Sikorsky Aircraft sold three S-92 helicopters to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) for offshore oil service. BSP is the first oil company in Asia to operate a fleet of S-92s, and Sikorsky said the contract builds upon a relationship with BSP that spans nearly 40 years. BSP bought its first Sikorsky helicopter, a S-61N, in 1967 for offshore oil service. BSP's S-61N fleet has since accumulated more than 139,000 flight hours. The S-92, which entered service last year, is used for offshore oil support in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and off Nova Scotia, Canada.
NEW PIPER PRESIDENT HAS BACKGROUND IN ELECTRONICS BUSINESS - James Bass, who took over as president and chief executive of New Piper Aircraft last Monday, has a background in engineering and experience managing businesses in the electronics industry.
Reducing the number of accidents involving helicopters providing emergency medical service (HEMS) will require a systemwide approach "that involves all elements that influence the conduct of flight operations," according to a recent "white paper" published by the Helicopter Association International.
Embraer last week handed over the first Embraer 190 aircraft to U.S. launch customer JetBlue. Delivery follows certification, which was awarded earlier this month (BA, Sept. 12/116). JetBlue has firm orders for 101 of the 100-passenger airliners. The JetBlue aircraft are configured in a two-by-two seating arrangement with one class. The low-fare airline, which currently operates 81 Airbus A320s, is in the midst of an aggressive expansion program. It plans to add seven more 190s and three A320s before the end of 2005.
Eclipse Aviation officials say damage to the Eclipse 500 test aircraft that made a gear-up landing Sept. 4 is limited to just the belly of the fuselage (BA, Sept. 12/113). Engineers were completing their assessment last week of needed repairs, which workers are expected to begin making this week. The company continues to fly the other four test aircraft and a spokesman said each airplane is making three or four flights per day.
The Air Group added six aircraft so far this year, bringing the aircraft management company's fleet to 42 aircraft. The new additions include a Gulfstream GIV-SP based in Teterboro, N.J.; a GIV that alternates between the Van Nuys, Calif. Airport and Haneda Airport near Tokyo, Japan; a Hawker 800Pi based at Van Nuys; a Hawker 800 XP in Denver; a Falcon 900C based in San Jose, Calif.; and a Cessna Citation II that operates out of Honolulu, Hawaii.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B, and -3B1 series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2004-18648; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-26-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that was issued for CF34-3A1 and -3B1 series turbofan engines with certain part numbers (P/Ns) and serial numbers (S/Ns) of Stage 5 low-pressure turbine (LPT) disks and Stage 6 LPT disks. These engines are installed in Bombardier Canadair CL600-2B19 Regional Jet (RJ) airplanes. This proposed AD would add S/Ns to the affected disk population for RJ airplanes.
JEAN-MARIE POGU was appointed senior vice president of marketing and sales for Aerospace Products International. Pogu previously was director of sales and marketing for Honeywell's Hardware Products Group. He also has served as vice president of sales and marketing for Fairchild Fasteners and director of customer service for Turbomeca. In his new role, Pogu will manage sales and marketing activities for all customer segments in the U.S., including supply chain management services and distribution business.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-21924; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-30-AD; Amendment 39-14236; AD 2005-17-15] - requires a one-time removal and inspection of the fuel filter-holder assembly to determine that the fuel control unit (FCU) filter is dimensionally correct. The AD also requires updating the Engine Maintenance Manuals to include a dimensional check of the fuel filter-holder assembly every time the FCU filter element is removed from the fuel filter-holder assembly.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20730; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-68-AD; Amendment 39-14172; AD 2005-13-35] - supersedes an existing AD that requires installation of a placard on the instrument panel of the cockpit to advise the flightcrew that positioning of the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight is prohibited. Additionally, the existing AD requires eventual installation of an FAA-approved system that would prevent such positioning of the power levers during flight.
