CESSNA Model 150 and 152 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27747; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-030-AD; Amendment 39-15904; AD 2009-10-09] – Either install a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane, or replace the rudder stop, rudder stop bumper and attachment hardware with a new rudder-stop modification kit. Also, replace the safety wire with jamnuts. This AD resulted from investigations of two accidents in which the rudder was found in the over-travel position with the stop plate hooked over the stop bolt heads.
Flexjet is now offering a new version of its WalkAway Lease program to provide more options to customers during the current economic downturn. The program is a traditional lease with a twist – customers can exit the contract with just 90 days’ notice or immediately following the purchase and delivery of a fractional share.
BOMBARDIER CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0428; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-053-AD; Amendment 39-15900; AD 2009-10-05] – Replace the inboard flap actuators, per the instructions of Section 27-53-01 of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, CSP A-001, Revision 40 (dated Sept. 10, 2008).
All meaningful indicators – utilization, prices, used aircraft availability, and corporate profits – show a prolonged and painful downturn for business aviation, according to a new report from Fairfax, Va.-based Teal Group. Business aircraft have been hit harder by the economic crisis than any other aerospace market, said the report, written by Richard Aboulafia, Teal Group’s vice president of analysis.
AT LEAST TWO ANALYSTS believe that business aircraft deliveries will not begin to grow again until 2012. Brian Foley Associates (BriFO) last week said the industry is no longer in a free fall, but recovery will be slow. BriFO also predicted it may take 10 years before deliveries reach the levels of 2008. Teal Group, meanwhile, also forecast that deliveries would not recover until 2012, calling 2011 a “trough year” when business jet deliveries will be down 40 percent from 2008 levels. See articles on Pages 250 and 252.
Executives from the defunct Pogo Jet, Inc. have banded together to offer their consulting services as Pogo Group. Pogo Jet CEO Robert Crandall decided in April to ground the startup very light jet charter operation he launched in 2004, calling the operation “one of those ideas that didn’t work out.” The final nail in the coffin was the shuttering of Eclipse Aviation in November, which left the company without an aircraft for the business.
PRECISION TURBINES teamed with Reliable Jet Maintenance to expand its customer service, aircraft management, and repair service offerings to owners of a range of business jets and engines. The latest partnership will allow Precision Turbines to offer services to Citation, Gulfstream, Learjet, Challenger, Dassault and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft. Based in Boca Raton, Fla., Precision Turbines provides services on Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Williams engines, as well as management services.
Textron Inc. secured approval from the board of directors of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EX-IM Bank) for a $500 million direct-loan facility to finance exports of its Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter businesses. The loan will enable Textron to provide financing for Cessna and Bell exports that are delivered through December 2010.
Hawker Beechcraft laid off 150 workers last week, blaming the continued downturn in the global economy. The move, announced in a May 19 letter from Rich Jiwanlal, vice president of human resources, is part of the 2,300 job cuts previously announced in February (BA, Feb. 9/57). “As Bill Boisture, our new CEO, shared last month, we will continue to act in aligning the size of our company to the marketplace,” he wrote.
The House Thursday once again passed a comprehensive long-term FAA reauthorization bill that retains the current aviation excise taxes, but increases the rates on aviation gasoline and jet fuel. The bill approved last week, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009, H.R.915, resembles closely the long-term bill the House approved in September 2007, but pushes back the reauthorization term through 2012.
SCHUBACH AVIATION acquired a Learjet 35 to augment its fleet. The aircraft can fly up to 45,000 feet and has a 2,000-nautical-mile range. Based in San Diego, Schubach operates 20 aircraft that range from King Air turboprops to Bombardier Challengers and a Gulfstream IV.
BOMBARDIER Model 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-2009-0448; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-052-AD; Amendment 39-15906; AD 2009-10-10] – Repetitively inspect the cabin pressure control system’s outflow valve (OFV) for proper operation of the manual-mode motor and altitude-limitation functions, in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A670BA-21-022 (dated Aug. 3, 2006).
ACM AVIATION added nine aircraft to its aircraft management and charter fleet in the first quarter – a Global Express XRS, two Gulfstream IV SPs, a Gulfstream V, two Gulfstream 200s, a Challenger 601, a Hawker 800 XP and a Citation 560XLS. The aircraft are based in various locations in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. ACM said it will continue to add to its fleet, which now numbers nearly 40 aircraft, in the second quarter.
