EUROCOPTER AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, C, D and D1; and AS355E, F, F1, F2 and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0951; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-52-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct visual and dye-penetrant inspections of the support shaft of the rear roller and the rear fitting of the sliding door for cracks. If any cracks are found, replace the fitting or shaft, as applicable, before further flight.
ELBIT SYSTEMS recently celebrated the 500th Enhanced Vision System (EVS) to enter service on a Gufstream aircraft. Elbit’s Kollsman subsidiary teamed with the aircraft manufacturer to offer EVS on the Gulfstream fleet. The first EVS system was certified on a Gulfstream aircraft in 2001. Since that time, 465 Gulfstream aircraft have been equipped with EVS I and 36 with EVS II. The Kollsman EVS II system was recently certified on the Gulfstream G-150, making it available as either standard equipment or an option on all Gulfstream models.
EXCELAIRE recently added a Gulfstream G200 and Challenger 601 to its charter fleet. Both jets are based in Wilmington, Del. Headquartered at Long Island’s MacArthur Airport, the charter and management company also operates 10 Gulfstream aircraft, three Legacy 600s, two cabin-class helicopters, and a Global 5000, Beechjet, Cessna Citation and Learjet.
ALISON MCHUGH joined the National Air Transportation Association as manager, regulatory affairs. McHugh graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master of Science in Aeronautics, specializing in aviation safety systems and management, and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Systems Maintenance. In her role with NATA, she will oversee issues affecting the association’s maintenance and air charter members.
FAA OFFICIALS told attendees at the NBAA show that they plan to establish NextGen branches in each FAA region. The groups will include an aircraft certification liaison so that expertise will be available throughout the regions as the new ATC technologies are rolled out. FAA Deputy Director of Flight Standards John McGraw led a delegation of six agency officials who addressed operator concerns during the annual “Meet the Regulators” session at the NBAA convention.
The National Business Aviation Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Convention last week in Orlando, Fla., showed signs of the industry’s distress, with attendance dropping to the second lowest level in 15 years and some key exhibitors missing from the convention floor, but attendees were optimistic of growing indicators of a stabilizing marketplace and an improving public image.
DEAN FAGALY was appointed director of customer completion administration for Dassault Falcon. Fagaly is based at Dassault’s Little Rock, Ark. facility. A 20-year aviation veteran, he has spent 14 years with Dassault. He most recently was deputy and group leader of the customer completion administration group.
JOHN LIOTTA was named Eastern senior regional sales manager, product support sales for Gulfstream Aerospace. Based in the New York metropolitan area, Liotta is responsible for maintenance sales to Gulfstream and non-Gulfstream operators in New Jersey. He joined Gulfstream in 1999 as a spare parts sales representative and later became a regional sales manager for the mid-Atlantic region. He also has served with Cosgrove Aircraft Services, the Montreal Jet Center, Jet Aviation and Midcoast Aviation.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT plans to acquire the remaining 8 percent of the fractional aircraft operation now co-owned with TAG Aviation of Switzerland by year’s end, company executives confirmed last week. TAG has been steadily reducing its equity in the partnership, which began 10 years ago as 75/25 split between it and Cessna.
PIAGGIO AERO CEO Alberto Galassi last week made an appeal for manufacturers to end the price battles that are pushing larger aircraft into smaller aircraft price ranges. “That war has to stop,” Galassi said, adding that manufacturers should unite in holding the line on pricing.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT reorganized its executive level management team, appointing David Best as chief commercial officer, Steve Lee as chief operating officer and Mark Johnstone as chief financial officer. Formerly managing director for Signature Europe and Middle East, Best will be responsible for marketing, pricing, sales and joint venture relationships. Lee will expand his focus from North America to manage all aspects of the customer experience around the world, including Executive Beechcraft.
EVASWORLWIDE, the Mahwah, N.J.-based marketing representative of VisionSafe Corporation’s EVAS cockpit smoke displacement system, is finalizing an agreement to establish EVAS dealers in several new international regions. These include negotiations with InterGlobe General Aviation (IGGA) in India, National Airways Corp. in South Africa and ALB GmbH/The JetAllianace Group in Eastern Europe. IGGA is based in New Delhi, represents Beechcraft products and operates a regional airline.
