JET AVIATION has expanded its services in Dubai and Brazil. In Dubai, Jet Aviation added base and line maintenance for Hawker, Gulfstream G350/450 and Embraer 135/145 regional jet. In addition, the facility has been staffed with a Boeing BBJ team. Established in May 2005, the Dubai facility is an approved repair station and an authorized service center for the Boeing 737 series (including BBJ), Cessna Citation series, Dassault Falcon, Embaer Legacy, and Gulfstream, as well as the Hawker series.
AIR TRACTOR AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0707; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-035-AD] – This proposed rule, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2006-08-09), would retain the requirement to conduct repetitive eddy-current inspections for cracks in the two outboard fastener holes in both of the wing main-spar lower caps at the center splice joint. Operators would need to repair or replace any cracked spar caps.
THE GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION increased its membership to 67 companies with the addition of Bosch General Aviation Technology GmbH. Based in Vienna, Austria, Bosch provides services and technologies for electronic general aviation systems, including electronic engine control systems, electronic battery sensors, and electrical energy management.
PILATUS PC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0509 Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-029-AD; Amendment 39-15985; AD 2009-16-02] – Conduct repetitive visual inspections of the bolts and the bores of the attachment fittings for the engine mounting frame, following the instructions of Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin 53-006 (dated Nov. 17, 2008) and replace the bolts before further flight.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that FAA take a close look at sleep and pilot fatigue issues after a May 2008 incident in which two pilots of a Mesa Bombardier CL-600-2B19 fell asleep and flew past their destination. Both the captain and first officer aboard the regional jet, N651BR, fell asleep during the cruise phase of flight and flew 26 miles past General Lyman Field in Hilo, Hawaii, while the airplane was on autopilot. Air traffic control had made repeated attempts to contact the pilots. The pilots awoke and returned safely to the field.
PIPER AIRCRAFT last week participated in its first biennial Brunei International Defenses Exhibition (BRIDEX) industry show. Piper was acquired in May by Singapore-based investment firm Imprimis, which is funded through a capital commitment from the Brunei Ministry of Finance. “Important to our long-term plan is recruitment and establishment of world-class dealers and service in areas where Piper plans to expand,” said Piper President John Becker. “BRIDEX has the draw and the geography to reach those dealers.”
AIR TOUR OPERATOR Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and its Grand Canyon Airlines affiliate were hoping to capitalize on President Barack Obama’s planned visit to Grand Canyon National Park Aug. 16 with an offer to provide the President a tour and show the value of the operations in the park.
BOMBARDIER terminated the 15-strong CRJ1000 firm order held by Venice-based MyAir, just three weeks after the carrier was grounded by Italy’s civil aviation authority. The Canadian airframer said the decision to eliminate the order “comes as the air carrier is facing an uncertain situation.” The airline was grounded last month after European regulatory authorities judged the carrier to be in poor financial health. Bombardier’s decision reduces its CRJ1000 backlog to 49 firm orders, the manufacturer noted.
TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS IO-520, TSIO-520 and IO-550 series engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-0051; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-37-AD; Amendment 39-15986; AD 2009-16-03] – Conduct repetitive inspections and compression tests of engines with Superior Air Parts investment-cast cylinder assemblies to detect cracks in cylinders with more than 750 flight hours. This AD was issued to prevent the separation of cylinder heads, which could result in immediate loss of engine power, possible structural damage to the engine and a possible fire in the engine compartment.
A long-standing contract dispute between FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) appears to have finally been resolved, with an arbitrator settling the last remaining disputed items.
CITATIONSHARES has selected HighTop Company to provide fatigue management awareness training for the company’s pilots, schedulers, dispatchers and command staff. The course will be designed to teach CitationShares staff how to recognize, address and avoid fatigue. The fractional aircraft ownership provider also is developing a schedule-fatigue alert tool that will provide flight schedulers with real-time information to help pilots to avoid possible fatigue-inducing routes.
BRAD THRESS was named vice president, customer service for Cessna Aircraft. Thress will oversee marketing, sales and customer change-management for Cessna’s support organization in Wichita. Most recently vice president, component operation, Thress joined Cessna in 1992 as a demonstration pilot. He has held key marketing, development and production roles with both the Citation X and Sovereign programs.
