Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) has received an FAA supplemental type certificate for its Class 3 electronic chart and XM satellite weather upgrade to the Avio NG integrated cockpit system of the Eclipse Aerospace EA500. The package for the very light jet features forward-field-of-view Jeppesen charts. Satellite weather is overlaid on a moving map with multiple graphic viewing options, including NexRad, lightning, storm cell, Sigmet, Airmet, TFR, icing, METARS and cloud tops.
Oxygen cylinders manufactured by AVOX Systems and B/E Aerospace and installed on as many as 10,000 FAR Part 23 airplanes are the subject of a proposed airworthiness directive that would require operators to remove substandard cylinders. The rupture of a high-pressure gaseous oxygen cylinder that was found to have had insufficient strength characteristics due to improper heat treatment prompted the proposal (Docket No. FAA-2010-0272).
The White House is back to square one in its attempts to fill the vacant administrator’s position at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after nominee Maj. Gen. (ret.) Robert Harding withdrew his name from consideration March 26.
National Flight Services, which operates two authorized Twin Commander service centers in the U.S. as well as a number of other aviation service facilities, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1960 as National Flight Service Inc., a fixed-base operator at National Airport, a small, now-defunct airfield just north of Toledo, Ohio. The firm relocated to Toledo Express Airport in 1969 and expanded, offering sales of new Beechcraft and Twin Commander aircraft, as well as maintenance, charter and flight training services.
The White House named Alan Bersin commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, one of several recess appointments announced March 27. Bersin was nominated about six months ago. He was previously the Homeland Security Department’s assistant secretary for international affairs and special representative for border affairs.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1080; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-118-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Brazil, would supersede and expand the scope of an existing directive (AD 2008-13-15) in an effort to preclude the development of ignition sources within the airplane’s fuel tanks.
STEP FORWARD: Gulfstream Aerospace’s G250 program took another step forward last week with the first flight of a second aircraft. The second G250, serial number (S/N) 2002, flew for 1 hour and 57 minutes on March 24 from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, where the aircraft is being developed in concert with Israel Aerospace Industries. The super midsized business jet flew to an altitude of 20,000 feet and a speed of 195 kt. S/N 2002 followed the first flight of S/N 2001 in December.
Supermarine recently opened a new fixed-base operation and 23,000-square-foot hangar, and the company plans to add another 50,000-square-foot facility later this year at its facility in Little Rock, Ark. The FBO offers a range of services, including U.S. Customs, and recently became a member of the Avfuel network of FBOs.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0273; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-134-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify the nose landing gear trailing arm, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-32-65, Rev. A (dated March 2, 2009) or 84-32-65 (dated Dec. 17, 2008).
Sikorsky Aircraft on March 19 completed a 30-minute first flight of its second S-76D prototype from the company’s Development Flight Center in Florida. The helicopter, D2, is the second of three prototypes that will be used in the test program. The D2 prototype will be used for certification of the new Pratt & Whitney PW210S engines. Production of the S-76D airframes began at Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic in late 2009.
BILL ZISKA was promoted to vice president of sales for King Schools. Ziska has served with King Schools for more than 14 years, holding numerous roles within the sales department. In his new position, Ziska will manage sales and the customer service department. Before joining King Schools, Ziska held sales and management roles in Fortune 500 companies.
FAA will discuss use of hand fire extinguishers in aircraft during a meeting scheduled May 19-20 in London. The meeting will cover the agency’s proposed advisory circular (AC) 20-42D, Hand Fire Extinguishers For Use in Aircraft, which was drafted with the recommendations of the International Aircraft Systems Fire Protection Working Group. The AC identifies three FAA-approved replacement agents for Halon 1211 and establishes an FAA-approved minimum performance standard (MPS) for halon replacement agents. The standard includes hidden fire test and a seat fire/toxicity test.
