MICHAEL MANELLA was named vice president and general counsel for McKechnie Aerospace. Manella will direct all aspects of legal affairs for the aviation firm. He formerly was assistant general counsel for Meggitt-USA, Inc., a role he stepped into as a result of Meggitt-USA’s acquisition of K&F Industries Inc. Before that he was general counsel of K&F Industries Inc.’s largest subsidiary, Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation.
The persisting slump in business jet demand continues to affect Bombardier Aerospace, which posted a near 50 percent year-over-year dip in its fiscal first-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), falling to $110 million in the three months ended April 30. Revenue for the period fell 6.8 percent to $2.2 billion due primarily to a 21.7 percent, or $91 million, decline in services and a $46 million drop in “other” sales.
The New York state legislature is mulling a measure that would make the current five-year general aviation tax exemption permanent, even as the state struggles to fill a $17.9 billion budget deficit in fiscal 2010. Meanwhile, legislation that would have put a 5 percent luxury tax on GA aircraft costing more than $500,000 was defeated.
The heads of the nation’s two largest general aviation advocacy organizations last week formed a pact to explore areas where they can collaborate to promote and protect GA. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President and CEO Craig Fuller met with Experimental Aircraft Association Chairman Tom Poberezny June 3 at EAA’s Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis., to discuss potential collaborative efforts.
FAA recognized two staff members from Wichita State University for their aviation research efforts in 2008. WSU Professor Roy Myose received a 2008 Faculty of the Year award for his work through FAA’s Center of Excellence for General Aviation Research (CGAR).
Helicopter services specialist Bristow Group is expanding its reach into the South American market with the recent acquisition of a 42.5 percent stake in Lider Aviacao Holdings S.A. in a deal valued at $174 million. Founded in 1958, Lider is the largest provider of helicopter and business aviation services in Brazil. Its operation serves about 50 percent of the oil and gas market in Brazil with a fleet of 46 helicopters. Lider, which also operates 29 charter aircraft, employs some 1,480 workers and generated $305 million in revenue in 2008.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION cited “a credible threat to civil aviation in East Africa” in its decision to block Delta Air Lines’ planned service between Atlanta and Nairobi, Kenya, via Dakar Senegal . TSA noted “security vulnerabilities in and around Nairobi.” The agency also barred Delta service between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia, because of what it called the failure of the Roberts International Airport there “to meet international security standards and appropriate recommended practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.”
West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Greenjets is hoping its new shared-ride private jet service will appeal to customers as an environmentally and fiscally responsible option. The company was founded in mid-2008 and started flying in April, CEO Dean Rotchin said. “We provide shared-ride or per-seat charter service, so one can fly from New York to Florida for around $4,500 or even less with a Greenjetcard, our discount membership card program,” he said.
RITA BERLIN was named regional sales director for aircraft, charter, management and acquisition services for Volo Aviation in Stratford, Conn. Berlin will be responsible for sales in the Northeastern U.S., Europe and the Middle East. She formerly served with Virgin Charter, Flight Options and Jet Aviation. She also held management roles with the SoHo Grand Hotel and Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York City and the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.
While business aviation continues to face harsh market conditions, maintenance, ground handlers and VIP services suppliers are still looking at potential opportunities in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, where demand is underserved and expected to grow fast once confidence returns, according to a new report.
EMBRAER’S recent delivery of a Legacy 600 executive jet to European air charter operator London Executive Aviation marked the 1,100 delivery for the ERJ-145 platform. The Legacy 600 is the business jet variant based on the ERJ-145. Some 900 of the regional jets have been delivered to airlines since 1996. Embraer began with the ERJ-145, but the family evolved to include the ERJ-135 and ERJ-140 commercial jets, the Legacy 600 executive jet and the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, military derivative.
CAE held a ceremony with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) last week in Bangalore, India to begin construction of a new training facility, the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF). The facility, slated to open in mid-2010, is a joint venture between HAL and CAE. HATSOFF will be built to train up to 400 helicopter pilots each year and offer civil and military training on the Eurocopter Dauphin, Bell 412 and the civil and military variants of the HAL-built Dhruv.
