CESSNA will build a new support center at Manises, near Valencia, Spain, complementing the long-established facility at Paris. The move allows the OEM to provide improved levels of service for more than 1,000 Citation twinjets now operating in Europe. The service center will be similar to the one recently inaugurated at Mesa, Ariz., with some 62,450 square feet of hangar space, plus offices. Opening is planned for the end of 2012.
BAE SYSTEMS Jetstream 4101 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1214; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-259-AD; Amendment 39-15897; AD 2009-10-02] – This AD, which supersedes an existing directive, requires a new revision of the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate revised life limits for structurally significant items, operational and functional tests of certain systems, and instructions to retain critical ignition-source prevention features during configuration changes.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES, of Barcelona, Spain, recently took delivery of its ninth Gulfstream G200. The aircraft is configured for 10 passengers and has a range of 3,400 nautical miles. The company says its long-range, heavy-jet charter customers seem to have been less affected by the global economic downturn, and its current fleet of 25 aircraft is set to grow to 30.
JET AVIATION BASEL is celebrating the 100th cabin interior outfitting on a Dassault Falcon aircraft and its first for the Falcon 7X. Jet Aviation Basel began completing Falcon interiors in 1996 and now has a dedicated Dassault Falcon completions center. The Swiss-based center outfits the Falcon 2000 and 900 series, along with the 7X.
While the Obama administration is attempting to renew talks of user fees, the Air Transport Association and National Business Aviation Association last week presented a unified voice urging more federal support to accelerate the evolution of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
JET SUPPORT SERVICES, INC. (JSSI) has unveiled a new hourly cost maintenance program for engines. The Premium Engine Program replaces the former Complete program and includes major scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, life-limited components, around-the-clock tech support, future mandatory and recommended service bulletins and ADs, troubleshooting labor allowances, rental engines and a JSSI technical representative on site when the engine is in the shop.
A HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Premier IA set a speed record on a 627-statute-mile trip from Hawker Beechcraft’s facilities in Chester, United Kingdom to Geneva in 1 hour, 13 minutes, 30 seconds. Astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson piloted the aircraft. The trip has been submitted to the National Aeronautic Association for validation as a speed record in class C-I.E. (6,164-13,222 pounds) Group III (jet engine).
AVJET CORPORATION secured FAA and Department of Transportation approvals to operate a Boeing Business Jet under Part 135 regulations for both domestic and international charter. Avjet underwent a seven-month process to meet specific financial and operations targets for the approvals. This included obtaining a Certificate of Passenger Convenience and Necessity from DOT. Avjet also operates Gulfstream 550s, Gulfstream 450s and Global Express aircraft.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT named Aerodata AG in Braunschweig, Germany, and Arabian Aircraft Service Company in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as authorized service centers for Hawker Beechcraft. Based about 200 kilometers outside Berlin, Aerodata will service the Beechcraft product lines for customers in central and northern Europe. Arabian Aircraft services will support the Hawker 800 series and plans to add Hawker 900XP service offerings in the near future.
MICHAEL DONOVAN was named president of HCC Aviation, a division of HCC Insurance Holdings, which includes the aviation underwriting operations Avemco Insurance Company, U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and Houston Casualty Company subsidiaries. In addition, Donvan was promoted to executive vice president of Houston Casualty Company, HCC’s largest subsidiary. He has served with HCC’s aviation underwriting business for 26 years.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT is slated to hand over the first Citation business jets to a customer in the Ukraine. ACR Aero-Charter, a charter operator based in Kiev, will take delivery of a Citation CJ3 this month and a second CJ3 in July. ACR also has a third CJ3 and Citation XLS+ on order for delivery in 2010. Cessna’s authorized sale representative JetAlliance facilitated the sale to ACR.
NBAA is girding itself for yet another fight with an administration over user fees, Bolen said. “It’s pretty clear in Washington that it’s really hard to kill a bad idea, and user fees are a bad idea. We know that the public benefits from a good air traffic control system,” he said. “Several administrations have wanted to move toward user fees and move away from taxpayer revenues. User fees are the first step toward privatization.” The industry knows from experiences abroad that they do not work well, said Bolen.