MIKE ELLIS was named vice president, pre-owned aircraft for Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Ellis has 25 years of aviation sales experience. He formerly was president of Mike Ellis & Associates, representing clients in the acquisition and sales of corporate jets. In his new role, Ellis will be responsible for Hawker Beechcraft’s used aircraft sales and report to Shawn Vick, executive vice president.
HARDING was responding to Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), who called general aviation the “weak link” in the transportation system. “You go out to Dulles and just walk onto a charter airplane or whatever. You’re not checked, your baggage isn’t checked. You could be anybody. It’s quite remarkable, it’s true all over the country as far as I know,” he said, adding, “It’s very dangerous, and a lot of people use it.” Rockefeller noted he has tried to take action, but those efforts get shut down.
Lehigh Valley Aviation Services in Pennsylvania has renewed its branding agreement with Avfuel Corp. Lehigh will continue to offer jet fuel via the Avfuel Contract Fuel program, as well as the AVTRIP rewards program for pilots. The FBO offers access to the Lehigh Valley, the Pocono Mountains and greater Philadelphia and offers full-service fueling, aircraft charters, aircraft maintenance, heated hangars and on-site U.S. Customs.
The Transportation Security Administration has passed the proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) to the Department of Homeland Security, beginning the vetting process prior to being published as a notice of proposed rulemaking, possibly this fall, TSA’s General Manager for General Aviation, Brian Delauter, announced Friday. Addressing a well-attended meeting of the Westchester Aviation Association (WAA) in New York, Delauter also says that the agency was seeking a less adversarial relationship with the industry.
Eurocopter, along with its Helicopteros de Brasil-Helibras subsidiary, last week held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new EC725 helicopter assembly line in Itajuba, Brazil. The facility will serve as a new rotary-wing center of excellence for the company, and will produce, assemble and maintain EC725 helicopters being acquired by the Brazilian armed forces. The 11,000-square-meter (118,403-square-foot) facility will double production capability for Helibras, which also assembles Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil light helicopters.
House and Senate leaders agree that they have substantial differences to resolve when they meet in conference over a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill. The Senate on March 22 finally passed 93-0 its version of longer-term reauthorization legislation, after the bill had stalled in the chamber for years. The House passed its version last year. The last long-term reauthorization legislation expired in 2007, and FAA has since been operating on a string of short-term renewals.
EADS SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0286; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-013-AD] – This proposal would require operators to remove from service certain L’Hotellier portable fire extinguishers that contain Halon 1211 gas that may not meet specifications, replacing those units with serviceable fire extinguishers, per the instructions of TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 70-183 (dated January 2010).
THE HOUSE AND SENATE late Thursday night approved measures to extend FAA’s authorization and the aviation excise taxes through the end of April. The authorization and taxes were due to expire at the end of March. The House originally approved a three-month extension, but agreed to match the Senate plan for a shorter term. This provides only a few weeks for the House and Senate to iron out their respective differences on a more comprehensive, longer-term FAA reauthorization bill.
The piston-powered, fixed-wing segment is poised to outpace other aircraft categories for the next several years after weathering three years of plummeting deliveries, says a new report from Sparta, N.J.-based Brian Foley Associates.
Birmingham, Ala.-based Private Shoppes, LLC is hoping that its new inflight and online catalogs find a market with general aviation passengers. Private Shoppes, launched in November 2009, is the brainchild of Deedee Morrison and David Bannister. Morrison was the founder of Private Air magazine, while Bannister was executive vice president of sales and marketing for Stratos magazine, both of which have targeted private aviation.
Hawker Beechcraft increased its support capabilities in Southeast Asia with the appointment of Hawker Pacific Singapore as the first authorized service center in the region for the Hawker 4000. The appointment expands Hawker Pacific’s authorization to cover the entire Hawker Beechcraft line. The appointment also comes as the Wichita plane maker begins to ramp up its shipments in Asia, including recent deliveries of the 4000 to customers in China and India.
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