The Polish defense ministry is restarting a tender for multi-role helicopters just days after canceling a $3.5 billion deal with Airbus for 50 H225M Caracal aircraft.
Jason Eddy has been appointed chief operating officer at Quest Aircraft Co., where he will oversee quality assurance, manufacturing, finance and sales and marketing. Eddy joined Quest in 2009. In his latest role, he served as senior vice president of operations.
Shannon Adams has joined Jet Aviation St. Louis as regional sales representative for the Western Region of the U.S. and Canada. Mike Meglio has been appointed regional sales representative for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S. Adams joined Jet Aviation after serving as director of maintenance for Shotgun Ranch Aviation. Meglio joined Jet Aviation in 2008. He most recently worked in technical sales.
Ettore Poggi has been appointed to group fixed base operation director of ExecuJet. Vince Goncalves, the current general manager of maintenance for ExecuJet South Africa, has been promoted to maintenance director of ExecuJet Africa. Poggi begins his new role Nov. 1 and will relocate to Dubai. Poggi, who joined ExecuJet in 2003, is currently vice president and maintenance director of ExecuJet Africa.
Jeffry Frisby, Warren Johnson and Neil Kim have been appointed as independent directors of Astronics Corp.’s board of directors. The appointments expand the board to nine directors, eight of whom are independent. Frisby is the former president and CEO of Triumph Group. Johnson most recently served as president of Moog Aircraft Group. Kim formerly served as executive vice president of operations and central engineering of Broadcom Corp.
Mike Harkins has joined Jet East Aviation as vice president of sales development. Harkins joins the company after five years with an OEM-authorized turbine engine repair and overhaul company and 15 years with a charter operator.
The aviation actuator systems market is projected to grow to $1.09 billion by 2021 from $822.3 million in 2016, for a compound annual growth rate of 5.82%, according to ASDReports. The electrohydrostatic actuators segment will grow at the highest rate “due to its advantages such as energy savings, low investment costs, high power density and power capacity, fail-safe functionality, and easy integration into existing infrastructure,” the researchers said.
JetSuiteX, a public charter operator, has launched a flash sale for service from Los Angeles to San Jose, California and San Francisco East Bay to Las Vegas on schedule public charter flights. The sale began Oct. 11. The company is offering one-way fares that begin at $59. It includes free checked baggage and beverages, Wi-Fi and seat assignments. Tickets are subject to selling out. Purchases must be made by Oct. 29 for travel through Nov. 28. Departures are from private jet terminals. Clients do not pay a monthly subscription fee.
Constant Aviation has received a Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of the ATG-8000 equipment package on the Embraer Legacy600 and 650. Gogo’s ATG-4 air-to-ground connectivity for business aviation provides Embraer aircraft with high-speed internet with Wi-Fi capabilities.
The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems has re-accredited AirMed International critical care transport operations through July 2019. AirMed has performed more than 20,000 missions in 50 states and more than 150 countries.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Purdue University are partnering to develop aviation-related science and math curricula for high schools in the U.S. The program will offer a four-year aviation study option. The high school initiative is part of AOPA’s You Can Fly program.
ExcelAire, an aircraft management and charter company, has added an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet to its charter fleet as it expands its services. ExcelAire also operates its own authorized Embraer Service Center.
Chicago Jet Group has been named an authorized dealer for SmartSky 4G equipment sales and installation, the company said. It will install SmartSky equipment across a variety of business jet models using supplemental type certificate licenses obtained by SmartSky’s distribution partners. The SmartSky 4G network will reach nationwide coverage in 2017.
Frasca International has received a contract to supply the TBM 930 Level 6 Flight Training Device (FTD) to Simcom Aviation Training. It will be the first device to simulate the TBM 930 aircraft and will feature the aircraft cockpit, RSI XT4 visual system, Garmin 3000 avionics, weather radar, synthetic vision, terrain awareness and traffic advisory system. It will be installed at Simcom’s Lee Vista Training Center in Orlando, Florida.
TerrAvion, an aerial imagery provider, has partnered with PastureMap to offer high-resolution imagery in a grazing management platform to graziers and rangeland managers. Combined with TerrAvion imagery, ranchers can measure the effects of their management decisions, track the spread of weeks, monitor irrigation efficiency and other activities. TerrAvion and PastureMap work on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web.
Constant Aviation will be one of the first Gogo dealers to develop Supplemental Type Certificates for Gogo’s scheduled launch of its 4G service in the first half of 2017, the company said. Constant will develop STCs for Embraer 145 Series Shuttle, Legacy 600/650, Gulfstream V and Phenom 300 aircraft. It also will partner for hardware sales and installations on other business jets.
Pemco World Air Services has received operation certification from the Unidad Aministrava Especial de Aviacion Civil of Colombia, which allows the MRO to work on Colombian-registered aircraft. A number of operators have shown interest in Pemco achieving Columbian certification, the company said. It allows the company to expand its capabilities to South America.
Air BP, an aviation fuel supplier, has launched a new way of buying fuel with the RocketRoute Fuel App, the company said. The development streamlines the fuel purchasing process for the international general aviation sector by giving operators online access to a global network of aviation fuel locations, convenient payment methods and the opportunity to offset carbon emissions through the system interface. It is the first time a fuel app will provide that capability, it said.
DC Aviation Al-Futtaim in Dubai has begun construction of a major expansion of its facility at Dubai South, the company said. The new hangar will add 6,800 sqm. of covered space to its business aviation terminal, bringing the total area to 24,000 sqm. and the apron area to 13,000 sqm. The expansion more than doubles the hangar capacity and enables DC Aviation to add two single-aisle maintenance bays, an additional workshop and equipment storage. It also increases the number and size of aircraft to be accommodated.
Honeywell International Inc. Turboprop and Turboshaft Engines [Docket No. FAA-2015-4866; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-18648; AD 2016-18-17] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TPE331 model turboprop engines and TSE331-3U model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in a 2nd stage compressor impeller during a routine shop visit. This AD requires removal of the 2nd stage compressor impeller.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2016-9144; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-014-AD; Amendment 39-18667; AD 2016-20-01] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Model 427 and Model 429 helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain engine and transmission oil check valves. This AD also prohibits installing the affected check valves on any helicopter. This AD is prompted by a report of several cracked or leaking check valves.
