AVIDYNE CORPORATION teamed with San Diego, Calif.-based Crownair Aviation to develop a supplemental type certificate for the retrofit of Cessna 210 and T210 Centurion single-engine piston aircraft with the Envision integrated flight deck. Crownair also will refurbish the aircraft with new paint, interior and engine modifications. Avidyne estimated that 8,400 Cessna 210 and T210 aircraft were built between 1959 and 1985.
THE SCHEDULED AIRLINES spent more than $11 million during the first six months of 2007 in the user fee battle over FAA reauthorization legislation, according to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill. The paper said the carriers and their trade group, the Air Transport Association, spent $11.3 million through June, reportedly the largest such expenditure for a six-month period for that segment of the industry.
ECLIPSE AVIATION President Vern Raburn said the company will make a decision on whether to proceed with development of the single-engine "Concept Jet," which was unveiled at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in July, "in early 2008."
Promoted to executive vice president of maintenance and operations for Avantair, Inc., the Clearwater, Fla.-based provider of fractional aircraft services. Beitzel joined Avantair in 2005 and most recently was vice president of maintenance. In his new role he will be responsible for leading the company's maintenance and operations departments. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, previously working for Pan American World Airways and US Airways before joining Avantair.
CAE'S flight training center at Burgess Hill in the United Kingdom earned Part 142 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The certification clears the facility to provide training, testing and type rating certification for the Falcon 7X, 900EX EASy and 2000EX EASy. CAE in 2004 won a contract from Dassault to provide Falcon 7X training. CAE provides the training at the Burgess Hill and new North East Training Center near Morristown, N.J.
The Timken Company is working to complete the acquisition of The Purdy Corp., a precision manufacturer and systems integrator for military and commercial aviation customers, for $200 million. The agreement, announced last month, "will further expand the growing range of power-transmission products and capabilities Timken provides to the aerospace market," the Canton, Ohio manufacturer said.
Model DHC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28619; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-004-AD; Amendment 39-15212; AD 2007-20-02] - Inspect SM-200 servo drive units for certain markings, conduct related investigative action (if necessary) and modify those units (if needed). This AD results from a report that some SM-200 servo drive units that were not in configuration MOD H are installed on Model DHC-7 airplanes. MOD H prevents the internal clutch fasteners from backing out.
Eclipse Aviation, which had expected to have hundreds of its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets in the hands of customers by this point, is continuing to push toward high-rate production of the airplane while attempting to win FAA approval of additional systems, officials said at last month's NBAA convention in Atlanta, Ga.
Adam Aircraft partnered with SAFERjett to provide pilot and maintenance training for both the A500 and A700 aircraft. SAFERjett is building a 50,000-square-foot training facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport that will be open for training in late 2008. (BA, Sept. 17/121). The facility will be equipped with an A700 full motion Level D simulator that SAFERjett is building with Aerosim and Mechtronix along with an advanced aviation training device and virtual flight deck.
Promoted to staff scientist, environmental and regulatory affairs, for Gulfstream Aerospace. Etter will monitor proposed environmental changes that could impact the certification and operation of Gulfstream's line of business jets. He has spent 11 years with Gulfstream and has 20 years of experience in aerospace acoustics. Most recently, he managed Gulfstream's acoustics and vibration group.
ASSOCIATED AIR CENTER (AAC) has begun work on a contract to complete its 18th Boeing Business Jet. The aircraft will be fitted with a "yacht-inspired" luxury interior that includes a living/media room, dining room, master and guest bedrooms and bar/galley. The aircraft will have a full cabin management system with satellite television, wireless Internet and other communications. The completed aircraft will be delivered to the customer in mid-2008. AAC, meanwhile, recently finished work on its 15th and 16th BBJ completions.
Italian plane-maker Piaggio Aero, enjoying its strongest backlog in recent history, is planning to shut down a 100-year-old plant and move into a new facility 25 miles away in order to expand production. The company is moving part of its production into the new 750,000-square-foot facility in 2009. Piaggio Aero CEO Jose Di Masse said the company is investing 130 million euros ($183.8 million) to build the infrastructure necessary to keep up with the increasing demand for its aircraft division.
The Federal Aviation Administration Thursday suspended the Part 135 air taxi certificate of California-based AMI Jet Charter, grounding the operator's charter flights, at least temporarily. The "Emergency Order Of Suspension" was delivered to AMIJC officials late Thursday, the culmination of a seven-month investigation by teams of FAA inspectors.
Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29332; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-172-AD] -This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations on the fuel tank system. This proposed AD results from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 84 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and would cost U.S. operators a total of $6,720, or $80 per airplane.
Appointed director and chief engineer for advanced aircraft programs for Gulfstream Aerospace. Ard, who has served with Gulfstream for nine years, most recently was the lead on the airframe and design Product Development Team. He also has held management posts in Gulfstream's Engineering organization on programs including the GIV Swedish Air Force, the GV Development Program, and the proposal phase of the Aerial Common Sensor program.
Joined BizJet International as regional sales manager for the West Coast territory, where he will focus on Honeywell, General Electric and Pratt & Whitney product lines. Sabatini has more than 30 years of aviation maintenance and management experience. Based in Tulsa, Okla., BizJet provides airframe and engine maintenance, avionics installations, paint, interior refurbishment and other aviation services.
Model 4HFR34C653/L106FA propellers [Docket No. FAA-2007-29176; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-38-AD] - This proposed AD would require a one-time fluorescent penetrant inspection and eddy current inspection of the propeller hub for cracks in accordance with the instructions contained in McCauley Propeller Systems Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB254 (dated August 20, 2007). The FAA has issued this proposed AD to prevent failure of the propeller hub, which could cause blade separation, damage and loss of control of the airplane.
Named senior manager of service delivery for SkyTrac Systems, a provider of real-time, Satcom communication products for aircraft via the Iridium satellite system. Nordine has more than 10 years of complex software development management experience and also led aerospace engineering initiatives with the Canadian Air Force. He most recently was a technical manager with Honeywell Aerospace.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION (EBAA) named Eric Mandemaker to the post of chief executive officer. Brian Humphries, who has been CEO, was named to the newly created post of president of the organization. Mandemaker most recently served as CEO of Silver AeroSpace, an aerospace engineering company based in the Netherlands. He also spent 10 years as a commercial air taxi pilot. Mandemaker will have a full-time post in Brussels, Belgium where he will run the EBAA office and work with member companies.