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION tried to build support last week for a letter urging President Barack Obama to drop plans for aviation user fees. House aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) and ranking Republican Thomas Petri (Wis.) circulated the letter, seeking signatures from fellow lawmakers (BA, Oct. 12/161). AOPA issued an “Action Alert” urging its members to ask their local representatives to sign the letter. “The more support there is for the Costello/Petri letter, the stronger our position with the Administration,” AOPA told members.
The sudden and severe downturn that hit the business and general aviation industries forced Cessna Aircraft to lay off nearly half its work force, temporarily shut down production lines and cancel development of the Columbus Citation executive jet. In an interview at Cessna’s Wichita, Kan., headquarters, Chairman, CEO and President Jack Pelton told AVIATION WEEK Deputy Managing Editor/Business Aviation William Garvey and Senior Business Editor Joseph C. Anselmo that he is seeing signs of stabilization but cautioned that the road to recovery will be a long one.
The sudden and severe downturn that hit the business and general aviation industries forced Cessna Aircraft to lay off nearly half its work force, temporarily shut down production lines and cancel development of the Columbus Citation executive jet. In an interview at Cessna’s Wichita, Kan., headquarters, Chairman, CEO and President Jack Pelton told AVIATION WEEK Deputy Managing Editor/Business Aviation William Garvey and Senior Business Editor Joseph C. Anselmo that he is seeing signs of stabilization but cautioned that the road to recovery will be a long one.
– The National Business Aviation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association are hoping to dispel the “fat cat” perception of business aviation with a new report that stresses the role business aviation plays among small and medium-sized companies. The report is the second released by the associations in recent weeks to fight the negative public image of business aviation that has perpetuated over the past year.
DOUG GRIESE was named senior vice president for Solairus Aviation. Griese will expand the charter and management company’s business in the Los Angeles and Southwestern markets. He formerly spent 17 years with Hawker Beechcraft, and most recently managed the company’s sales in the Western U.S. He also has served as regional vice president of sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
– The National Transportation Safety Board last week cited pilot mismanagement for the June 4, 2007 crash of a Cessna Citation 550, N550BP, into Lake Michigan. Both pilots and four passengers aboard the Part 135 operation were killed. Operated by Marlin Air, the aircraft was carrying a human organ for a transplant operation in Michigan. NTSB described the weather as “marginal visual meteorological conditions” at the surface and instrument meteorological conditions aloft. The flight operated on an instrument flight rules plan.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-01 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0948; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-30-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the existing rail-pressure control valve with a new valve. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent failure of the rail-pressure control valve, which could cause an inflight engine shutdown and reduce the controllability of the aircraft.
BAE SYSTEMS Model 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0912; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-047-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies of the Frame 29 wing-to-fuselage attachment lug plate joint, per the instructions of BAE Systems Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.53-213 (dated May 21, 2008). If any discrepancies are found, repair the damage before further flight.
MICHAEL KOLOWICH was appointed to the board of directors of Piper Aircraft. Kolowich has 35 years of experience in Internet content, high-technology marketing and digital video technology. He currently is president and executive producer of DigiNovations, a firm he founded in 2001. He also has founded or led other online content ventures, including Ziff-Davis Interactive. He was founding publisher of PC/Computing, a Ziff-Davis magazine.
TWC Aviation, a Los Angeles-based aircraft charter and management company, has been certified as meeting the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). The European Union recently endorsed IS-BAO as an industry standard for business aircraft operations (BA, Aug. 31/95). While most Fortune 100 corporate flight departments have become IS-BAO Registered Operations, TWC Aviation is one of only 16 charter companies to have earned IS-BAO certification, the company said.
The sudden and severe downturn that hit the business and general aviation industries forced Cessna Aircraft to lay off nearly half its work force, temporarily shut down production lines and cancel development of the Columbus Citation executive jet. In an interview at Cessna’s Wichita, Kan., headquarters, Chairman, CEO and President Jack Pelton told AVIATION WEEK Deputy Managing Editor/Business Aviation William Garvey and Senior Business Editor Joseph C. Anselmo that he is seeing signs of stabilization but cautioned that the road to recovery will be a long one.
HENRY SCHACHAR was appointed executive vice chairman of Marquis Jet. Schachar co-founded Marquis Jet in 2001 and subsequently serviced as president. Before launching Marquis Jet Partners, he held senior management positions with a number of commodities trading businesses and was a principal in a private venture capital firm.
