KEY CHANGES occurred at FAA and the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO). Karlin Toner was tapped to serve as director of JPDO, succeeding Charlie Leader. Toner is already Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s senior adviser on NextGen and the JPDO, and she is expected to retain this role. Separately, FAA named David Weingart chief of staff, and Claudio Manno assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials.
Eurocopter is looking to replace the turbine engine in its light single EC120 with a diesel engine. The program is a priority at Eurocopter, said Yves Favennec, vice president for research and innovation at last week’s Heli-Expo. The diesel, he said, will have a 30-40 percent better fuel burn than the Turbomeca Arrius that now powers the EC120, with correspondingly fewer emissions. He could not provide a timetable, but said Eurocopter is working as fast as possible on the project.
THOMAS MCQUADE was promoted to president of Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), a Sikorsky Aircraft subsidiary that provides charter, helicopter fractional ownership, and helicopter management and maintenance services. McQuade joined AAG in 1997, after working with the company for six years as a consultant. He developed software for corporate aircraft department management and oversaw the renovation of AAG’s hangars and administrative headquarters.
THE U.S. NAVY is gradually restarting the process to buy a new Presidential helicopter after a prior effort failed over poor requirements definition. The request for information projects a buy of 23-28 rotorcraft, with an initial operational capability still vaguely defined as 2017-2023. The helicopter should accommodate at least 10 passengers, but preferably 14, have a range of 150-275 nautical miles, and a speed of 140 knots. Standard Presidential fleet requirements, including hardening against electromagnetic pulse, also are among the desired features.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Jetstream 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0123; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-004-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify the wiring to the flap selector switch, per the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 27-JM7861 (dated Feb. 12, 2008).
THE FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION, International Business Aviation Council, National Business Aviation Association and Asian Business Aviation Association will hold Business Aviation Safety Seminar-Asia 2010 (BASS-Asia) April 13–14, at the Singapore Aviation Academy. The safety seminar will focus on managing growth safely in the region and will review global and regional industry safety records, new international safety rules, safety programs such as safety management systems, safety tools and best practices.
Gulfstream Aerospace last week flew the second G650 for the first time. The aircraft, called T2, took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 12:50 p.m. Feb. 25 for a two-hour and 33-minute flight. T2 reached an altitude of 37,000 feet and a speed of Mach 0.80. Gulfstream plans to fly T2 about a half-dozen more times to assess basic system functionality before the aircraft enters an intense flight-test regimen.
Sears shut down its flight department Jan. 31 after 64 years of operation. “The company decided to use commercial airline service and a limited amount of charter for its travel needs,” said Larry Studer, aircraft maintenance manager/facilities for Sears Holdings Corp.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT delivered the first Hawker 4000 business jet in China last week. Delivery follows Chinese certification of the Hawker 4000 in November 2009. The aircraft will be based at the Beijing Capital International Airport and used for both business and leisure travel by an unnamed HBC customer.
The National Transportation Safety Board has identified improved oversight of pilot proficiency as one of the most important aviation safety measures requiring FAA action. The safety board on Feb. 18 adopted the new addition to its “Most Wanted” list of aviation safety recommendations at an annual meeting aimed at updating the list, which was first issued in 1990.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT and FlightSafety last week celebrated the grand opening of a new maintenance training center located on the approach end of Hawker Beechcraft’s Runway 18 in Wichita. The 44,000-square-foot facility includes 10 classrooms, graphical flight-deck simulators, composites and cabin system labs, and runway access to a 10,000-square-foot hangar.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT has been awarded the license for into-plane fueling at its Shannon Airport operation in Ireland and will be the sole fixed-base operation providing this service on the airport. Signature Shannon is working on approval from U.S. Customs & Border Protection to offer pre-clearance services on-site.
Midcoast Aviation veteran Gary Driggers and House aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) were selected for the National Air Transportation Association’s top honors, the William A. Ong Memorial Award and the Award for Distinguished Service. NATA will present the awards during the Excellence Awards Dinner April 21, which will be held in conjunction with the association’s “Day on the Hill,” annual meeting and officer elections. The association is combining the events in a new format this spring that will be held in Washington, D.C.
