Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) has begun what are expected to be significant changes in the structure and makeup of its top-level sales team. Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture and Executive Vice President Shawn Vick will announce a reorganization of the marketing team with three regional sales presidents who will report to Vick, sources tell BA. Product group sales directors will be appointed who will report to the regional sales presidents.
SAAB 340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0042; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-010-AD] – For certain modified aircraft, this proposal would require operators to remove the external adapter plate of the antenna installation and visually inspect for corrosion and cracking of the fuselage surface below the plate. If any corrosion or cracking were found, operators would have to repair it before further flight. If no corrosion or cracking were found, operators would need to ensure that proper corrosion protection is applied before reinstalling the adapter plate.
SHANE EDDY was named vice president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters. Eddy is responsible for strategic leadership and general management of the business. He previously spent 14 years with Bell Helicopter, most recently as senior vice president, customer support and services, and as chief services officer.
JOHN DEVANEY was appointed as an independent nonexecutive director and chairman designate for Cobham, effective Feb. 1. Devaney previously had served as executive chairman of National Express plc since April 2009 and nonexecutive chairman of the United Kingdom National Air Traffic Services Ltd.
Honda Aircraft Co. has decided to partner with FlightSafety International (FSI) for HondaJet pilot training. Initially, all HondaJet flight training will be conducted at Honda Aircraft’s Greensboro, N.C., headquarters facility, Honda spokesman Stephen Keeney said. The simulators will be provided by FSI.
SOUTHWIND AVIATION, an Oklahoma City, Okla. aerospace accessories and components specialist, was named an authorized service center for Goodrich Engine Control and Electrical Power Systems. Under the authorization, Southwind Aviation will provide repair, overhaul, exchange and spares support for various Goodrich DC-power generation and system products. These include starter generators, generator control units and brushless generators found on a range of business and general aviation aircraft, regional airlines and helicopters.
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), Wichita Area Technical College and the National Center for Aviation Training are jointly offering an online Composites Maintenance Technology course. The course, which is sponsored by FAA and begins March 1, will cover composite materials technology principles, repair and maintenance of composites, and associated safety issues. Students will participate in case study discussions with experts in the field. Upon completion, students can take an optional three-day laboratory course at NIAR.
A FLIGHTWORKS Gulfstream 200 became the first aircraft to sport the Aircell ATG 5000 High Speed Internet unit, Aircell said. The units began shipping last month, and the Gulfstream Aerospace Dallas Service Center completed the installation on the G200. The ATG 5000 provides high-speed Internet capability for customers who don’t require the integrated voice and narrowband features on Aircell Axxess.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT has launched a customer loyalty program for aircraft owners and operators. The Signature Status program will provide three membership tiers – silver, gold and platinum – providing escalating benefits based on percentage of visits to Signature facilities. Signature noted the program is not based on fuel volumes, and is limited to turbine aircraft that fly under IFR.
PRES HENNE, senior vice president of programs, engineering and test for Gulfstream Aerospace, was the recipient of the Aviation Industry Leader of the Year Award during the 2010 Living Legends of Aviation Awards presentation held Jan. 22 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO and 2008 honoree Pete Bunce presented the award to Henne.
AGUSTA AB139 and AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-1125; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-50-AD; Amendment 39-16129; AD 2009-19-51] – Inspect the tailboom panels for debonding. If the debonded area exceeds a certain limit, repair the tailboom, per the instructions of Agusta Alert Bollettino Tecnico 139-193 and 139-194 (both dated Sept. 3, 2009). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by the collapse of an AW139’s tailboom while taxiing.
WSI CORPORATION is adding a Class 2 Aircraft Situational Display (ASD) service option to its Hubcast Alerting Web service. WSI Hubcast Alerting provides lightning strike alerts and weather forecasts. The ASD will add flight tracking for ground operations personnel following the location of en route aircraft. The ASD, which will be available in March, updates every 60 seconds.
