NetJets has canceled 65 Dassault Falcon jet orders that the giant fractional owner placed for delivery beyond 2014, Dassault acknowledged last week. The cancellation comes after NetJets booked a $711 million loss last year and canceled a slew of other orders with all of the major OEMs. “These aircraft will be reordered and delivered depending on the market evolution,” Dassault says. A total cancellation volume of 98 Falcons drove Dassault to record a €1.32 billion loss in its order book during 2009.
Air Partner Private Jets has signed a marketing operating agreement with Scandinavian business aviation operator Air Alsie to act as its general sales agent for its wide-bodied charter fleet in Russia and the CIS. Sonderborg, Denmark-based Air Alsie has 21 aircraft in its managed fleet.
The House last week passed a three-month extension of FAA’s authorization and the aviation excise taxes, as the Senate continued its debate on a longer-term comprehensive reauthorization bill. The House action would extend FAA’s authorization, currently due to expire at the end of the month, through July 3.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-01 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0948; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-30-AD; Amendment 39-16236; AD 2010-06-12] — Replace the existing rail-pressure control valve with a new valve, repeating that process every 600 flight hours. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent inflight engine shutdowns, which could result in reduced control of the aircraft. FAA estimates that this directive will affect about 370 engines installed on aircraft on the U.S.
The Commonwealth Of Virginia’s Department of Aviation has become the first state aviation agency in the U.S. to receive ISO 9001:2008 certification by undergoing an independent audit. “It is an honor that one of our state agencies has earned a place among the high–performing companies who have ISO certification,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), who called the certification an achievement for both the Department of Aviation and the state.
Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton was selected as the recipient of the 2010 Lindbergh Award, presented yearly by the Minneapolis-based Lindbergh Foundation.
SHORT BROTHERS SD3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0225; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-203-AD] – This proposal, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2006-12-18), would require operators to adopt additional limitations and maintenance and inspection tasks for fuel tank systems.
WOODY SALAND expanded his responsibilities with Dassault Falcon, becoming manager, technical programs and pilot operations. Formerly manager, technical programs, Saland is representing Dassault’s training and operations organization in the Western Hemisphere. He has served with Dassault Falcon for five years, and has worked on the development of various Falcon programs including avionics and cabin equipment options. Before that, Saland was an instructor at FlightSafety International for four years.
FAA is planning to expand its data collection efforts to research the impacts of aircraft noise in national parks. “The data from this research are critically important for establishing the scientific basis for air tour management policy decisions in the National Parks as mandated by the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000,” the agency says. FAA plans to expand its efforts of previous research by using a wider variety of survey methods, by including different site types and visitor experiences, and by increasing site type replication, the agency says.
A Florida State Senator last week agreed to drop a measure that would have required the state aviation office to set the cost of fuel at airports with only one fixed-base operation and prohibit the imposition of storage, landing or departure fees on aircraft that are on public airport property for less than 90 minutes. Sen. Carey Baker (R-Eutis) withdrew the measure from Florida Senate Bill 1500 (SB 1500) at the urging of industry groups, including the National Air Transportation Association and Florida Aviation Trades Association.
Elliot Aviation has signed an agreement with Jet Support Services Inc. to provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services, paint and interior refurbishment services, and to supply spare parts to JSSI clients enrolled in their hourly cost maintenance program.
JAMES MCCONVILLE was named president and chief executive of AeroMech Engineering. McConville formerly served as vice president for strategy and business development for AeroMech parent Chandler/May.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0656; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-038-AD; Amendment 39-16056; AD 2009-22-05] – Determine if certain anti-ice piccolo ducts are installed, and replace or repair these ducts, if necessary. This AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2008-23-16), was prompted by an MCAI issued by Transport Canada. This new AD is intended to ensure the replacement of cracked piccolo ducts.
Chicago Executive’s noise exposure map meets the requirements of FAR Part 150, FAA declared recently. The agency now is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for the Chicago reliever airport and plans to approve or disapprove the plan by Oct. 1. For more information, contact Amy Hanson, Environmental Protection Specialist, CHI-603, FAA, Chicago Airport District Office, 2300 East Devon Ave., Des Plaines, Ill. 60018; phone: (847) 294-7354
Increasing deliveries of Phenom very light and light jets were not enough to offset a sharp drop in commercial aircraft deliveries at Embraer, driving the Brazilian aircraft maker’s full year profit down 36% to $248.5 million. But there are signs of recovery that started to emerge at the end of the fourth quarter. Order intake therefore is expected to increase from the 23 regional jets booked last year. The slow pace of new order intake last year also led to a reduction in Embraer’s order backlog by $3.3 billion to $16.6 billion at the end of 2009.
MD HELICOPTERS MD-900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0953; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-45-AD; Amendment 39-16230; AD 2010-06-06] – Reduce the life limit of the swashplate spherical slider bearing. This directive, which supersedes an existing AD, was prompted by reports of slider bearing cracks that occurred well before the previously increased retirement life of 2,030 hours time-in-service. This AD is intended to establish appropriate life limits for various parts and to prevent fatigue failure of those parts and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
March 29-April 1 – National Business Aviation Association 37th Annual International Operators Conference, New Orleans, (202) 783-9000 or visit nbaa.org March 29-April 1 – Aviation Maintenance Conference and Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee Join Meeting, Hyatt Regency, Phoenix, (410) 266-2008 April 6–8 – National Business Aviation Association 25th Annual Maintenance Management Conference, San Diego, Calif., (202) 783-9000
Cessna Aircraft is making preparations to hand over the initial Citation CJ4 in April after receiving FAA type approval this month. Certification, announced March 13, comes a little more than four years after Cessna detailed plans for the aircraft during the 2006 National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention.
Marty Guinoo took over Weymouth, Mass.-based Sentient Jet as chief executive, replacing Steven Hankin. Guinoo has served as a senior vice president at Sentient since 2004 and has managed day-to-day operations for the past two years. Hankin has returned to the hotel business as managing director of Starwood Capital Group. Hankin, a former McKinsey & Co. partner, had spent six years heading marketing and technology development at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS) was named the marketing communications agency of record for Aerion Corp., the aeronautical engineering organization based in Reno, Nev., that has been designing the Aerion supersonic business jet (SSBJ). Aerion formerly was represented by Blake-Miller Communications in Texas. Jeff Miller, a partner in Blake-Miller, recently was tapped to serve as vice president of communications for Gulfstream Aerospace. SHS primarily will represent Aerion from its office in Wichita, Kan., with support from the agency’s Washington, D.C. office.
CHERYLE JACKSON is joining AAR Corp. as vice president of government affairs and corporate development. Jackson has served as president and chief executive of the Chicago Urban League since October 2006, and before that was communications director for the governor of Illinois, national director of state and local government affairs for Amtrak and vice president of communications for National Public Radio.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association brought its General Aviation Serves America campaign to San Bernardino County in California. The association last week helped kicked off a local GA Serves America campaign during an event at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, Calif. San Bernardino County officials, including Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt and Director of Airports Mike Williams, participated in the rollout of the program.
