EXECUJET SOUTH AFRICA handled a record number of private jet movements during the last two months, driven by the inauguration of South Africa’s new president in May and the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa, which was held in Cape Town in June. The fixed-base operation team in Johannesburg handled coordination of transport, refueling of the aircraft, catering, hotel accommodations and permits.
August 10-13 – Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International & Flight International: Unmanned Systems North America 2009, Washington, D,C., (703) 845-9671 or visit www.auvsi.org/events Sept. 10 – National Business Aviation Association: Business Aviation Regional Forum, Las Vegas, Nev., (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org Sept. 12-16 – National Association of State Aviation Officials 78th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Tucson, Ariz., (703) 417-1880 or visit www.nasao.org
BAE SYSTEMS BAe 146-100A and -200A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0432; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-168-AD; Amendment 39-15982; AD 2009-15-19] – In order to assure the continued structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates in the Rib 1 area, FAA is requiring operators to adopt a revised inspection program, which is detailed in BAE Systems Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020 (dated Dec. 11, 2007).
DANISH OPERATOR Bel Air has placed its first AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter into service. Named “Spirit of Agusta,” the 12-seat medium twin rotorcraft is being used to fly offshore transport missions. Bel Air, which has several more AW139s on order, also has been appointed the official AgustaWestland Service Center for the aircraft in Denmark. More than 430 AW139s have been sold to more than 110 customers in more than 40 countries.
ListJet.com is hoping that it can become the Expedia of business aviation with its new charter broker business model. The company’s Web site allows users to request quotes for charter flights, then sources the best rates from hundreds of qualified aircraft partners. “I recognized a need for ListJet, because there didn’t seem to be any transparency in how charters were priced,” Founder and President Shail Silver said. “I believe there is an opportunity to efficiently book travel and maximize plane usage through our Web site.”
FAA is reassessing its plans for a rule covering the operation of very light jets in Part 135. The agency originally planned to release a notice of proposed rulemaking in October that was based in part off the recommendations of the Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The proposal would have covered crew, equipment, training and dispatch requirements for the use of VLJs in on-demand or air taxi service. But FAA has scrapped the schedule for the proposal, saying the agency “is now reconsidering what action to take with respect to this rulemaking.”
– FAA should require Learjet to make changes to thrust lever systems in the Learjet 60 in the wake of a crash in Columbia, S.C., in September 2008 that killed four and seriously injured two others, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended. On Sept. 19, 2008, a Learjet 60, N999LJ, operated by Global Exec Aviation, overran Runway 11 while departing Columbia Metropolitan Airport, killing four and seriously injuring two others. The aircraft was destroyed.
OXFORD AVIATION ACADEMY UK LIMITED partnered with Lufttransport AS to offer Beechcraft King Air 200 pilot training in Oslo, Norway. Oxford Aviation will provide training at its center in Oslo using a new King Air B200 full flight simulator that Lufttransport is acquiring. The simulator will be the first Level D device in Europe available with the Rockwell Collins Proline 21 cockpit.
THE CONSERVATION FUND’S Go Zero program is now receiving donations from customers of Delta AirElite to offset the CO2 emissions resulting from their flights. For each donation, the Fund will plant native trees in protected parks and wildlife refuges to offset the appropriate amount of CO2 emissions. Customers might consider planting a tree for every hour of flight, resulting in cleaner air, enhanced wildlife habitat and new recreation areas.
THE WICHITA AERO CLUB has scheduled Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) as the featured speaker for its Aug.11 luncheon at the Wichita Airport Hilton in Kansas. Other future speakers include National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen in September and former FAA Administrator and current Aerospace Industries Association President Marion Blakey in October. The club also is planning a management panel comprising chief executives from Wichita plane makers in December. FLYING Editor Mac McClellan will moderate the panel.
August 10-13 – Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International & Flight International Unmanned Systems North America 2009, Washington, D,C., (703) 845-9671 or visit www.auvsi.org/events Sept. 10 – National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Las Vegas, Nev., (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org Sept. 12-16 – National Association of State Aviation Officials 78th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Tucson, Ariz., (703) 417-1880 or visit www.nasao.org
– Dassault still expects to deliver 80 Falcon business jets this year although at midyear it had only handed over 26 units, the company announced during its first half financial call Thursday. However, with deliveries of Falcon 2000LX aircraft now under way, Dassault Chairman Charles Edelstenne believes the 80 unit number will still be met.
