Helicopter operator GrandView Aviation has launched affiliate GrandView Jets, a charter operator of Phenom 300 light jets, in the Baltimore-Washington region.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is asking the National Transportation Safety Board to conduct an internal review, saying the NTSB has approved “speculative probable cause reports related to general aviation accidents” despite little evidence. Several recent findings have raised AOPA’s concerns about the erosion of data-driven facts, it said, including findings of medical incapacitation “contrary to other compelling evidence.”
Sigmatex, based in the UK, has signed a new supplier agreement with Embraer to support its adoption of composite technologies, the supplier said. Sigmatex will supply advanced multiaxial carbon textile, which can be manufactured with up to nine layers of varying angles and widths.
Pentastar Aviation has received FAA certification of compatibility of wireless data technologies on Gulfstream Aerospace GIV-X (G350/G450) series aircraft, the company said. The Supplemental Type Certificate allows operators to approve the use of Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices onboard aircraft with wireless networks or Wi-Fi hot spots for passengers, who may email, talk, text and video conference without interfering with safety critical systems on the aircraft.
Jota Aviation has signed a letter of intent with leasing company Falko Regional Aircraft for an Avro RJ100 regional jet, formerly in service with Brussels Airlines. It is scheduled to arrive at Jota Aviation’s London Southend Airport by the end of April and join the company’s fleet of an Avro RJ85, Bae 146-200 and two King Air turboprops. It is scheduled to enter service in May.
RUAG Aviation in Munich has completed a customer interior refurbishment of a new Bombardier Global 5000 registered in India to an unnamed customer. The client chose Bombardier’s Authorized Service Center to install a custom configuration and RUAG to add upgrades to its inflight entertainment system and restyle additional interior elements, RUAG said. The refurbishment was completed on schedule, it said.
Dallas-based Business Jet Access, an aviation services provider, has added a second Hawker 800XP to its charter operations. The midsize jet sits up to eight passengers with a range of 2,600 nm with all seats filled. The aircraft boosts the charter company’s fleet to eight aircraft, including midsize, super midsize and heavy class business jets.
A Dallas County jury awarded $8.8 million to the survivors of a Bell Helicopter employee who died of complications of mesothelioma, a cancer that forms in the lungs caused primarily by asbestos exposure. Billy Dickson, 74, died in 2013. He was a mechanical engineer at Bell for 38 years. Jurors in the 95th District Court returned their verdict March 27 after a week-long trial.
HealthSouth Aviation has joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation, one of 147 companies to join. It will participate in the foundation’s aviation safety action program.
Clay Lacy Aviation in Los Angeles said it has added ADS-B Out to its FANS 1/A+ supplemental type certification for Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP and GV business jets to comply with the Jan. 1, 2020 mandate. The equipment costs less than $250,000 and requires two weeks of service time.
Piper Aircraft’s M600 is making its European debut April 5-8 at Aero Friedrichshafen 2017 in Germany. It is the first time the M600 has been on display at an event outside of North America. After the trade show, the M600 will embark on a three-month demo tour of six countries. Piper will then launch demo tours of Africa and Asia, the company said. The tour is a collaboration of Piper Aircraft and its German dealer, Piper Deutschland.
Remos, based in Pasewalk, Germany, has delivered its first production line GXiS ultralight aircraft that conforms to German ultralight standards. The aircraft will join the fleet of UTC, a flight school based in Schoenberg, Bavaria. The aircraft is equipped with a fuel-injected Rotax 912 iS Sport engine, advanced avionics suite and the Smartstart system, which makes the aircraft possible to start by pushing a button on the panel. Basic training at the school is being done with a carbureted version, it said.
The Unmanned Safety Institute has launched a career and technical education workforce development initiative with high schools and colleges in the U.S., the company said. The program provides teacher credentialing and course materials. Students successfully completing the program are eligible to take an exam leading to Small UAS Safety Certification, which demonstrates expertise as a professional remote pilot, making them qualified for careers in the industry, it said.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION HELICOPTERS [Docket No. FAA-2016-9291; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-004-AD; Amendment 39-18840; AD 2017-07-02] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model 269D and Model 269D Configuration A helicopters. This AD requires reducing the life limit of and inspecting certain drive shafts. This AD is prompted by four incidents involving failure of a drive shaft. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the unsafe condition on these products.
BOMBARDIER INC. AIRPLANES [Docket No. FAA-2016-9054; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-081-AD; Amendment 39-18834; AD 2017-06-10] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of interior emergency lights remaining “ON” following routine operational checks of the emergency light system. This AD requires changing the wiring gauge for the affected emergency lights power supplies wiring to prevent overheating in the wires.
TEXTRON AVIATION INC. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2016-3705; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-168-AD; Amendment 39-18837; AD 2017-06-13] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 680 airplanes, or Citation Sovereign. This AD was prompted by Textron’s report of a manufacturing defect that affects the durability of the aft canted bulkhead metallic structure.
Marty Rogers has been named director of the Alliance for Safety System of UAS through Research Excellence (Assure), the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Mississippi State University. Rogers most recently was Assure’s interim director and was the business director for the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration and the Pacific UAS Test Range Complex, part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Kimberly Becker, has joined the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority as president and CEO. She will begin her position May 1, succeeding Thella Bowens, who is retiring on March 31. Angela Shafer-Payne, vice president of operations, will serve as interim president and CEO.
Dave Stewart has been appointed vice president and general manager of Flying Colours Corp.’s USA facility in St. Louis, where he is working to grow the site and adding engineers, production and maintenance employees. Stewart most recently served as director of operations for Flying Colours.
Bombardier Aerospace is committed to Learjet production, despite the decision to cut output this year, Bombardier Business Aircraft President David Coleal said.
Continental Motors Group plans to build a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and corporate office in Mobile, Alabama, dedicated to advanced engine and parts manufacturing, the company said.
