A BEECH 100, VY-2129, was destroyed after it crashed into mountains March 1 near San Miguel, Turjillo, Venezuela, killing both pilots and four passengers. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. Command Air, C.A. was operating the aircraft under visual flight rules on a flight from Oscar Machado Zuloaga Airport (SVCS), Charallave, Miranda, to Dr. Antonio Nicolas Briceno Airport (SVVL), Valera, Trujillo.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 412, 412CF and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0169; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-42-AD; Amendment 39-15833; AD 2009-05-09] –Reidentify certain main-rotor yokes based on whether they were ever installed on a Model 412CF helicopter or on a Model 412 or 412EP helicopter with a slope landing kit. Also, reduce the retirement life of the reidentified yokes from 5,000 to 4,500 hours time in service, per the instructions of Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-08-128 (dated March 4, 2008) for Model 412 and 412EP helicopters or No.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0195; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-34-AD; Amendment 39-15837; AD 2009-06-01] – Determine the orientation of the fixed connector “24 Delta” in the aircraft’s hoist. If the large contacts are not oriented aft, reorient them so that they are facing aft, as specified by Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 25A085 (dated June 1, 2007).
ENKHSAIKHAN (EK) BOLDSAIKHAN joined the National Institute for Aviation Research’s Advanced Joining & Processing Laboratory as a research engineer. Boldsaikhan specializes in friction stir welding and processing, signal processing, nondestructive evaluation and control systems. He has a doctorate in materials engineering and science, a master’s of science in computer science and a bachelor’s of science in software engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, S.D.
AGUSTA S.P.A. AB139 and AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0170; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-45-AD; Amendment 39-15843; AD 2009-06-07] – Remove the left-hand and right-hand side cockpit door windows and replace them with airworthy cockpit door windows. Also, install an emergency jettison strap with each cockpit door window, along with an external emergency-exit placard on each cockpit door external side, per the instructions of Agusta Service Bulletin 139-129 (dated June 3, 2008).
DAN NELSON was tapped to serve as chief executive for Shadin Avionics. A licensed pilot, Nelson has nine years of aerospace experience with Rosemount and Honeywell and 10 years of senior executive experience with ATMI Inc. and Nanovance Inc. He has managed air data sensor programs for the F-22, Paveway and cruise missile programs.
AGUSTAWESTLAND delivered a Da Vinci helicopter to Swiss air-rescue operator REGA during a ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s plant in Vergiate, Italy on March 4. The new helicopter, a derivative of the AgustaWestland Grand, is designed to meet REGA’s requirements for a light twin rescue and air-ambulance helicopter capable of operating at high altitudes. The Da Vinci helicopter features an emergency medical service interior developed by REGA and Aerolite.
VIKING AIR LIMITED DHC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1330; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-138-AD; Amendment 39-15839; AD 2009-06-03] – Perform a visual inspection to ensure proper installation and functioning of the fluorescent tubes in the lamp holders, and perform all applicable corrective actions before further flight, in accordance with the instructions of Viking Service Bulletin V7-33-01 (dated Feb. 28, 2008). Repeat the inspection at intervals not to exceed 1,000 flight hours.
Dassault Aviation Group last week announced it booked 115 orders for Falcon Jet aircraft in 2008, including 23 sales to NetJets. The tally represents a 45.7 percent decline from 2007, an all-time sales record for Dassault. The firm had been enjoying sizable sales increases from 2003 to 2007, but in 2008 the bottom fell out of the market for business jet manufacturers, including Dassault.
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New hangar at Naples Airport for the largest jets. Selling at less than cost due to bad economy!! Rare find at a busy airport that has no large hangars available. Concrete walls, hurricane proof, reception area, 1.6 acres, 12,000 gal fuel tank. If you fly out of Naples often, the fuel savings will pay for the hangar! Phone (239) 641-8000
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD last week deployed a team to assist in the investigation of a Sikorsky S-92A heavy lift helicopter that crashed into the North Atlantic. The helicopter, Canadian Registry C-GZCH, ditched into the North Atlantic Thursday about 31 miles east of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Operated by Cougar Helicopters, the aircraft reportedly was carrying two crew members and 16 offshore oil workers. One person was immediately rescued and the search continued last week for the remaining occupants.
JUDY TARVER was named vice president, pilot career services for FltOps.com. Tarver has 31 years of in pilot selection and recruitment experience. She was manager of pilot recruitment for American Airlines, where she facilitated the hiring of more than 7,100 airline pilots. She also served as a consultant for several carriers, the Air Line Pilots Association and the University Aviation Association. FltOps.com is an Internet-based professional pilot career advisory service.
Hawker Beechcraft and Wichita State University have extended their partnership to boost its efforts in environmental “sustainability” to other aviation companies. Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has been working with the university for a year to design and implement a program, spokeswoman Nicole Alexander said.
ALISON HUNTER joined NationAir Aviation Insurance as sales executive for the Great Lakes region. Hunter is based at the company’s Chicago headquarters. She formerly has served as a flight dispatcher at Western Michigan University College of Aviation and a service representative at Northern Air, a full-service, fixed-base operation in Grand Rapids, Mich.
THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE has decided to appeal a court decision finding that a restored F-82 on display at the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Airpower Museum in Midland, Texas, actually belongs to the National Museum of the Air Force (USAFM). The CAF offered to drop its lawsuit concerning ownership rights of the F-82 in exchange for allowing the airplane to remain on static display at the CAF Airpower Museum through the USAFM’s Loan Program. But USAFM rejected the offer “based on the...
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0198; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-129-AD] – This proposed directive, which would supersede AD 98-06-07, would continue to require revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include procedures prohibiting stabilized engine operation in a certain engine speed range on the ground, but it also would require removing the normal maximum (second) detent for the reverse-thrust control.
THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS streaming into the docket on the Transportation Security Administration’s Large Aircraft Security Proposal had topped 6,000 by the end of last week. The comments, which overwhelmingly oppose to the proposal, have come from individuals, companies, aviation businesses, and state aviation officials, including Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s 2008 vice presidential candidate.
CONSTRUCTION OF SAN LUIS JET CENTER is slated to begin during the fourth quarter of this year. The new facility at San Luis Obispo Airport (KSBP) in central California is to feature two new hangers that will total 55,200 square feet and will house the five Citation Excels and two Citation Xs operated by Aviation Consultants, Inc., a based management and charter operator. The new facility reportedly will incorporate numerous energy saving technologies, including an 85KVA solar panel that will supply nearly all of the facility’s electrical requirements.
HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND Model 247F propellers [Docket No. FAA-2009-0113; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-25-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to remove from service certain propeller blades used on Avions de Transport Regional ATR 72 aircraft. This proposal, which resulted from reports of blades with corrosion pits in the tulip area of the blades, is designed to prevent cracks from developing in that section of the blade, which could result in separation of the blade and possible loss of airplane control.
A TWO-YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS is now available from Gulfstream. The program, which went into effect March 1, covers any Gulfstream part purchased by an operator through the company’s Over-the-Counter sales group. Additionally, any Gulfstream component purchased and installed at a Gulfstream or General Dynamics Aviation Services facility will carry a two-year component warranty and a one-year labor warranty.
Lincoln, Neb.-based Duncan Aviation has announced employee layoffs for the first time in its 53-year history. The company is letting go 304 workers, effective immediately, including 170 jobs in Lincoln, 122 in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Mich., and 12 in satellite offices across the country. The company blamed the economy, the credit crisis and the negative media and political campaign against business aviation.
