GKN AEROSPACE is developing new techniques that it says will further automate and increase production for composite materials. The techniques will increase deposition rates by a factor of 40, GKN said, evolving automated processes for complex structures for airframes and engines. GKN is using new Automated Tape Lay-up (ATL) equipment for development of material on the Airbus A400M wing spar. The ATL can lay composite tapes 150 mm or 300 mm wide at rates of about 40 pounds of tape per hour. This compares with traditional rates of between one and three pounds an hour.
EXCELAIRE has opened a new international services “gateway” at its facility in Islip, N.Y. ExcelAire will provide a range of services, including on-site U.S. Customs clearance, fuel, maintenance, concierge services and helicopter service to the New York City metro area. The helicopter service is offered in association with HeliFlite, which flies Bell and Sikorsky helicopters.
PIAGGIO AERO plans to offer two Aircell broadband options aboard P.180 Avanti IIs equipped with the new “.it” technology option package. Beginning in the third quarter of 2009, P.180 buyers will be able to choose either a U.S. or global high-speed Internet service that will enable e-mail, Web surfing and corporate VPN access in flight. The Piaggio accord is Aircell’s first broadband system selection by a major business aviation OEM since the airborne communications company began taking orders less than a month ago.
May 27- June 1 — Berlin International Air Show (ILA2008), Berlin, Germany, sponsored by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and managed by Messe Berlin. For more information, call (609) 987-1202; fax (609) 987-0092 or e-mail (www.ila-NA.com) June 7 — Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, 18th Annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House, Frederick, Md., (800) 872-2672 June 8-11 — American Association of Airport Executives, 80th Annual Conference and Expo, New Orleans, La. Contact AAAE at (703) 824-0500
XOJET, the Northern California-based on-demand charter and aircraft ownership services company, secured $2.46 billion in debt and equity financing agreements that the company said will fund its operations in North American and plans for global expansion. Last week’s announcement follows orders that XOJET unveiled during the National Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting and convention last fall for 110 new Bombardier and Citation jets valued at $2.5 billion (BA, Oct. 1/146).
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Hawker Beechcraft Corporation has launched the Beechcraft Premier II light business jet, which will feature composite winglets, new engines, and higher cruise speeds and payload capability than the Premier IA. The twin-turbofan, swept-wing, all-composite light jet will offer standard seating for up to six passengers.
GROB AEROSPACE is hoping to achieve certification of its spn business jet by yearend, but is facing a shortage of flight testing and development engineers that could further delay the program. The spn program already has grappled with delays stemming from a prototype crash (BA, Dec. 4, 2006/253) and slow flight trials. CEO Niall Olver said the goal of reaching certification by yearend would be “challenging,” but that the company is trying to quickly increase its work force. The company planned a recruitment drive for the ILA Berlin Airshow.
MOONEY AIRPLANE COMPANY named Air Touring Ltd. as its sales representative for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Based at London Biggin Hill Airport, Air Touring distributes a range of new and used personal and business piston, turboprop and jet aircraft throughout the U.K. Air Touring also provides scheduled maintenance, repair service, avionics upgrades and installation, parts sales, and technical assistance.
TAILWIND CAPITAL LLC and its investment partner, Global Principal Finance Co., unveiled the Hemisphere 200XR, an executive conversion of Bombardier’s CRJ-200 regional jet, at last week’s EBACE show. The aircraft, which is being transformed at Georgetown, Del.-based completion specialist PATS Aircraft, is equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks that give the former airliner a range of up to 3,000 nautical miles. The first Hemisphere 200XR is to be delivered to a European customer in June, and Tailwind expects to have a total of five aircraft converted by the end of this year.
JET AVIATION formally dedicated a new 103,330-square-foot hangar designed to accommodate widebody aircraft at its Basel, Switzerland facility. The hangar, one of the largest in Europe, can accommodate an Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 simultaneously along with a range of midsize aircraft. Jet Aviation invested about CHF 65 million in the new hangar, which will be dedicated to outfitting or refurbishing aircraft, while the other eight hangars primarily will be used for maintenance services. Jet Aviation also plans to hire 350 to 400 more people at the facility.
CAE has begun expanding its North East Training Center in Morristown, N.J. from six simulator bays to 15. The expansion is slated for completion in 2008, and will accommodate plans to increase the company’s corporate aircraft training business. CAE recently added a Hawker Beechcraft 800XPi full flight simulator to the facility and began training on a Gulfstream G450/550 full flight simulator. The center also offers training for the Dassault Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX EASy/2000EX EASy, Gulfstream IV and Sikorsky S76B C+.