HONEYWELL T5313 and T5317 engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-1311; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-48-AD; Amendment 39-15976; AD 2009-15-13] – Conduct repetitive visual and ultrasonic inspections of combustion chamber housings (CCHs) for cracks. Installation of a new CCHH or an FAA-approved equivalent part terminates the inspection requirements. This AD was prompted by eight instances of cracks in CCHs, two of which resulted in engine shutdowns during flight.
FLEXJET earned top honors in the Fractional Program category in the 21st annual “Best of the Best” edition of the Robb Report, published in June. Flexjet was cited for its innovative, industry-exclusive programs and the backing of parent company Bombardier. Both the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program, operated by Jet Solutions, and the Bombardier Skyjet program were also recognized as top providers in the categories of Fractional Card and Charter Card Programs.
AEROSPATIALE SN-601 Corvette airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0646; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-055-AD; Amendment 39-15974; AD 2009-15-11] – Conduct a visual inspection to verify the proper position of the lock washer. Also, check the tightening torque of the nut of the shock absorber locking system on both the left-hand and right-hand main landing gear, in accordance with the instructions of Airbus Corvette Service Bulletin 32-19 (dated Jan. 9, 2009).
SIKORSKY has delivered an S-300C helicopter to UND Aerospace at the University of North Dakota, bringing to seven the number of Sikorsky helicopters in the institution’s fleet. The university, which has operated Sikorsky helicopters in its training program since 1983, is slated to take delivery of three more S-300Cs this year.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR Randy Babbitt and Margaret Gilligan, associate administrator for aviation safety, reassured the National Air Transportation Association board of directors last week that the newest review of flight and duty time standards will remain focused on Part 121. NATA board members have been concerned that the review would encompass on-demand Part 135 operations, which would endanger recommendations developed by the Part 125/135 ARC specifically for Part 135.
THRANE & THRANE secured approval from satellite provider Inmarsat for use of Aero-SB Lite in combination with the HGA 6000 high-gain antenna to provide SwiftBroadband service. Thrane & Thrane previously achieved Inmarsat approval for the TT-6000g intermediate gain antenna. The HGA 6000, when integrated with the Aero-SB Lite, will provide data speeds of up to 432 kbps. Aero-SB Lite can be fitted on a range of aircraft and provide Internet, e-mail, VPN, fax and telephone capability. The system also has built-in Wi-Fi capability.
– Nearly 2,500 members of United Auto Workers Local 218 are slated to return to work today (July 27) at the Bell Helicopter plant in Fort Worth, Texas, ending a nearly six-week strike. Union members on Wednesday agreed in a 1,355-646 vote to ratify a new four-year contract with Bell. UAW negotiators and Bell management reached an agreement early last week on a new contract after talks previously had broken down three times this month (BA, July 20/23). Bell had made preparations for a lengthy strike, including the hiring of temporary replacement workers.
JIM THOMPSON was appointed general manager of commercial aircraft operations for King Aerospace Commercial Corporation in Ardmore, Okla. Thompson has 29 years of experience in both commercial and military aircraft services, including servicing the C20 Gulfstream fleet while serving in the U.S. Navy. He formerly was project manager for King Aerospace.
AMETEK AEROSPACE & DEFENSE has named Hawker Pacific’s Australian Avionics unit as an authorized service center for AMETEK’s Measurement & Power Systems products. AMETEK Aerospace & Defense supplies engine and aircraft monitoring systems, data acquisition units, fuel and fluid measurement systems, engine and airframe sensors, cables, harness assemblies, avionics blowers, fans, and heat transfer and cooling systems, and maintenance and repair services.
ESTERLINE CMC ELECTRONICS was awarded a contract by BAE Systems to supply its TacView system for U.S. Navy Lockheed Martin C-130T aircraft. The service intends to employ two TacView systems per cockpit installation to facilitate paperless cockpit functionality, including aircraft data, procedure manuals and interactive electronic charts for improved situational awareness and streamlined cockpit operations. TacView consists of a rugged, compact, self-contained, night vision system-compatible smart display and companion power supply/interface module.
– Domestic business jet movements dropped 21.3 percent in June, improving from May’s decrease of 26.7 percent, according to a new report from Credit Suisse. The Credit Suisse report tracks closely with other analysts, including ARG/US (BA, July 20/25).
– The Senate Commerce Committee passed its version of the FAA reauthorization bill last week that includes a measure to accelerate NextGen for the air traffic control system (BA, July 20/25). The bill would fund FAA at $34.6 billion covering fiscal 2010 and 2011.
