The creation of a new General Aviation Caucus in the Senate was welcomed last week by a general aviation industry battered by negative perceptions on Capitol Hill, within the Obama Administration and among the general public.
BOMBARDIER CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 and 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0792; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-057-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to modify the aircraft hydraulic system by installing thermal fuses, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-29-005, Rev. A (dated Jan. 29, 2009).
HARTZELL PROPELLER is offering a new Top Prop three-blade propeller upgrade kit for the Cessna 206. The supplemental type certificate covers most normally-aspirated aircraft and floatplanes manufactured from 1964 through to 1977, as well as most Turbo 206 floatplanes delivered between 1964 to 1973. The STC adds 82-, 84- and 86-diameter options to conversion kits already available from Hartzell for the 206.
CHRISTOPHE POTOCKI was named general manager of sales in the Southeast Asia and Pacific regions. Potocki formerly was president of ATR Eastern Support.
AUSTRALIA’s Macquarie Research has reiterated its outperform rating and $75 price target on General Dynamics after the Gulfstream G650 rollout last week. “Progress on this program and the G250 remains on track,” said the report.
As the near depression in business aviation continues its grip on the industry, Pratt & Whitney Canada announced last week that it will reduce its global work force by about 250 employees by year’s end to align with a projected decline in customer demand and weakness in the global aerospace market that shows no signs of a recovery in 2010.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0793; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-051-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace the existing airstair door actuators with improved actuators. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by several incidents in which a passenger door actuator detached from the passenger door. This caused the passenger door to drop to the platform in an uncontrolled manner. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect two aircraft on the U.S.
STEPHEN FUHR joined satcom systems supplier SkyTrac as vice president and director of business development. A retired major in the Canadian Air Force, Fuhr accrued nearly 4,000 hours as a pilot instructor/standards officer and operational CF-18 pilot. He also was the lead Canadian NORAD fighter interceptor officer and both a NORAD and NATO evaluation officer.
U.S. REGIONAL AIRLINE owner Trans States Holdings has broken the sales drought for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), signing a letter of intent for 50 of the aircraft, with options on 50 more. Deliveries will run for five or six years, beginning in 2014, the year in which Mitsubishi Aircraft expects to deliver the first unit to launch customer All Nippon Airways. The MRJ program previously had only 15 orders placed by a single customer 18 months ago.
The National Business Aviation Association has released its NBAA Best Practices for Air Charter Brokering guide, which covers regulatory guidance and offers best practices throughout the industry. While Part 135 charter operators are closely regulated by FAA, air charter brokers are not plainly and comprehensively regulated, NBAA said. “In the course of their business, brokers encounter a number of federal and state agencies that may have jurisdiction over their business,” it said.
EMIVEST AEROSPACE handed over its first SJ30 business jet to a customer. The aircraft, serial number 008, is the third in the SJ30 fleet, but the first that Emivest has delivered since acquiring the former Sino Swearingen Aerospace. Jet Works outfitted the aircraft, which was delivered to Harry Mohney of Déjà Vu Consulting. “I have waited for over four years for my SJ30,” Mohney said.
EMBRAER’S 2009 worldwide operators conference, held last week in Montreal, was estimated to draw more than 450 professionals, including customers and suppliers for the E-Jet and ERJ 145 aircraft families from North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
FAA’s inconsistent interpretation of federal aviation regulations has caused aviation businesses to suffer high, unnecessary costs, delays and obstacles, says a survey released last week by the National Air Transportation Association. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been commissioned by Congress to conduct a report to review how inconsistent regulatory interpretations are costing FAA and the aviation industry millions of dollars in resources and raising serious concerns about unified safety standards (BA, Aug. 10/65).
CESSNA AIRCRAFT obtained FAA acceptance for its new Sport/Private Pilot training program and has released the program to its Cessna Pilot Center network. The program met FAA training standards for private pilot certification under Part 141. “The new training program is a key component of Cessna’s effort to make flying more accessible and to re-energize pilot training,” said Tom Aniello, Cessna’s vice president of marketing. The program is being offered as Cessna prepares for deliveries of its new light-sport 162 Skycatcher later this year.
THE U.K.’S LONDON OXFORD AIRPORT has posted a year-over-year increase of 9 percent in private aviation movements, bucking the downward trend in the industry. London Executive Aviation recently based a Cessna Citation Mustang at the airport, along with its new managed VIP 14-seat Embraer Legacy 600.
Longtime aviation executive Bill Koch has stepped in as chief executive of Wayfarer Aviation, the charter and management company formed from the acquisition of the assets of JetDirect Aviation. Koch fills a position that has been vacant since the founding of Wayfarer in April. Laura Bellofatto-Bense continues as president of the company.
Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) is taking preorders for installation of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) on Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. As the original manufacturer of the 1900D, Hawker Beechcraft continues to support the aircraft through its Global Customer Support division, spokeswoman Nicole Alexander said. Based on customer requests, Hawker Beechcraft decided to develop the upgrade, she said.
FAA’s Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office last week transferred the Eclipse 500 type certificate (TC) to Eclipse Aerospace LLC, the firm that bought the assets and intellectual property of insolvent Eclipse Aviation in August. The event comes three years to the day after FAA originally issued the TC to Eclipse Aviation on Sept. 30, 2006. The European Aviation Safety Agency was expected to follow with the European EA 500 TC to Eclipse Aerospace LLC. Both approvals are key to the firm’s resuming new aircraft production deliveries.
FLYING M AIR has relocated its helicopter to Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., in a move to grow its business. The company will continue to offer flights from other Phoenix-area airports, including Scottsdale, Glendale and Sky Harbor, but will discontinue tours and day trips from Wickenburg.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America is hoping to step up general aviation advocacy with last week’s release of a new survey showing the economic impact of general aviation on individual states.
The National Business Aviation Association has been making plans to bring back the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) in 2011. Late last year NBAA canceled the 2009 ABACE, citing the deteriorating economy. “NBAA is not in a position to provide ABACE with the attention and resources required,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said in announcing the decision to cancel this year’s event. But he also said, “NBAA recognizes the importance of Asia to the future of business aviation.”
THE THREE primary issues facing general aviation worldwide are requirements to enhance security and safety, the need to modernize the world’s air traffic management system and rising environmental concerns, Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton told the 10th annual Regional Aviation Association of Australia Convention last week in Sunshine Coast, Queensland. “In all three cases, we know there will be new regulations,” Pelton said. He stressed the importance of working with governments to make sure regulations make sense for general aviation.
