BUSINESS AVIATION accounts for nearly seven percent of the total IFR traffic in Europe, an amount that was slightly higher than expected and "a surprise to us," Bo Redeborn, director of ATM strategies for Eurocontrol told attendees at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition last week. Eurocontrol released a new report on business aviation activity in Europe to help the agency factor business aviation into its air traffic management planning, Redeborn said.
ROSENKER, nominated as chairman of the safety board and waiting for the Senate Commerce Committee to schedule a hearing date (BA, April 24/186), told reporters at a Flight Safety Foundation breakfast last week he believes the use of a system to generate inert gas on airliners may lead to other safety benefits besides preventing fuel tank explosions. Perhaps such nonflammable gases could be diverted to the cargo hold if sensors in the hold detect a fire, Rosenker said.
FRASCA INTERNATIONAL delivered the first of six TruFlite HTM helicopter simulator-equipped trailers to Silver State Helicopters in Spring, Texas. Two more simulator-equipped trailers will be delivered to Silver State's facilities in San Diego, Calif. and New Braunfels, Texas. The location of the remaining trailers will be determined in the future. Silver State has ordered 22 TruFlite HTM simulators, 18 of which have been delivered.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION and the National Business Aviation Association presented the EBACE2006 European Business Aviation Award to FlightSafety International as well as to officials from Geneva. FSI is being recognized for establishing training facilities to support the safety of flight at Farnborough Airport in London, England and Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France. EBAA and NBAA honored Geneva "for the tremendous support that local officials have shown for EBACE" over the event's six-year history.
Named manager of business development/operations support for TAC Air. Sasfai has 20 years of aviation experience, having held positions with Aviation Resource Group International, Stevens Aviation and Landmark Aviation. He also has been a visiting assistant professor for Southern Illinois University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in aviation management.
HOUSE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN John Mica (R-Fla.) last week expressed his growing impatience over tight security controls on business aviation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). During a hearing on lost airline passenger baggage Tuesday, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) complained about the security plan in place at DCA and said more needs to be done to facilitate general aviation access. Mica echoed those concerns and said he wanted to have a closed-door meeting with the Transportation Security Administration this month on the matter.
CT64-820-4 turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-23705; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-45-AD; Amendment 39-14567; AD 2006-08-10] - Requires, for engines with certain part number (P/N) rotating parts in the compressor rotor assembly, gas generator turbine rotor assembly, and power turbine rotor assembly that are subject to low-cycle fatigue, removing from service these affected rotating parts at reduced compliance times. This AD results from the manufacturer's discovery of cracks in some rotating parts.
Named executive vice president of defense and international affairs for the Aerospace Industries Association. Esper formerly was director of national security affairs for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). He previously was assistant defense secretary at the Pentagon and policy director for the House Armed Services Committee, and he oversaw national security issues for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
TRONAIR, INC., a major manufacturer of ground support equipment for the full spectrum of civil and military aircraft, acquired JETporter, Inc., which engineers, manufactures and distributes electric towbar-less tugs. The companies said JETporter is one of only two aircraft tug companies in the U.S. that produce electric nose wheel lifting tugs, eliminating the need for use of towbars. Tronair is based in Holland, Ohio. The company is owned by River Capital, a private investment firm.
MARK ROSENKER, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, is "very disappointed" in the limited progress made since the TWA 800 accident in requiring manufacturers and operators to inert wing center fuel tanks to prevent catastrophic explosions. While acknowledging that FAA is moving toward regulations requiring use of inert gas in critical fuel tanks, Rosenker says, "I think we could do more."
Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24094; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-20-AD] - Proposes to revise AD 68-17-03, which applies to all Pilatus PC-6 series airplanes. AD 68-17-03 currently requires repetitively inspecting the rudder end rib for cracks and replacing the rudder end rib with a modified rudder end rib when cracks are found.
Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20591; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-14-AD; Amendment 39-14565; AD 2006-08-09] - Requires repetitive eddy current inspections of the two outboard fastener holes in both of the wing main spar lower caps at the center splice joint for cracks and repair or replacement of any cracked spar cap.