FOKKER F27 Mark 050 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0691; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-061-AD; Amendment 39-15988; AD 2009-16-05] – Conduct a one-time inspection of the clearance between the flap mechanical drive nut and the up-and-down stop. Also, conduct a non-destructive inspection of certain components if abutment marks are present or when the up-and-down stop touches the drive nut after a full up or down selection in the hydraulic mode. Re-adjust the up-stop position if clearance between the flap mechanical drive nut and the up-and-down-stop is incorrect.
GULFSTREAM G-IV, GIV-X, GV and GV-SP series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0683; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-129-AD; Amendment 39-15991; AD 2009-17-01] – Conduct a visual inspection of the exterior of the auxiliary power unit (APU) enclosure (firewall) to detect overcoat application of sealant on rivets or fillet seals on panel joints. Also, revise the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit operation of the APU during certain ground and flight operations.
WEST STAR AVIATION is nearing completion of the final stage of a facilities consolidation and capabilities expansion project at its Dallas Love Field location. The project includes a renovated 50,000-square-foot facility that can accommodate most corporate aircraft for maintenance, avionics repair/installation, interior refurbishments and minor paint activities. The facility consolidates all activities and includes new pilot lounges, planning areas, secure storage, technical shop space and other improvements.
Business aircraft activity is showing tentative signs of recovery in July compared with previous months, according to new statistics from ARG/US TRAQPak.
SCOTT ARNOLD was appointed director of AirCare Solutions Group Interactive (ASGi), a Web-based training company that is partnering with FACTS Training International. Arnold will be responsible for production, marketing, research and development of interactive training lessons and packaged training modules. He has 21 years of commercial and corporate aviation experience and has been with the AirCare Solutions Group since 2004.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware last week accepted a motion by Jeoffrey Burtch, trustee for insolvent Eclipse Aviation, to set Thursday, Aug. 20, as the date for a sales hearing for the assets of the insolvent VLJ start-up, according to court documents. The bankruptcy court’s decision follows Burtch’s acceptance last week of the $40-million lead or “stalking horse” bid for Eclipse Aviation’s assets offered by Mason Holland’s Eclipse Aerospace (BA, Aug. 10/64).
MARK TAYLOR was appointed general manager, engine repair and overhaul (ERO), component repair and accessories for BBA Aviation ERO. Taylor will be responsible for all ERO’s component repair and accessories activities worldwide. He has served with ERO’s H+S Aviation unit in Portsmouth, England for more than 19 years. Taylor will continue to be based in Portsmouth.
SIMCOM INTERNATIONAL’s new Socata TBM 850 flight training device (FTD) is now fully operational at the training provider’s Orlando, Fla., center. The TBM 850 FTD, configured with the aircraft’s Garmin G1000 integrated avionics, will be used to train TBM 850 operators throughout North America and Latin America.
The Securities and Exchange Commission last week charged investment advisors Robert Pinkas and the former Brantley Capital Management (BCM) with securities fraud, in part for the overstated value of fractional ownership provider Flight Options. Pinkas, who is now managing partner in Brantley Partners, which recently acquired the assets of the former JetDirect Aviation (BA, April 20/183), is contesting the charges, telling investors in a letter Friday, Aug.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT handed over five 172S Skyhawks to Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Cessna authorized sales representative Suburban Aviation secured the order. Northwestern Michigan trains about 350 students each year and accumulates some 8,500 annual hours with a fleet of 12 aircraft.
BILL PELTOLA was appointed director of business development for FLYHT, a subsidiary of AeroMechanical Services that markets and supports navigation, airframe, systems and engine data technologies. Petola joins FLYHT from Aircell, where he spent more than seven years as senior vice president. He also has held positions with Boeing and Sundstrand Data.
ASIAN AEROSPACE 2009 has added an Asian Business Aviation conference Sept. 8-9 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong to provide a platform for networking in the growing corporate aviation sector. Participants are expected to include Bombardier, Gulfstream, Airbus, Jet Aviation, Piaggio, VistaJet, Jet Aviation, Embraer and Dassault, among others. Conference sessions will cover regulatory, legal, airspace and insurance issues.
