FACTS TRAINING in Olympia, Wash., has developed a customized training package for corporate flight departments seeking full compliance with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). The International Business Aviation Council developed IS-BAO as a voluntary means to incorporate best industry practices to achieve a high level of safety and professionalism. The one-day FACTS IS-BAO ASSET training program is tailored to a flight department’s IS-BAO-specific training needs.
PIPER AIRCRAFT was granted type certificate organization designation authorization (TC-ODA) from the FAA. TC-ODA authorizes Piper to act on behalf of FAA in the approval of airplane designs and certification. “TC-ODA is one of the most important authorizations that the FAA awards aircraft manufacturers,” said Piper President John Becker. “This authorization affirms the FAA’s confidence in Piper’s ability to design, develop and certify aircraft.”
Cessna expanded its European service organization with the opening last week of a new Atlas Air Service facility at Bremen Airport in Germany. Atlas Air, a Citation Authorized Sales Representative in Germany, will operate the 10.5 million euro facility as a Citation Service Center.
TSA’S DELAUTER, who is expected to become the permanent general manager of general aviation beginning Sept. 13, also is looking into a range of other business aviation security issues, including international waivers. Delauter indicated plans to work with U.S. Customers and Border Protection to improve the waiver request process.
PRIVATE JET BROKER International Air Charter (IAC) is predicting a 50 percent increase in the demand for jet charters in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan compared with the previous year. The forecast is in line with the growth of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to generate around $7 billion annually.
CHANDLER/MAY acquired unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) engineering services and manufacturing specialist AeroMech Engineering. Based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., AeroMech provides aeronautical, mechanical and manufacturing engineering services as well as composite fabrication services. The company has delivered more than 1,000 fully autonomous UASs that vary from a four-pound, battery-powered aircraft to a 150-pound, jet-powered aircraft. The company also has delivered UAS command and control applications.
CASA Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0386; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-184-AD; Amendment 39-16002; AD 2009-18-06] – This AD requires modification of the de-icing boots control system. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The MCAI cites reports that an asymmetric configuration of the de-icing boots occurred during the inflation and deflation check of the de-icing system while in icing conditions.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION last week submitted for Office and Management Budget approval a long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking that would adopt new security requirements for domestic and foreign repair stations. Congress originally mandated TSA to complete the rulemaking by August 2004, and since has forbidden FAA from granting U.S. certification to any new foreign repair stations until the rulemaking is complete.
AIR BP has added five fixed-base operations to its network of branded dealers. The latest FBOs to join Air BP Aviation Services are: Altair Aviation in Laredo, Texas; Blair Airport Authority near Blair, Neb.; Branson Jet Center in Branson, Mo.; Castle & Cooke in Arlington, Wash.; and Five Star Jet Center, Westfield, Mass.
Aviation enthusiasts and organizations are planning a Sept. 12 memorial in honor of International Aerobatic Club (IAC) President Vicki Cruse, who died in a plane crash while participating in the World Aerobatics Championships Aug. 22 in Silverstone, Buckingham, England.
PILATUS Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0622; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-034-AD; Amendment 39-15999; AD 2009-18-03] – FAA is superseding AD 2007-19-14, which requires repetitive visual and eddy current inspections for corrosion, wear and cracks in the upper wing strut fittings.
DANIEL LAFRANCE was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for Greenwich AeroGroup. Lafrance most recently was an aerospace consultant working with domestic and international business aviation companies. He formerly spent 21 years with Canadair and Bombardier in customer support and service roles.
TSA has decided to move ahead with a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to replace the controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal, Brian Delauter, the new acting general aviation manager for TSA, told business aviation executives. TSA has worked with industry over the past several months to consider changes to the LASP proposal, but agency officials last month still were unsure whether they would draft a new rulemaking proposal altogether or rewrite the existing proposal through an SNPRM.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week recommended that FAA create a new Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) and adopt a number of air traffic controller changes to boost the safety of operations in the Hudson River/East River Class B Exclusion areas. NTSB further pushed for FAA to review all Class B areas for potential new SFRAs and training requirements.
EMBRAER delivered the first Legacy 600 executive jet to Germany’s Vibroair at the manufacturer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Vibroair will base the Legacy 600 at Düsseldorf International Airport. The charter services operator has firm orders for two Embraer Phenom 300 light executive jets and a Legacy 500, all for delivery by 2014.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145EP, 145ER, -145MP, -145MR, -145XR and 145LR airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0714; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-041-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to replace certain landing gear electronic units with newly designed landing gear electronic units, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 145-32-0120, Rev. 01 (dated Nov. 4, 2008) and 145LEG-32-0032, Rev. 02 (dated Feb. 17, 2009).
WESTERN AIRCRAFT recently completed a major avionics upgrade and partial interior refurbishment of a Falcon 50. The upgrade, which coincided with a major 3C inspection, included installation of a Universal avionics suite with dual UNS-1Fw WAAS/SBAS-FMSs, four EFI-890R flat panel displays, terrain and awareness system and the Application Servicer Unit for charts, checklists, and WSI InFlight Weather. Based at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, Western Aircraft is part of the Greenwich AeroGroup.
FORWARD VISIONS, a distributor and integrator of enhanced vision systems (EVS), said FAA has awarded supplemental type approval for installation of the EVS-100 and -600 systems on Cessna Model 208 and 208B Caravans. One Sky Aviation, a maintenance facility based in Anchorage, developed and secured the STC. One Sky is an authorized dealer and installer of the EVS systems. The systems have now been approved for installation on 162 makes and models of aircraft, Forward Vision said.
GILES GIOVINAZZI was promoted to staff director for the House aviation subcommittee. Giovinazzi joined the subcommittee staff in 2002 and in 2006 became senior counsel. He played a role in drafting VISION 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 and the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act.
AGUSTAWESTLAND, based in Philadelphia, plans to export four AW139 multimission helicopters to the government of Trinidad and Tobago with the backing of an $80 million, 10-year loan guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. BNP Paribas of New York is the lender. Two of the helicopters are scheduled for delivery in September 2010 with the other two on track for delivery a year later. The Air Guard of Trinidad and Tobago will operate the helicopters on surveillance and reconnaissance missions related to search and rescue, border patrol and drug interdiction.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT won a contract to provide its T-6A trainer to the Israeli Air Force. The contract, awarded through the U.S. government, also includes ground-based training systems and technical publications.
BARRY KNUTTILA was promoted to senior vice president of marketing and technology for King Schools. Knuttila previously was responsible for King Schools’ technology organization and oversaw the expansion of software development, technical support, quality assurance, and information systems departments. Before joining King Schools, he was area vice president of software development for Peregrine Systems Inc.
Blue Star Jets’ ShareAJet Exchange is carving out a market niche by putting together customers who want to share jets rather than just single seats. Even with the economy faltering, people still want to fly on private jets, Blue Star CEO Ricky Sitomer said. “We came up with the idea for ShareAJet because we wanted to capitalize on the current state of affairs with the economy and our clients were asking for it,” he recalled. “We took several months to put it together and came up with a formula and a marketplace enhancement platform.”