Rob Wilson, president of Honeywell Aerospace’s Business and General Aviation division and chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, last week presented a “mixed scorecard” for the general aviation industry as he reported a more than 42.6 percent drop in aircraft shipments in 2009 and near historic levels in used aircraft available. But Wilson, who presented GAMA’s Annual Industry Review on Wednesday, also pointed to encouraging factors, including the potential for growth in emerging international markets and an increase in flight hours.
FAA rescheduled the next meeting of the RTCA Government/Industry Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (ATMAC) to March 3 at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The ATMAC had planned to meet Feb. 11, but was forced to cancel the gathering due to winter storms, which shut down most of the government in Washington, D.C. for nearly a week. The group is expected to provide updates on trajectory operations, ADS-B, FAA’s response to the RTCA NextGen Implementation Task Force, and the Airspace Work Group’s annual report and recommendations.
COLORADO JETCENTER of Colorado Springs has become a member of the Avfuel-branded network of dealers. Located at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, the fixed-base operation serves domestic and international customers with on-site U.S. Customs, cabin cleaning and flight crew services, crew cars and rental cars, complimentary WSI weather service and flight planning facilities, separate pilot lounge, catering, conference center facilities and more.
Development of the 2,250-nautical-mile, 440-KTAS midsize Spectrum S.40 Freedom is proceeding at a slow, but deliberate pace because of tight financing made worse by the failures of several light-jet startup ventures, Linden Blue, chairman and chief executive of Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, said last week. Most of the funding for Spectrum S.40 Freedom is coming from internal sources.
PIAGGIO has expanded its service options in the U.S. with the selection of Western Aircraft in Idaho as an Avanti authorized service center. Part of the Greenwich AeroGroup, Western Aircraft demonstrated it met Piaggio requirements for specialized tooling and equipment, technical data, consumables and factory training. Western Aircraft will provide maintenance, modifications, avionics and interior refurbishments.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0124; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-002-AD] – Proposes to require a functional check of main and stand-by fuel pumps for leakage and an update of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The MCAI noted that a fuel pump sealing failed, possibility from incorrect maintenance procedures and subsequent testing, and caused fuel to leak into the main landing gear bay.
GULFSTREAM appointed veteran business aviation communications executive Jeff Miller to the newly created position of vice president, communications. Miller, who joins the organization following the retirement of Robert Baugniet last fall, will be responsible for both internal and external communications and report to Larry Flynn, senior vice president, marketing and sales. Miller also will work closely with Bill Shira, vice president, marketing and sales support.
WEST STAR AVIATION in East Alton, Ill., recently completed training to perform wing tank dry bay modifications on Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series aircraft in compliance with Dassault’s recent service bulletin. EASA and FAA are expected to issue airworthiness directives mandating the modification for all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series. The Dassault service bulletins were released to prevent a potential fuel spill during a high-speed runway excursion, West Star noted. The modification involves adding a sealed boundary to the front of the wing rear spar between Ribs 4 and 5.
MCTURBINE, a Bell Helicopter affiliate, has received FAA approval to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul on Rolls-Royce 250 Series II and Series IV helicopter turbine engines. Ken Essary, general manager and vice president, said, “This is a significant step toward achieving McTurbine and Bell Helicopter’s goal of supporting all Bell Helicopter platforms.” McTurbine has more than 20 years of experience working on turbine powerplants, including authorized support for Honeywell T53 and T55 engines and accessories.
JEFF HILL was named director of international product support sales for Gulfstream Aerospace. Hill, who has served with Gulfstream since 1992, is based at the Gulfstream service center at London Luton Airport in the United Kingdom. He has spent the past nine years as European regional sales manager, product support sales. He also has served as a regional sales manager, product support sales for the Southeast U.S. Other positions Hill has held at Gulfstream include European sales representative, customer service representative and senior buyer.
ESTERLINE CMC ELECTRONICS has won an order to supply its Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite to 24 Hawker Beechcraft T6-C trainer aircraft for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The avionics suite will include an integrated avionics computer, a head-up display, up-front control panel, six multifunction displays, inertial reference unit, digital video recorder/data transfer system and radar altimeter.