ATR sold three aircraft - one ATR 42-500 and two ATR 72-500s - to Air Caledonie, a Noumea, New Caledonia-based airline. The contract, valued at about $50 million, formalizes a letter of intent announced during the Paris Air Show in June. The aircraft are slated to be delivered between 2006 and 2007.
CIRRUS Models SR20 and SR22 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD; Amendment 39-14240; AD 2005-17-19] - requires measuring and adjusting the crew seat break-over bolts and replacing the crew seat recline locks on both crew seats. This AD results from CDC discovering that the crew seats, under emergency landing dynamic loads, may fold forward at less than the 26 g required by the regulations. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the crew seats from folding forward during emergency landing dynamic loads with consequent occupant injury.
Is Bombardier going to find another of its top business aircraft sales executives working for a competitor? It's possible, following surprising news that Peter Edwards, the president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, had left the building, effective immediately. See article below.
BOMBARDIER OPENS CHICAGO CENTER FOR PARTS DISTRIBUTION - Bombardier last week formally opened a new 238,000-square-foot warehouse in Chicago to serve as a central distribution point for Bombardier aircraft parts. Based at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, the warehouse will be home to an inventory of more than 120,000 parts.
Cessna Aircraft last month delivered its 6,000th single-engine piston aircraft since the company opened its piston aircraft production factory in Independence, Kan., in 1996. The 6,000th aircraft, a 172S Skyhawk, was handed over Aug. 30 to Dana Atkinson, president of Anson Air, a Cessna Pilot Center, in Sugar Land, Texas. Cessna originally produced its single-engine piston aircraft in Wichita, Kan., but halted small aircraft production in 1986. The company renewed production after Congress passed the General Aviation Revitalization Act in 1994.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22256; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-113-AD] - proposes to require modification of the upper frame of the firewall for the auxiliary power unit (APU). This proposed AD results from the discovery of a hole in the upper frame of the firewall for the APU. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent smoke from entering the passenger cabin in the event of a fire in the APU compartment. This proposed AD would affect about 620 airplanes on the U.S.
BANNER-TOWING 206 DAMAGED AFTER TAIL ROTOR, TOW ROPE TANGLE - A Bell 206B helicopter on a banner-towing mission was substantially damaged and its pilot seriously injured Sept. 5 when the aircraft's tail rotor system was damaged after the banner's tow rope became entangled in it.
Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated received supplemental type certification for installation of Rockwell Collins' IDS-3000 Integrated Display Systems on a Dassault Falcon 200 and a FJ44 Eagle II Citation 501 series aircraft.
Avfuel Corp. added Ultimate Air Center to its dealer network. Based at Akron/Canton Regional Airport, Ultimate Air Center is owned and operated by John Gordon, a pilot who has more than 25 years of aviation management experience. Ultimate Air Center is a full-service fixed-base operation that provides a crew lounge, catering, courtesy car, WSI/Internet weather access and a range of other amenities.
PACIFIC AEROSPACE Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21935; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-37-AD] - proposes to require inspecting the condition of the left and right outer panel attachment lugs for damage (scoring and gouging) and/or cracks (using a fluorescent penetrant inspection procedure for the crack inspection); inspecting the spacing of left and right outer panel attachment lugs; replacing the lugs if damage is found; and making necessary corrections to the spacing.
TURBOMECA Artouste III series turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-20849; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-04-AD; Amendment 39-14227; AD 2005-17-06] - requires modification of the engine air intake assembly. This AD results from a report of an in-flight shutdown and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter due to ice ingestion into the engine. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent ice ingestion into the engine, which could lead to an in-flight shutdown and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
FAA REVISES ADVISORY CIRCULAR FOR AIRPORT MASTER PLANS - To promote a more flexible and tailored approach to airport master planning that "directs attention and resources to critical issues," the FAA has unveiled a revised advisory circular for airport master plans (AC 150/5070-6B). The old circular, last revised in June 1985, took "a cookie-cutter approach" to master planning, according to Dennis Roberts, director of FAA's office of airport planning and programming.