ENGINE COMPONENTS cylinder assemblies installed in Lycoming Model 320, 360 and 540 series engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0052; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-01-AD] – This proposed AD would require engines with certain cylinder assemblies to undergo repetitive visual inspections and compression tests to detect cracks at the head-to-barrel interface. Cracked cylinders would need to be replaced.
EADS SOCATA won an order from European aircraft fractional owner provider JETFLY for two new TBM 850s equipped with the Garmin G1000 cockpit. Established in 1999 in Luxembourg, JETFLY operates a fleet of TBM 850s, Pilatus PC-12s and Piaggio Avantis for more than 90 co-owners.
AVIDYNE CORPORATION is opening a new International Customer Support Center and OEM Sales office, based in Weißenhorn, Germany. Avidyne-Europe will provide customer support services to European customers, distributors, and service centers. Support staff will process Return Material Authorizations, verify warranty status, and address general customer support questions and concerns.
Aerion, the Reno, Nev. engineering firm that has been marketing its proposed Aerion supersonic business jet, says it has received more than 40 letters of intent, backed up by refundable deposits of $250,000, for the $80 million airplane.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION grew approximately 10 percent in 2007, according to statistics released by Eurocontrol during EBACE. The number of European-registered business jets has increased from 1,100 two years ago to 1,900 today and could reach 4,000 by 2017, according to a forecast produced by the air traffic control service. Those projections were evident by a number of orders announced during last week’s show. See article on Page 236.
FAA Friday was working to fix a technical glitch that brought down the Notice to Airmen system on the eve of the holiday weekend. The NOTAM system went out of service at 10:36 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Thursday, preventing the posting of any new NOTAMS. The problem stemmed from a disc crashing in FAA’s system, the agency said. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association recommended that pilots contact the local fixed-base operation, air traffic control tower or flight service station to obtain the most up-to-date information.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT has joined efforts with Dallas Airmotive to offer an EngiNEWity Citation Engine Program for Citation business jets powered by Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines. The program is designed to control costs and provide 45-day turn time guarantees for JT15D overhauls. The program includes a Total Price Guarantee option, which involves a set price quoted at the engine prequalification inspection. The price covers replacement parts, brackets and harnesses.
Eclipse Aviation won two key international approvals that will help clear the way for the company to begin production in Russia, the company announced last week during EBACE. The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security granted permission for the Albuquerque, N.M.-based Very Light Jet manufacturer to export the Eclipse 500 jet and its components to Russia.
TRANSPORT CANADA and FAA apparently resolved an issue recently that was threatening to disrupt air freight operations between the U.S. and Canada. The problem arose recently when a Canadian operator of an aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds was ramp checked after landing in the U.S. and told by an FAA inspector that the aircraft was supposed to be equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System. When Canadian officials learned of the incident, they threatened to reciprocate against U.S. Part 135 operators carrying freight into that country.
THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION last week recognized several operators as the initial recipients of the European Safety of Flight Awards, given to operators who meet a minimum number of accident-free hours or years. The Platinum awards, recognizing 100,000 hours or 50 years accident-free flight, was awarded to PrivatAir (125,857 hours with 11 aircraft), Shell Aircraft (more than 50 years and 90,000 hours with three aircraft), and Eurofly Service S.P.A. (more than 150,000 hours and 39 years with 11 aircraft).
PACIFIC AEROSPACE Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0175; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-105-AD; Amendment 39-15455; AD 2008-08-03] – Requires adding and replacing certain pitot-heat sensor circuit breakers and adding a cooling-fan circuit in accordance with Pacific Aerospace Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/008. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, is designed to prevent electrical malfunctions from damaging wiring and causing arcing or fires.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE delivered the first of four Q400 regional turboprops to Croatia Airlines. The Zagreb, Croatia-based carrier placed a contract for the aircraft in June 2007. The contract also included options for two more Q400s.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT secured its first order from a European customer for the Beechcraft Baron G58. Hawker Beechcraft expects to hand over the G58 to a customer in Poland in October following validation from the European Aviation Safety Agency. Hawker Beechcraft said it has received an uptick in interest from the European market for G1000 equipped Baron G58s and Bonanza G36s. The Baron includes an GWX 68 color weather radar and offers optional Jeppesen chart coverage for Europe and other worldwide regions.
