The business aviation community on Nov. 24 released a unified environmental policy statement that sets ambitious goals for reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. The policy statement outlines three broad commitments – carbon neutral growth by 2020, improvement in fuel efficiency on an average of 2 percent per year until 2020 and a reduction in total CO2 emissions by 50 percent (of 2005 levels) by 2050.
Edward W. Stimpson, the founding and longtime head of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, who went on to become the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and finally chairman of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), died early Nov. 25 at his home in Boise, Idaho, after a battle with cancer. He was 75.
U.K.-based CABAIR and its affiliate, Orlando Flight Training, have signed a deal with FlightSafety International’s FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Fla., to offer Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) pilot training.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE’S G650 business jet completed its first flight Nov. 25. The aircraft, Gulfstream’s largest, fastest and most expensive business jet yet, took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 1:41 p.m. local time for a 12-minute flight. Flown by experimental test pilot Jake Howard and senior experimental test pilot Tom Horne, the G650 reached an altitude of 6,600 feet and a speed of 170 knots. First flight came just two months after Gulfstream rolled out the G650 aircraft at its Savannah, Ga. manufacturing facility on Sept. 29.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1068; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-042-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2009-04-11), would require operators to conduct periodic inspections to verify the heating capability of Angle Of Attack (AOA) transducers, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-27-153, Rev. A (dated Dec. 16, 2008). Inaccurately calibrated AOA transducers or transducers with inrush current below the minimum requirement would need to be replaced.
Rockwell Collins is expanding its aftermarket service offerings with the acquisition of AR Group, parent company of business aviation trip-planning specialist Air Routing International, Rockwell Collins announced last week. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The sale is expected to be completed in 40 days, once the agreement receives all of the necessary regulatory and other approvals, Rockwell Collins estimated.
CHINA HAS COMPLETED its first Sikorsky S-76 civil helicopter airframe. The S-76C++ main structure, the first to be built under an agreement between Sikorsky and Changhe Aircraft, is being shipped from the Chinese company’s facility southwest of Shanghai to the Sikorsky Global Helicopters facility in Coatesville, Pa., for customization. Additional airframes are to be delivered by Changhe in 2010.
PIPER PA-28, PA-32, PA-34 and PA-44 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1015; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-039-AD] – This proposed AD would require an inspection of the control wheel shaft for both the pilot and co-pilot sides and, if necessary, replacement of the control wheel shaft, in accordance with the instructions of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1197A (dated Sept. 1, 2009).
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1081; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-058-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to inspect for minimum clearance between and insulation damage to the generator power cables, per the instructions of Piaggio Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-0271 (dated May 18, 2009). If inadequate clearance or damage were found, operators would need to repair or replace the cables before further flight.
OTHER PRIORITIES for the association include enticing more people into general aviation, the AOPA chief said. Fuller noted his lifelong engagement with flying and said, “As I travel, I run into hundreds of people who feel the same way. The excitement is out there, but not in large enough numbers.” He conceded that it’s difficult to start flying in a down economy. “But as the economy comes back, we need to be encouraging people to get involved in flying and keep a strong base,” Fuller said.
DASSAULT FALCON’S Falcon 7X business jet was granted type certification from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India. Dassault Falcon will hand over the first Falcon 7X India in January to New Delhi-based charter Religare Voyages Limited. Religare Voyages currently operates a Falcon 2000, along with other smaller jets and turboprops. More than a dozen Falcon 2000 and 900 models currently operate in India. Dassault established a spares center and customer service team in Mumbai, along with a liaison office in Delhi.
CLARIFICATION: Jet Aviation is a newly appointed a distributor for Premier Aircraft’s Falcon 50 upgrade program that converts TFE 731-3 engines to TFE731-4-1C engines. An article in the Nov. 23 edition of BA left open the question of whether Jet Aviation was a newly appointed distributor for the program STC. The upgrade provides an additional 620-nautical-mile range, meets Stage 4/Chapter 4 noise regulations, increases payloads and shortens time-to-climb and runway requirements.
RICH HIGH was promoted to regional operations manager for FlightSafety International. High will continue to serve as manager of FlightSafety’s Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, Kan., but also will oversee six other FlightSafety training facilities. He joined the company in 2005 as an instructor, became assistant manager in 2006 and manager of the Cessna center in 2007. Before joining FlightSafety, High was commanding officer of the University of Kansas NROTC Unit and served in the U.S. Navy for 35 years.
PILATUS BUSINESS AIRCRAFT delivered a PC-12 to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for multirole use performing cargo, passenger, smokejumper, air tactical, aerial supervision and firefighting missions. The BLM is responsible for the management and conservation of resources on 256 million acres in the U.S.
General aviation’s willingness to stand up for itself under programs such as the GA Serves America campaign was a key factor in the creation of the House and Senate GA Caucuses, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller said.
THE MALTA BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION has been created under a partnership among DC Aviation Ltd., BizAv Services Ltd. and FFF Legal, together with Stanley Bugeja, Adrian Spiteri and Tonio Fenech. The new association will promote excellence and professionalism among its members to foster safety and operational efficiency, while representing their interests at all levels in Malta and Europe, organizers said.
A former venture capitalist and board member for U.S.-based air taxi operator LinearAir is hoping his new consultancy will help lay the groundwork with “realistic plans” for light and very light jet operations to prepare for an eventual upturn in the market. London-based aviation consultancy Oriens Advisors feels that the current difficult economic climate for business aviation is “an excellent time” to offer its services to the industry, founder Edwin Brenninkmeyer told BA.
The Senate is proposing another three-month extension to FAA’s operating authority, the clearest signal yet that a full reauthorization bill is not expected to be passed this year.
DEBBIE JONES was promoted to manager of FlightSafety International’s Hawker Beechcraft Learning Center in Wichita, Kan. Jones joined FlightSafety in 1999 as manager, customer support at the Hawker Beechcraft training center, and became assistant manager of the center in August 2009. She also has managed FlightSafety’s quality management system.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its focus on the safety of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), this time concentrating on public operations in another round of recommendation letters issued this month to calling for increased oversight, equipage and training.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0654; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-083-AD; Amendment 39-16058 AD 2009-22-07] – Inspect certain nipple-and-socket assemblies and, if wear is found outside the specified limits or any leaks or damage are found, replace the worn parts, in accordance with the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 2000-79-006, Rev. 01 (dated Oct. 15, 2007).
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE has expanded its Mobile Response Team (MRT) to cover the Middle East. The MRT, launched at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in May, offers European Aviation Safety Agency-licensed technical experts to handle aircraft-on-ground situations. The team previously supported customers in Qatar and Jordan, but now will support customers throughout the Middle East. In addition, the MRT added the Learjet 60 to its capabilities and expects to add other Learjet models next year.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORPORATION (HBC) recently completed the first nonstop trans-Atlantic flight of the Beechcraft King Air. The modified King Air 350ER twin-turboprop aircraft flew from Wichita, Kan., to Bournemouth International Airport in the U.K. with a stop in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The two legs of the 4,000-plus nautical-mile trip were completed in less than 12 hours. The aircraft, the first of four to be delivered to the U.K. Ministry of Defense, will be used as part of the Military Flying Training System program.
