THREE AIRBUS CORPORATE JETLINERS have been ordered by VistaJet, the Swiss-based charter company that has operations in Austria and Germany. VistaJet has not yet specified the type of engine or completion center for its new ACJs. VistaJet's fleet, which currently includes medium and ultra-long-range business jets that are, on average, only two years old, will grow to 31 aircraft with the acquisition of the ACJs. The charter operator plans to use the large aircraft to help expand its business in Russia and Asia. Total sales of the ACJ family now exceed 100 aircraft.
JET AVIATION was selected by Belair to provide ground-handling services for the Swiss airline at Zurich International Airport beginning on Nov. 1. Services to be provided by Jet Aviation include passenger check-in, gate services, baggage sorting, cabin cleaning and preparation, as well as ramp and station control. Jet Aviation Handling employs more than 1,100 people at the airports in Zurich and Geneva and serves more than 60 airlines at those locations.
Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0075; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-171-AD] - This proposal calls for revision of the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate maintenance tasks related to fuel systems limitations. FAA proposed this AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the airworthiness authority for Brazil, to mitigate the potential for fuel tank explosions. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 109 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
Named manager of the MRO/avionics division for Landmark Aviation's facility in Winston-Salem, N.C. (INT). Sunda has served with Landmark for 14 years, most recently as manager of the avionics division. He also has held management positions with Eastern Metro Airlines and Duncan Aviation.
Corporate aviation is continuing to maintain a level of safety that rivals the level of scheduled airlines, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark Rosenker said. But he added that several recent accidents have underscored the importance of operators emphasizing professionalism, training and fatigue countermeasures.
ELLIOTT AVIATION received supplemental type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS) on Pro Line 21-equipped King Air B200 and 350 turboprops. Elliott also has applied for European Aviation Safety Agency validation of the retrofit. The Rockwell Collins IFIS expands capabilities to include electronic charts, graphical weather and enhanced map displays. The charting provides approach procedures, airport diagrams and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS).
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is urging the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to extend the deadline for comments on a proposal requiring advance electronic submission of flight and passenger manifest information before international travel, saying the proposal could present "major obstacles" for the general aviation community.
Appointed to the board of directors of Liberty Aerospace. Arvai serves as chief executive of the aviation consulting firm, The Arvai Group. He holds a master's degree in information assurance from the Tepper School at Carnegie-Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan. He also is a Certified Public Accountant and an instrument-rated pilot. In addition to the duties at his consultancy, Arvai serves as an adjunct faculty member at Daniel Webster College.
EXCEL-JET filed a lawsuit against FAA for the June 22, 2006 crash of the company's Sport-Jet prototype. Excel-Jet alleges that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff behind a de Havilland Dash 8 turboprop in violation of mandatory separation requirements.
ENGINE BIRD-INGESTION CRITERIA have changed, thanks to a new FAA rule that amends powerplant type certification standards to better address the threat flocking birds pose to turbine-powered aircraft. The changes, which go into effect on Nov. 16, will harmonize bird-ingestion standards for turbine engines type certificated by the U.S. and European Aviation Safety Agency countries and simplify airworthiness approvals for engine import and export. In 2000, FAA adopted new regulations to better address the overall bird ingestion threat to turbine-powered aircraft.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Friday proposed to lift flight limitations on early model Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets once a modification that Eclipse developed for the pitot/angle-of-attack (AOA) is incorporated. Eclipse is incorporating the modification into production airplanes beginning with Serial Number 000065, and the proposed airworthiness directive would apply to Eclipse 500s with earlier serial numbers. The AD would supersede a previous AD that limits the Eclipse 500 to day visual flight rule flight. The AD also requires two pilots.
AVFUEL named Jet Center South of Gulf Shores, Ala., an AVNET dealer. Based at Jack Edwards National Airport (JKA), Jet Center South provides service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility offers amenities including on-site rental cars, courtesy transportation, catering and on-call Customs availability.
AMI Jet Charter officials have to decide by today (Oct. 22) whether they will file an appeal with the National Transportation Safety Board of a certificate revocation order FAA served on the Part 135 charter carrier Oct. 12 (BA, Oct. 15/167).
EMBRAER'S Executive Jet unit accounted for 7.3 percent of the manufacturer's total revenues in 2005, climbing to about $600 million, or about 15.3 percent of the total, last year. The company said during last month's NBAA convention that Embraer was hoping to get business jet revenue to account for 20 percent of total company sales within a few years.
JETAVIVA opened a new corporate headquarters at Van Nuys Airport in California to launch a Very Light Jet management operation. The headquarters will be adjacent to a future Eclipse Service Center and is within a corporate aviation facility operated by Castle & Cooke. "With the opening of our new headquarters, jetAVIVA is poised to use its Eclipse 500 expertise to offer its clients the most specialized management service possible," said Cyrus Sigari, president of jetAVIVA. The company was founded by a group of former Eclipse Aviation employees.
FAA made a number of new senior appointments, including the naming of Jana Weir to serve as acting chief of staff. Weir, currently assistant to the secretary for aviation, replaces Mike O'Malley, who left the agency. Nancy Kalinowski was named acting vice president of system operations, succeeding Mike Cirillo, who became regional administrator in Alaska. Greg Michael was appointed director of the agency's Asia Pacific Office, replacing Nancy Graham, who became the director of the Air Navigation Bureau at the International Civil Aviation Organization.
SHADIN AVIONICS is developing a new design for its Engine Trend Monitoring system that will contain the most current processor functions such as aircraft position through GPS interface, pressure altitude, indicated airspeed, heading, N1, N2, torque and fuel flow. The ETM XL also will include new features including USB thumb drive downloading, extended memory capability and recording frequencies that meet the Pratt & Whitney TBO extended service bulletin for PT6 engines. The ETM XL will mount to the aircraft engine.
Models 58P and 58TC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21175; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-24-AD; Amendment 39-15220; AD 2007-21-02] - This AD establishes a new 4,500-hour structural life limit for 21 Barons previously flown by the U.S. Forest Service and now operated by a variety of state and local agencies. The limit is established through the incorporation of a supplement to the "Limitations" section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook and Airplane Flight Manual.
Business jet flights are not the cause of air traffic delays in the New York City area, the National Air Traffic Control Association union says, pointing instead to short-staffed air traffic control facilities and airline overscheduling. The Air Transport Association has been claiming that the bizjets operating out of Teterboro, a main business jet hub airport, are not taking their fair share of delays - adding to airline woes.
Model R2160 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26490; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-75-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, would require a series of inspections to prevent failure of the wing structure and assembly components due to undetected fatigue and corrosion. Required procedures would include removal of the wings from the fuselage and inspection of the wing structure and assembly components. If any defects were found, they would have to be repaired before further flight.
Named senior vice president of operations for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. Nguyen will manage all aspects of Hawker Beechcraft's operations including plants in Wichita and Salina, Kan. and Little Rock Ark. He also will oversee government business operations, performance excellence (Lean/Six Sigma), environmental health and safety, supply chain and facilities. He joins Hawker Beechcraft from Asmico Technologies, where he served as president and chief operating officer of the automotive and commercial vehicle components manufacturer.