ROCKWELL COLLINS was selected to provide its Venue high-definition cabin management system for Nextant Aerospace’s Beechjet 400NEXT package. The contract is the first aftermarket application for Venue. The initial agreement calls for 30 Venue shipsets. The first aircraft upgraded with the system is slated for delivery in February. The cabin management system includes dual-channel Iridium satellite phones, broadband Internet, Wi-Fi, high-definition Blu-ray video, and light-emitting diode lighting.
LIFESAVINGS SYSTEMS CORP. D-Lok Hook Assembly [Docket No. FAA-2009-1148; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-36-AD; Amendment 39-16185; AD 2010-03-02] – Replace certain D-Lok Hook assemblies installed on helicopter rescue hoists manufactured by Goodrich and Breeze-Eastern. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by operator reports that certain D-Lok Hooks have surface irregularities.
A BEECH 99, N206AV, was substantially damaged after a hard landing at Kearney Municipal Airport in Kearney, Neb. at 7:41 a.m. Central Standard Time Jan. 6. The pilot, the only one aboard the Part 135 flight, was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported that the aircraft had picked up light to moderate icing on approach and said he cycled the deicing boots. The aircraft, on an instrument landing system approach to Runway 36, broke out of the weather at about 250 feet above ground level.
BAHRAIN’S’s Civil Aviation Affairs (BCAA) and the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies (GCAS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to offer dedicated training services and facilities to the aviation industry across the Middle East region.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION President and CEO Marion Blakey last week expressed disappointment over the lack of any mention of aviation in President Obama’s State of the Union Address. She was specifically concerned about the lack of attention to the Next Generation Air Transportation System. “It is infrastructure that is a major catalyst for jobs and should be included in any jobs bill,” Blakey said. Obama, however, did discuss infrastructure investment – high-speed rail in particular.
DESPITE THE VOLATILE MARKET, most aircraft brands have performed consistently based on their price, aviation consultant Rolland Vincent Associates believes. “At prices of $15 million and above, there has been remarkable demand stability,” said Vincent. “Below $15 million, there is relatively higher year-over-year volatility.” As for used aircraft, asking prices for five-year-old or newer business jets are on average about 30 percent below what they were 12 months ago, according to UBS’s December 2009 Business Jet Monthly Report.
CASA CN-235 and CN-235-100, -200 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0637; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-183-AD; Amendment 39-16153; AD 2009-26-14] – Conduct repetitive borescope inspections to detect cracking of the outer flaps, fittings and longerons, in accordance with the instructions of EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-235-57-20, Rev. 2 (dated March 30, 2007). If any cracks are detected, replace the outer flap with a new or retrofitted flap prior to further flight.
ANGELA ANDERSON joined Aspen Avionics as marketing manager. Anderson will be based in Albuquerque, N.M. She formerly spent nearly eight years with Jeppesen, most recently as strategic business manager. Before that she was a customer service representative at a fixed-base operation.
TIM FARLEY was promoted to vice president, engineering for Gulfstream Aerospace. Farley is responsible for the strategic vision of the engineering organization. He had served as director of project engineering since 1999, and also as project engineer during the Gulfstream G550 and G450 development. He joined Gulfstream as a design engineer in 1992.
Despite 2009 being a lousy year for the global economy and aviation, some of the leading economic indicators are pointing to a technical end of the recession in the U.S., according to a new report from general aviation consultancy Conklin & de Decker.
FAA is launching a comprehensive review of regulations that govern small aircraft. The review will encompass normal, utility, acrobatic and commuter aircraft certified under Part 23. As part of the review, the agency is scheduling a series of public meetings to explore potential future policy rulemaking for small aircraft. The agency noted the meetings will not be limited to certification standards, but cover other regulations concerning small aircraft, including maintenance and operations.
DB AVIATION, a Waukegan, Ill.-based charter, management and maintenance services provider, unveiled a new corporate identity to project its customer focus, the company said. The company revamped its logo, but retained the tagline “Luxury in Motion.” As part of the new branding, DB Aviation renamed its fixed-base operation the DB Flight Center. The FBO last year opened a new 43,000-square-foot hangar, and the company recently opened two sales offices at Chicago Executive Airport and DuPage County Airport in West Chicago.