HONEYWELL upgraded its GNS-XLS Enhanced Global Flight Management System to meet new European and U.S. Precision Area Navigation (P-RNAV) standards. The upgrades enable use of a 20-megabyte PCMCIA memory card containing the new 28-day Worldwide Navigational Database, which replaces multiple regional databases that GNS-XLS currently uses. The FMS combines global positioning system, graphical weather and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System technology.
Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24090; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-16-AD] - Proposes to supersede AD 2002-21-08, which currently requires inspecting the aileron assembly for correct configuration on certain Model PC-6 airplanes and modifying as necessary.
DayJet is planning to roll out its new air taxi service in the Southeast later this year, becoming one of the first of a new breed of carriers to sell on-demand service on a per-seat basis using the new generation of Very Light Jets. Company founder Ed Iacobucci today (April 24) is expected to detail ambitious plans for the launch of DayJet service in the middle of the fourth quarter during a ceremony in Tallahassee, Fla. that will include state and local executives.
CONTROLLERS URGE FAA TO RETURN TO BARGAINING TABLE - The National Air Traffic Controllers Association Friday urged the Federal Aviation Administration to return to the negotiating table, saying a voluntary agreement remains "desirable" and "achievable." NATCA President John Carr made that formal request in a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey three days after the agency dismissed speculation that it was preparing to return to the negotiating table and said the impasse process will continue.
GULFSTREAM POSTS HIGHER SALES AND PROFITS - Gulfstream Aerospace, continuing to enjoy "very good demand" for its products, posted sharply higher sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2006. Gulfstream reported sales of $929 million for the first three months of the year, up 23.4 percent from the same period a year ago, while operating earnings jumped 43.6 percent -- from $101 million a year ago to $145 million in the latest quarter -- giving the General Dynamics Aerospace unit an operating margin of 15.6 percent, the highest in the company.
ROBERT E BREILING ASSOCIATES released the 2005 Business Turbine Accident Review. The review, which contains more than 500 pages, summarizes each business turbine accident and reported incident worldwide. The review also includes charts and tables that compare specific aircraft accident rates, identifies causal factors and notes the phase of flight in which the accident occured. The review compares corporate, business, fractional and air taxi accident rates. The book, including information on jets, turboprops and turbine helicopters, costs $330.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association named John Provenzano director of government affairs. Provenzano joins GAMA from AIA, where he was a member of the legislative affairs staff and led advocacy on civil aviation. He also has served as operations director for Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), handling telecommunications and appropriations issues. "John has impressive experience on both Capitol Hill as well as in the industry," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.
FATIGUE RULE TO COVER BOMBARDIER, GULFSTREAM, NEW AIRCRAFT - The Federal Aviation Administration last week called for aircraft manufacturers to determine operational limits for Part 25 aircraft and develop maintenance programs to prevent widespread fatigue damage (WFD).
Appointed sales manager, Western Canada and Hawaii, for Acrohelipro Global Services, a provider of maintenance, logistics and engineering services for helicopters. Walford has been with Acrohelipro since 1989, primarily focusing on sales and customer support.
MIDDLE EAST FIRM BUYS 35 PERCENT STAKE IN PIAGGIO - Mubadala Development, an investment firm owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, bought a 35 percent stake in Piaggio Aero Industries (PIA) S.p.A., the two companies announced last week.
May 3-5 - European Business Aviation Association Convention and Exposition EBACE2006, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000 May 9-11 - Flight Safety Foundation/National Business Aviation Association Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar, Phoenix, Ariz., (202) 783-9000 May 17-19 - National Aircraft Finance Association 35th Annual Conference, St. Regis Resort, Laguna Niguel, Calif., (410) 571-1740 May 22-25 - Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas, (202) 367-1170
TETERBORO WORKING GROUP EYES SAFETY, COMMUNITY RELATIONS - Some 25 recommendations designed to improve safety and bolster community relations at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey were formally delivered to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Friday morning. PANYNJ late last year reached out to operators as well as the community to help develop recommendations that would balance the needs of aviation interests with the growing local pressures to restrict access and reduce noise at the airport (BA, Jan. 2/1).
