BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1033; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-104-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2009-06-18), would require operators to modify the wiring of certain air-driven generators (ADGs) in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-24-113, Rev. A (dated Aug. 11, 2005).
SHORT-RANGE aircraft cycles showed the largest increase in September, up 8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, with medium- and long-range aircraft activity both up 5 percent, says a UBS report. UBS estimates short-range aircraft accounted for 53 percent of all business jet cycles in the past 12 months, followed by medium-range aircraft at 32 percent and long-range aircraft at 15 percent.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION named Timothy Heck vice president, financial operations, succeeding Alan Darrow, who recently retired after serving with the association for more than 15 years. Before joining NATA, Heck was comptroller for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and held similar positions with other associations.
GULFSTREAM G150 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1028; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-188-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace, before further flight, Gumiyan-manufactured baggage compartment seals with Rubbercraft-made seals, per the instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 150-25-055 (dated Oct. 28, 2008). This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, was issued after flammability tests revealed that Gumiyan’s baggage compartment rubber seals are not compliant with FAR Part 25 requirements.
FLAIRJET recently took delivery of an Embraer Phenom 100 at the manufacturer’s facilities in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. The aircraft, the first Phenom 100 to be registered in the U.K., is based in Oxford, U.K. FlairJet is managing the aircraft for a third party. It is expected to take delivery of its first purchased Phenom in 2012. FlairJet will provide air taxi service throughout mainland Europe and the U.K. with the Phenom.
AVFUEL added Richmor Aviation Stewart of Stewart International Airport in New York to its network of Avfuel-branded dealers. Richmor will participate in the Avfuel Contract Fuel and AVTRIP fueling rewards programs. Richmor provided a range of fixed-base operation services, as well as helicopter transport to Manhattan. The FBO also has on-site U.S. Customs services.
AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0999; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-155-AD; Amendment 39-16069; AD 2008-04-19 R1] – This AD would revise an existing directive (AD 2008-04-19) to clarify the earlier rule’s intended effect on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) recorded a $721.1 million operating loss for the third quarter of 2009, even as sales fell only 3 percent. HBC cited “significant impairment and other charges” that totaled $726.4 million for the loss.
Orders for the Aerion supersonic business jet (SSBJ) remain steady even as talks have slowed for a potential production partner on the program, Aerion executives maintain. Aerion executives are participating in the Dubai Air Show next week to reiterate their commitment to finding a partner for their aircraft and express confidence that they will be the first to market with an SSBJ.
PATRICK CARROLL joined Cirrus Aircraft as divisional director of the Middle East and Asia. Carroll previously has represented BAE Systems, EADS, Airbus and other companies in Asia through senior marketing and sales positions. He also has a background in government, institutional and special-use aircraft sales in the Middle East.
General aviation shipments were down 46.8 percent and billings have fallen 23.5 percent in the first nine months of the year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week. GA plane makers shipped 1,587 aircraft in the first nine months, compared with 2,982 in the first three quarters of 2008. Billings dropped from $17.995 billion in the first nine months of 2008 to $13.771 billion this year, GAMA said.
DAVID PEREZ was named a field service representative for Gulfstream Aerospace. Perez will support customers in southern Europe and northern Africa. He has served as a technician for military and corporate aircraft for 17 years. He served as an avionics technician aboard aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy for five years. Perez joined Gulfstream in 1997, and most recently was on the Gulfstream entry-into-service team, where he assisted in the delivery and technical support of new aircraft.
Up to 495 pilots will be furloughed by NetJets Aviation, Inc. starting in mid January 2010, the company confirmed last week after the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) executive board released a memo on the cuts.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION raised $168,000 at the NBAA/Corporate Angel Network (CAN) Charity Benefit during the association’s 62nd annual meeting and convention last month in Orlando, Fla. White Plains, N.Y.-based CAN arranges free flights aboard corporate aircraft for cancer patients seeking treatment. The benefit included both live and silent auctions.
The Kansas City Aviation Department is hoping that the completion of a $70 million refurbishment program at its Wheeler Kansas City Downtown Airport will bring new business to the facility. With an estimated 85 percent of the facility’s total traffic related to business use, Wheeler officials are hoping to reinforce its customer base and draw new business with the commitment of $70 million in airport improvements, Airport Director Michael Roper said.
Utilization of business jets has risen 18 percent since March, providing fresh evidence that the industry is stabilizing after a dramatic free fall, according to new analysis from UBS Investment Research. But flight activity remains far below peak levels, and an oversupply of aircraft could keep a recovery at bay.
A NEW REPORT from JPMorgan appears to agree with UBS’s findings. October was another month of modest improvement in aircraft demand and utilization off a very weak base level, the analyst said. “Used inventories fell for the third straight month, and the peak for this cycle now seems more firmly behind us, but they remain at very high absolute levels,” said JPMorgan.
EUROCOPTER CANADA finalized an agreement with Canadian Helicopters Limited (CHL) that fully endorses CHL’s Advanced Mountain Flying Training Program. The 60-year-old program teaches the science and theory behind airflow in mountainous regions. The program, which includes 26 hours of flight training and four days of ground school, is designed to provide pilots with an advanced understanding of how to navigate various mountain structures and how the helicopter will perform in those conditions.
BOMBARDIER CL-600, CL-601, CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1021; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-054-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to amend Airplane Flight Manual procedures, check the part and serial numbers of the installed wing anti-ice piccolo ducts and replace certain ducts, if necessary.
BELL HELICOPTER Model 407 and 427 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-1003; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-25-AD; Amendment 39-16064; AD 2009-22-11] – Conduct a one-time inspection of all anti-drive link assemblies to ensure that the bearings are correctly and securely staked in the link assembly, per the instructions of either Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 407-09-87 (dated March 27, 2009) or No. 427-09-24, Rev. A (dated March 30, 2009). Before further flight, replace any bearing that is incorrectly installed or improperly staked in the link assembly.
FAA late last month rejected the application of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) to impose a nighttime ban on nearly all flights at Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in California, saying the application failed to meet four of six conditions necessary for the curfew. FAA’s decision on the application has been closely watched by airport authorities and aircraft operators alike since the BGPAA is the first authority to attempt such a ban under the formal Part 161 process.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA has received Transport Canada type certification for its new PW535E engine selected to power the Embraer Phenom 300 light business jet. The Phenom 300 is expected to win certification this year.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1029; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-103-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2009-06-17), would require operators to modify the wiring of certain air-driven generators (ADGs) in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-24-113, Rev. A (dated Aug. 11, 2005).
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS has become the first Texas public college or university to offer a bachelor of science in aviation logistics. UNT’s program will offer two tracks – one for students interested in becoming commercial pilots and another for students interested in careers related to passenger and freight movement.
Current Piper Aircraft CEO Kevin Gould has assumed the title of president, effective Dec. 1, mere days after the resignation of President John Becker. The Vero Beach, Fla.-based manufacturer also promoted three executives to vice president and another to a senior director. Becker is leaving after a 20-year career at Piper to “pursue other career goals,” a company statement said. Gould praised Becker’s “dedication to innovation and technological excellence that has made Piper one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers.”