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION’S board of directors has narrowed down the search for a new president to two candidates, a source close to the search committee said. Final interviews of the candidates – both well-known aviation veterans – are scheduled for mid-June. Barring complications, that bodes well for EAA’s board of directors to announce its selection at Oshkosh 2009 at the end of July.
For the second time in 45 days, Cirrus Design of Duluth, Minn., last week announced it would increase its production rate to eight units a week for the SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The move also has caused the company to recall employees due to an uptick in demand. “In excess of 50 employees are likely to be recalled based on the skill sets needed,” the company said. Employees will report to both of the company’s production facilities in Duluth and Grand Forks, N.D.
EMBRAER ERJ 170 and ERJ 190-100 LR, -100 IGW, -100 STD, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0497; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-019-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to perform a detailed visual inspection for cracks in the ram air turbine (RAT) machined support, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 170-53-0057 (dated Feb. 21, 2008) or 190-53-0027 (dated Feb. 18, 2008), as applicable. If cracks were found, operators would need to replace the RAT machined support with a newly designed support before further flight.
STEPHEN CLYNE was appointed vice president, aircraft management for Volo Aviation. Clyne joined Volo from JetDirect Aviation, where he most recently served as vice president of client services. Before that he served with JetDirect predecessors Wayfarer Aviation/Tag Aviation, USA. In his new role, Clyne will oversee the expansion of Volo’s managed aircraft fleet.
M7 AEROSPACE SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC and SA227-DC (C-26B) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0119; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-068-AD; Amendment 39-15916; AD 2009-11-06] – This directive, which supersedes AD 2008-12-16, adds the SA227-BC (C-26A) to the list of aircraft affected by the earlier directive and provides updated service information for compliance. AD 2008-12-16 required operators to inspect wires and tube assemblies for chafing, arcing or insufficient clearance between components.
BOMBARDIER executives last week were cautiously optimistic that market conditions were improving. “While not a stellar [first fiscal] quarter, there are some encouraging signs,” Bombardier President and CEO Pierrre Beaudoin told analysts last week. “Used business jet inventory is starting to stabilize, and credit is more available to customers.” Beaudoin added that cancellations have slowed and interest has seemed to pick up, particularly in the past six or seven weeks.
LEARJET Model 45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0498; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-065-AD; Amendment 39-15923; AD 2009-11-13] – Conduct repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the left engine’s nacelle tubing and look for evidence of fluid leakage within the left engine accessory compartment, per the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A45-29-15 (dated Dec. 26, 2006) and A40-29-03 (dated Dec. 26, 2006).
PRO STAR AVIATION, the Londonderry, N.H., aviation services company named a Pilatus sales and service center earlier this year, handed over its first PC-12 NG to a customer. Pro Star in January was awarded exclusive PC-12 sales and services rights for the Northeastern U.S., a territory that includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Pro Star is also responsible for Michigan. Pro Star has satellite facilities in Caldwell, N.J., as well as in Portland, Maine.
CENTURY CRM developed the first of a series of human factors programs for Training Port, a Canadian-based online training firm. The initial human factors program covers conflict resolution in the cockpit. Future courses are planned for release later in the year. Century CRM said the course enables it to expand into the Canadian professional pilot market. Based in Peachtree City, Ga., Century CRM specializes in aircrew human factors and crew resource management training.
BOMBARDIER’S Global Vision Flight Deck is on schedule to fly this summer, the Canadian manufacturer said. The flight deck completed a “Power-On” test during the winter, a milestone that prepares for the first flight in the summer on a Global Express XRS aircraft. The flight deck will be offered on both the XRS and Global 5000 jets. During the Power-On test, the flight deck’s system computers, its flight software and the aircraft systems are powered up to verify functionality and compatibility, Bombardier said, adding that all systems performed as expected.
AGUSTAWESTLAND has opened a new regional business headquarters in Lisbon for the newly established AgustaWestland Portugal S.A. AgustaWestland executives noted that the Portuguese helicopter market has increased in recent years, and the company has orders for more than 20 commercial and military helicopters from Portugal.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT sold a Premier II to charter operator RayaJet and flight trainer Ayla Aviation Academy in Jordan. A follow-on to the Premier IA, the Premier II will cruise faster and have a 20 percent longer range. The joint order for the Premier II is in line with plans for Ayla and RayaJet to merge this year.
