Midcoast Aviation received FAA organization designation authorization (ODA) for supplemental type certificates (STC). The designation authorizes Midcoast to produce STCs in-house as part of its maintenance, repair, overhaul and completions activities. The ODA status supplants the company’s Designated Alteration Station approval.
The Aviation Security Advisory Committee is laying the groundwork on key issues such as universal identification, general aviation incident response, and temporary flight restriction issuance, according to industry participants. The committee this month held its initial meeting with the Transportation Security Administration, re-establishing ties that industry officials believe will become critical as the agency continues its work on the proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) and repair station regulations.
Baldwin Aviation has begun collaborating with Mountain West Helicopters in Alpine, Utah, on obtaining International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO) registration under the recently launched program of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) and the International Business Aircraft Council (IBAC). HAI and IBAC proposed IS-BAO guidelines, which include safety management systems, at the annual Heli-Expo last month. HAI said helicopter operators seeking accreditation could begin applying in June.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT G58 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1176; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-062-AD; Amendment 39-16226; AD 2010-06-02] – Inspect the standoff hardware between the heater fuel line and the heater over-temperature sensor wires. Also check the brake reservoir tubing and the heater fuel pump wiring for minimum clearance and install standoff hardware if such hardware is missing or inadequate, per the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3898 (dated November 2008).
Avinode AB, the Swedish charter broker, signed a definitive agreement to merge with U.S.-based online marketing and charter-data specialist CharterX Corp. Under the agreement, Avinode will purchase all the outstanding shares of CharterX. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. CharterX will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avinode, creating a global reach with the company’s online technologies and charter marketplace systems.
The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) is “disappointed” over Transport Canada’s decision to take back the certification and oversight functions for business aviation, but will continue to work with the government agency on industry issues, CBAA President and CEO Sam Barone says.
The Transportation Department Inspector General (IG) last week renewed his call for FAA to develop short-term measures to improve oversight of the on-demand community, while the agency continues to work on a long-term risk-assessment model that is expected to be in place by 2013. IG Calvin Scovel last week appeared before the House aviation subcommittee to discuss the findings of the first of two studies that his office is conducting on air charter safety.
Bombardier recently scored high marks from analysts, who visited the airframer’s factories in Wichita, Kan. “We came away impressed with the new Learjet management team,” says Macquarie Research, adding that practices put in place by the team have resulted in a 56% improvement in production and a 72% decrease in overtime while the workforce was cut 30%. “We think the improvements that we have seen at Learjet should provide a higher margin base for the Aerospace segment once bizjet demand begins to return next year,” says Macquarie.
North American Jet Charter Group (NAJet) obtained FAA approval for operation of its Eclipse 500 very light jet in single-pilot configuration under Part 135. NAJet said the approval is the first for a U.S. charter operator. NAJet began operating the Eclipse for charter in June 2007. The single-pilot approval followed the completion of the upgrade with the AvioNG system and the approval for flight into known icing conditions. The new Eclipse Aerospace company completed the upgrade.
BRIAN HAINES joined TIMCO Aviation Services as vice president of sales and marketing. Haines will focus on growing airframe base maintenance activity at TIMCO’s Greensboro, N.C., Lake City, Fla., and Macon, Ga. facilities. He formerly spent 13 years with Continental Airlines, most recently as director of airframe contracts and business operations.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) maintains that airport access remains its biggest concern, particularly as the economy starts to revive, President Brian Humphries says. “When airports become congested and move to slots, business aviation has no rights,” he states, noting the association continues to work with the European Commission and the European Parliament to get business aviation recognized as an essential part of the aviation infrastructure.
Several key business measurements are leading to a strengthening market for general aviation aircraft sales in 2010, even more than previously anticipated, Cirrus Aircraft President and CEO Brent Wouters told employees, customers and suppliers last week.
Nextant Aerospace reached a new milestone in its ongoing Beechjet 400 upgrade programs with the recent first flight of a fully-equipped Phase 1 400NEXT aircraft. Nextant said the flight marked the transition from experimental to production aircraft. Nextant is offering the 400NEXT in two phases. Phase 1 includes a Pro Line 21 cockpit with the Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engines. The Phase 1 400NEXT also includes the Aircell Axxess system and ATG High Speed Internet. Phase 2 will include installation of the Williams FJ44-3AP engines, once certification is complete.
Vistajet in Zurich, Switzerland has launched a joint marketing deal with Heesen Yachts. Under the deal, the companies will tap each other’s target customers to provide new business opportunities.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0223; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-105-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to visually inspect for corrosion and damage to the lower inner section of the passenger door. If any corrosion were found, operators would need to repair the damage and apply corrosion inhibitor compound.
Eclipse Aerospace tapped SimCom Training Centers to provide pilot training for the Eclipse EA-500 very light jet. Eclipse is moving two Level D simulators to SimCom’s center in Orlando, Fla., and training should be available beginning in the third quarter. The simulators will include the Avio integrated avionics system, but will be upgraded to reflect the Avio NG 1.5 suite with autopilot, WAAS capability and flight-into-known-icing modifications.
Graham Stephenson, a 44-year aviation veteran who formerly headed the ExecuJet Aviation Group chain of fixed-base operations, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organizers of BA Meet-Up, a business aviation networking event held last week at RAF Northolt, U.K. Stephenson retired from ExecuJet in August, but has continued to play a consulting role with the company. He helped establish a joint-venture FBO in Kuala Lumpur with Hawker Pacific. He joined ExecuJet in 2006 after serving with Jet Aviation and London City Airport.
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Hawker Beechcraft is continuing to make inroads into India, one of the emerging markets that several OEMs hope to develop, with the recent delivery of a Hawker 4000. The delivery marked the first Hawker 4000 sent to the country, and Hawker Beechcraft noted that the recent display of its flagship aircraft at the India Aviation 2010 show “generated considerable interest from prospective customers.” The newly delivered aircraft will be based at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai for both business and personal use.
Piston Aircraft Sales, traditionally a leading indicator of market conditions, appear to be on the verge of a rebound. Aviation industry advisor Brian Foley believes piston sales could see a double-digit percentage jump late this year, and growth should last at least a couple of years. “This is good news for a segment that had literally nowhere else to go but up,” says Foley. Cirrus Aircraft President and CEO Brent Wouters also is seeing improvement in the market. See article on Page 3.
Women In Corporate Aviation, International will present a $1,000 scholarship at the 2010 EBACE Conference May 4-6, in Geneva, Switzerland. The scholarship is open to a woman or man (non-U.S. based) interested in continued pursuit of a career in any job classification in corporate or business aviation. Applications are due by April 3, 2010. For further questions on application guidelines, contact WCA Scholarship Chair Sandra Clifford at [email protected].
CESSNA AIRCRAFT celebrated the delivery of the 9,000th single-engine piston aircraft produced at its Independence, Kan. plant. The aircraft, a 182T Skylane, was handed over to Rob Logozio. The Skylane was sold through Cessna Sales Team Authorized Sales Representative Panorama Flight Service, Inc., based in White Plains, N.Y. The 9,000th delivery comes almost 14 years after Cessna handed over the first Independence-built single in November 1996.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201 and -202 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0609; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-037-AD; Amendment 39-16222; AD 2010-05-12] – Perform a functional check of the dielectric properties of the fuel tank skin for aluminum-loaded primer and aluminum-loaded enamel coating. For airplanes on which the aluminum-loaded primer and aluminum-loaded enamel coating have been properly applied, restore the protective finish on the areas where the surface finish was removed.