A WEEK AFTER an FAA hearing examiner determined that the city of Santa Monica, Calif., was in violation of airport grant assurance agreements for its ban on large business jets at Santa Monica Airport (BA, May 18/233), the House passed a “sense of Congress” resolution that the FAA administrator should enter good faith discussions to address the city’s runway safety concerns involving large business jet operations at the airport. The sense of Congress was included in the FAA reauthorization bill at the behest of Rep.
The Senate last week swiftly confirmed former Air Line Pilots Association chief J. Randolph (Randy) Babbitt to a five-year term as FAA administrator, filling a position that has been vacant – except in an acting capacity – since Marion Blakey completed her term in September 2007. The Senate approved the nomination two days after the Senate Commerce Committee cleared Babbitt for full Senate consideration. The White House announced its intent to nominate Babbitt in March, but did not submit the nomination paperwork to the Senate until earlier this month.
MATTHEW LIU was appointed Hawker Beechcraft’s regional sales director for China and North Asia. Liu has more than 18 years of aviation, aerospace and defense experience. He formerly handled new product development and sales to the U.S. government at Integrated Defense Systems of Raytheon; steered Asia marketing for Hawker Beechcraft predecessor company Raytheon Aircraft; and held engineering positions with Boeing Commercial Company. He is based in Beijing.
EXCELAIRE was appointed as a Rockwell Collins dealer. The designation covers installation, maintenance and sales of a range of Rockwell Collins equipment, including TCAS, VHF comm and HF units, cabin management systems such as Airshow, flight management systems, and navigational systems. Rockwell Collins avionics equipment is installed onboard many different jets including Gulfstream, Embraer Legacy, Hawker, Lear, Global Express, Challenger, Falcon and Beechjet aircraft.
EXCELAIRE added a 13-seat Gulfstream GIV-SP to its fleet. Based in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., ExcelAire has 10 Gulfstream jets in its fleet. ExcelAire also operates Legacy 600, Beechjet, Cessna Citation, Learjet and other aircraft.
PILATUS PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47 and PC-12/47E airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0437; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-018-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing directive, would mandate replacement of certain torque tubes by new, improved ones, establish a life limit for torque tubes and require repetitive inspections of the nose landing gear right-hand upper drag link, per Pilatus Service Bulletin No: 32-021 (dated Nov. 21, 2008).
Despite the current economic downturn, the mood at this year’s European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) was generally upbeat and people were excited to be together, Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, told BA. There was certainly a sense that brighter days are ahead, Bolen said. “Everyone that is committed to business aviation feels we have a good story to tell. We’re all anxious to turn the corner and move forward,” he said.
THE WHITE HOUSE, which in March announced its intention to nominate Randy Babbitt as the next FAA administrator (BA, March 30/143), last week finally submitted the nomination paperwork. Eager to move forward with the nomination, the Senate Commerce Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing for May 19. In the interim, Babbitt has been making the rounds, visiting members in the House and Senate (BA, May 11/227).
NEIL VERNON was promoted to director-demonstration and corporate flight operations for Gulfstream Aerospace. In his new role, Vernon will coordinate demonstration flights and oversee flights of corporate aircraft and the Gulfstream Airborne Product Support aircraft. He has served with Gulfstream for eight years, most recently as chief demonstration pilot for the company’s large-cabin aircraft. He has more than 20 years experience as a pilot, previously flying corporate jets for National Bank of Commerce in Lincoln, Neb., and Gateway Computers in Sioux City, Iowa.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE is expanding its European product support capabilities with an agreement for the CORJET Europe facility in Madrid, Spain, to serve as a strategic parts distribution facility. Based at Madrid Barajas International Airport, the CORJET facility will house high-usage parts commonly required by international Gulfstream customers. The facility currently is holding nearly $4 million in Gulfstream parts, but the inventory is expected to grow throughout 2009.
Dubai-based Project Phoenix is hoping to tap into the business aviation market this month by handing over the first of its VIP versions of Bombardier’s CRJ-200 regional jet.
