank, removing the valve spring (if installed) and applying an identification mark on each inspected valve, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-28-54 (dated April 22, 2009).
Industry organizations are raising concerns about a new FAA advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on improving commercial pilot performance, an issue raised by the Colgan Air DHC-8 accident on Feb. 12, 2009, near Buffalo, N.Y. Changing the requirements for the core commercial license could have a significant impact on the entire industry, from aerial applications to charter operations.
Elite Aviation has added a Raytheon Premier 1A to its fleet. The aircraft will be based at Van Nuys, Calif. Elite Aviation is a full-service aviation company providing aircraft management, charter sales, a Part 145 maintenance facility and catering. The operator’s current fleet includes Gulfstream, Challenger, Falcon, Hawker, Learjet, Raytheon and Citation aircraft.
Piper is offering enhanced vision systems (EVS) as optional equipment on new Malibu, Matrix and Mirage airplanes. The Forward Vision Systems’ EVS-100 and EVS-600 also will be available for retrofit on those airplanes. Piper plans to offer an optional EVS on new Piper Meridians, as well as an STC-approved system for Meridians already in service, once an EVS is certified to address the Meridian’s higher performance envelope.