ATR is promoting a new range of corporate and VIP cabins for the ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop airliner family. Different combinations of seating types and cabin layouts allow for between 19 and 30 seats in an ATR 42, and up to 38 in an ATR 72. Both aircraft can be fitted with separate lounge areas, and both have substantial galley and stowage areas. The Corporate ATRs can fly in and out of all the same airfield and airports that their airliner brethren can – giving access to short-field and unprepared airstrips.
AIRCELL plans to deliver the U.S. version of its broadband system early – in July instead of September as previously announced, CEO Jack Blumenstein told BA, adding the timing is particularly important because “this lowers the cost of service outside of North America.” Canada is holding its broadband auction this week, said Blumenstein. “There will be a license holder named at the end of the month, and we will partner with them to have service by the end of the year,” he said.
European Business Aviation Association is fighting to prevent proposed emissions and operations regulations from damaging the business aviation industry, EBAA President and CEO Brian Humphries said. “The EU seems to make life as complicated as it can for people,” said Humphries. “It could be called strangulation by regulation.”
National Air Transportation Association President and CEO James Coyne was tapped to head a new advisory council for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s GA Services America advocacy campaign. AOPA last month formally launched the campaign in an effort to educate the general public about the importance of general aviation (BA, March 30/11). The campaign will use a combination of targeted broadcast, print and online advertising.
EVASWORLDWIDE, based in Mahwah N.J., signed an agreement to equip all of Dassault Falcon Jet’s demonstration aircraft with the Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS). EVAS is offered as optional equipment on all new Falcons. EVASWorldwide sells the systems for VisionSafe Corporation, which has produced the cockpit smoke displacement systems since the late 1980s.
FAA formally withdrew a 2006 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would have established new classifications for repair stations, as well as require quality programs (BA, April 13/169). The agency, which published a notice announcing the withdrawal in the May 7 Federal Register, said the NPRM “does not adequately address the current repair station environment.”
PATS Aircraft Systems recently received FAA approval of SFAR-88 Service Bulletins, enabling installation and operation of auxiliary fuel tanks on Boeing BBJs. Absent the approved SB, older PATS auxiliary tanks would have to be disconnected on Dec. 16 of this year, significantly limiting aircraft range. PATS says it has added capacity at its Georgetown, Del., facility “to support the installation of as many SFAR-88 SB kits as possible” before the December deadline. Multiple maintenance slots are available, the company says.
NATALIE BLAIR was named coordinator of public and alumni relations at Kansas City University’s Salina campus, which houses the aviation department. Blair graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2008 with an M.S. in communications studies. While at Fort Hays, she worked in the University Relations office, as well as served as president of TigerComm, the university’s student advertising, marketing and public relations organization.
May 18-21 – Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, (202) 367-2323, www.raa.org/convention May 27-29 – CBAA 2009 – 48th Annual Convention, Trade Show and Static Display, Montreal, www.cbaa.ca May 29 – National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Taxes Seminar, Los Angeles, Calif., (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org June 8 – GWAO Rescheduled – 21st Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open, Lansdowne Resort, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.gwao.org
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL achieved European qualification for 40 of its full flight simulators based in North America under the “Catch-up Process” (CUP). CUP was developed as a means to qualify flight simulators based outside EASA jurisdiction so they can continue to be used to train European flight crews to meet EASA requirements. FlightSafety worked with EASA and individual national aviation authorities in the European Union to achieve the qualification. The approvals cover simulators located at 15 FlightSafety Learning Centers in the U.S. and Canada.
Gulfstream Aerospace recently tested the company’s first all-composite wing assembly as part of a larger effort to consider an expansion in the use of composites on Gulfstream business jets. The Savannah, Ga., business jet maker has used “modest” amounts of composites in its planes, including floor panels, furnishings, fairings cover pieces and the aft pressure bulkhead section of the fuselage.
BOMBARDIER CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 and 701) airplanes and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0436; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-005-AD] – This proposal would require operators to revise their Airplane Flight Manuals to include Bombardier Temporary Revisions RJ 900/48-3 (dated Aug. 19, 2008) or RJ 700/87-3 (dated Aug. 19, 2008), which cover revised procedures for cold weather operations.
An effort to implement a Stage 2 aircraft phaseout at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in California took a step forward last week when the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners recommended adoption of an “Van Nuys Noisier Aircraft Phaseout Ordinance.” The Board of Airport Commissioners also approved a Final Environmental Impact Report for the airport.
