Allegro Air Charters, an aircraft charter and management company based in Ontario, Calif., recently added a second Cessna Citation II to its fleet. The aircraft seats seven passengers. Allegro said it plans to add other Citation jets to its fleet and larger cabin jets in the future.
Brazilian plane-maker Embraer is looking at "gaps" in its emerging line of business jets, and is considering possibilities that would fit between its super mid-size Legacy and smaller Phenom models. See article below.
Eclipse Aviation shipped the first three Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets to air taxi start-up DayJet. DayJet has firm orders for 239 Eclipse 500s and options for up to 70 more, making the Delray Beach, Fla.-based company the largest customer for Eclipse. DayJet has plans to launch an on-demand service sold on a per-seat basis in the Southeast. DayJet will use the initial aircraft to train pilots at Eclipse's Albuquerque facilities in preparation for launch of operations in the second quarter.
The Wings Club elected John Slattery, managing director of RBS Aviation Capital, as the 2007-2008 president. Slattery succeeds Joseph Leonard, chairman and chief executive of AirTran Airways. Slattery, who became active in The Wings Club 10 years ago, has served on the Board of Governors since 2005, was membership chairman in 2005-2006, and most recently was vice chairman.
The Federal Aviation Administration's new oceanic air traffic control system will save airlines about 6.5 million pounds of fuel - or about $8 million a year - on oceanic flights from the U.S. to the Caribbean and South America, according to Lockheed Martin, which developed and manufactured the system. The Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures system is enabling FAA to approve up to 90 percent more requests for altitude changes.
Joined Key Air, Inc. as manager of ground training. McOmber has 41 years of aviation experience, including 36 years of business aviation management and training experience. He spent 30 years with Unisys Corporation as director of aviation, managing the corporate aviation department. He also was director of operations for ConnAir Service and an instructor/standards pilot for Japan Airlines. He has 18,450 hours of total flight time and is rated for the DA20, DA50, G1159 and G IV-SP.
Gulfstream Aerospace is moving forward on major expansion plans at its Savannah, Ga. headquarters, including construction of a 306,104-square-foot plant that will provide a 75 percent increase in manufacturing space. The recent ground-breaking marks the first significant expansion of Gulfstream's manufacturing space since the company brought GII production to Savannah in 1967.
The 2006 business turbine aircraft accident review has been published by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. The 500-page complication and analysis of accidents involving turbine-powered business aircraft, identifies operational, maintenance and mechanical problems with each aircraft, acquaints pilots with causal factors of accident, highlights critical phases of flight where accidents continue to occur, compares accident rates of each aircraft model by operator type and provides a range of statistical data.
Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27713; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-240-AD] - Proposes to require for certain airplanes, modification of the upper bearing of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut. This proposed AD also would require, for certain airplanes, revising the DHC-8 Maintenance Program Manual to include the MLG shock strut servicing task. This proposed AD results from reports of over-extension of the MLG shock strut piston, which allows the torque links to go over-center and rest on the piston.
Silver State Helicopters of Las Vegas, Nev. purchased Central Washington Helicopter LLC. Silver State, founded in 1999, is a full-service commercial operator with flight and air traffic control academies. It conducts operations from more than 30 locations in 14 states as well as overseas. The acquisition of Central Washington Helicopter, which is primarily engaged in aerial application missions, will allow Silver State to expand into crop spraying, drying, pest control and fertilization.
Cessna Aircraft, which delivered the first Cessna Mustang business jet in November, has delayed subsequent Mustang deliveries to customers while it works with Garmin to resolve a software problem in the avionics system.
Model EMB-135 airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26354; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-196-AD] - Revises an earlier proposal that would have required replacing the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. The original proposal resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This action revises the original proposal by adding airplanes to the applicability.
International Communications Group (ICG) earned FAA parts manufacturing approval for replacement satellite communication systems on Gulfstream G150 business jets. Under an agreement with Gulfstream, ICG developed a fabrication inspection system that conforms to FAA-approved design data. The PMA covers ICG's ICS-200 unit that incorporates dual Iridium transceivers with an internal CTU. The system includes fax option, intercom calling, call transfer, conference and follow-on dialing. The system can operate over a single coax and Iridium antenna.
Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-26721; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-28-AD; Amendment 39-14961; AD 2006-26-51] - Publishes an AD that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Eurocopter Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight, marking the position of the tail rotor control lever dynamic weights, removing the split pins and the weights, and visually inspecting and replacing, if necessary, the tail rotor control lever before further flight.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27714; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-277-AD] - Proposes to require modification of the environmental control system (ECS) grilles. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the United Kingdom. The MCAI cited reports of four incidents of the grille detaching during flight. A loose grille could interfere with rudder/brake control and reduce controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates the AD would cover 10 aircraft on the U.S.
Appointed manufacturing engineer for Shadin Avionics. Muralidaran will be responsible for the transition from engineering to the manufacturing processes, as well as for the lean manufacturing processes. He previously held manufacturing positions with Goodrich Corporation and the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
Model DA 40 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27348; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-015-AD] - Proposes to require repetitive inspections of the universal joint and replacement of the complete joint assembly, if damage or problems with the joint are detected. Thi s proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The MCAI cites reports of abnormal manufacturing variations of the universal joints in combination with mechanical wear.
A panel of staff members from key House and Senate committees indicated Wednesday that new aviation user fees are still under consideration and predicted that legislation reauthorizing continuation of FAA programs will pass Congress this year, although they acknowledged that tough decisions on how those programs will be financed remain to be answered.
Business aviation advocates agree that the Department of Transportation should adopt rules requiring disclosure of certain information about aircraft charter operators, but industry officials stress that any such rules must recognize that on-demand air taxi operations require flexibility. Both the National Air Transportation Association and National Business Aviation Association made those comments in response to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking DOT released in January questioning whether the agency should move forward with disclosure regulations.
Joined Shadin Avionics as configuration management supervisor. Sklarow will oversee the configuration management team and help streamline and control all engineering documentation and processes for Shadin products. He also will manage the implementation of the electronic filing system that will be installed over the next several months. He has a background in configuration management with companies including United Defense, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and Control Data Corporation.
Federal Aviation Administration is hoping to complete work within the next few weeks on a proposal that would outline the equipment requirements for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and send the proposal for Department of Transportation review by early May. FAA has made ADS-B - a satellite-based system that broadcasts aircraft identification, position and speed information - a cornerstone of its Next Generation Air Transportation System Integrated Plan.
Joseph T. Lombardo is set to take over today as president of Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga. Lombardo, 58, who has been chief operating officer since 2001, succeeds Bryan T. Moss, who will move to the newly created post of president emeritus of the business jet manufacturer. Moss has spent more than 40 years in the aviation business, most of that time in senior-level positions marketing and selling high-end business jets.
