Two House General Aviation Caucus members are taking steps to ease medical certification requirements for recreational pilots, a move that comes after FAA failed to act on a nearly two-year-old petition from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) seeking relief from third-class medical certification requirements.
Textron’s low-cost, jack-of-many-trades Scorpion aircraft has made its first flight at McConnell AFB in Wichita. The company is promoting the 1.4-hr. milestone as “one of the fastest developments of a U.S.-built tactical jet.” The flight reached a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft., according to Textron. The flight included pitch, roll and yaw doublets; controllability evaluations at 20- and 30-deg. banks; evaluations of the aircraft’s sideslip characteristics; tests of single-engine operations; and evaluations of the aircraft’s controllability in its landing configuration.
Sabreliner is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the certification of the original Sabreliner business jet, the Model 40. The aircraft’s roots began as the Air Force T-39 aircraft, and incorporated many of the design standards to become the 40. Sabreliner subsequently delivered four additional models – the 60, 75, 75A/80 and 65. Production of the Sabreliners ended in 1982 after 631 were built. Of those, 232 are still in service, include 42 Sabre 40s. Sabreliner Corporation, which has facilities in Perryville and Ste.
DORNIER Model 228-212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0962; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-028-AD] – proposes to require a one-time inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) axle and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites a report of a MLG axle break during touchdown. The subsequent investigation revealed improper restoration of corrosion protection was the likely cause of the initial fatigue cracking.
Yankee Pacific Aerospace, a specialist in custom structures, components and systems to the VVIP and business aircraft markets, is being rebranded to Advent Aerospace, Inc., beginning Jan. 1. The company says the new name reflects its growing geographical reach, along with its emphasis on technology and product development.
THIELERT TAE125-01 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0561; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-17680; AD 2013-24-06] – requires applying sealant to close the engine clutch housing opening. This AD was prompted by a report of engine power loss due to engine coolant contaminating the engine clutch. The design of the engine allows the crankcase assembly opening to be susceptible to contamination from external sources. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent inflight engine power loss, which could result in loss of control of, and damage to, the airplane.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0523; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-091-AD; Amendment 39-17664; AD 2013-23-09] – requires, for helicopters with sliding doors (except those with modification AL.4262), removing from service certain part-numbered nuts and washers from the lower ball-joint bolt. This AD was prompted by a report of a sliding door detaching from the helicopter in flight.
Bell Helicopter is planning to build its SLS helicopter at a new facility in Lafayette, La. Bell CEO John Garrison jointly announced with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal plans for Bell to lease a newly built 82,300-sq.-ft., $26.3 million hangar facility at Lafayette Regional Airport. The facility, to be constructed on a 14.5-acre site, will be funded by the state of Louisiana.
Beechcraft Defense Company and FlightSafety International completed delivery of 131 T-6 aircraft training devices (ATDS) for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS). The last of the devices were delivered to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Beechcraft and FlightSafety began delivery the T-6A and T-6B training devices to U.S. Air Force bases in 2000 and then to the U.S. Navy. Beechcraft and FlightSafety also have delivered the ATDs to customers in Greece, Israel, Morocco and Iraq.
Business aviation advocates are anxiously watching European Parliament (EP) deliberations on the next iteration of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS), worried that as deliberations focus on the scope of EU-ETS, important reforms for business aircraft operators will be left behind.
While the budget deal that passed the House last week would double passenger security fees to $5 this year and then to $5.60 in fiscal 2015, proposals floated recently to lengthen business aircraft depreciation schedules were left out of the package. Democrats in both the House and Senate in recent weeks have expressed a desire to close “tax loopholes,” such as the five-year business aircraft depreciation schedule. The budget deal must still pass the Senate, where it may run into more opposition.
Inmarsat’s first Global Xpress satellite successfully launched Dec. 8 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Proton Breeze M rocket. Inmarsat expects the Global Xpress constellation to comprise three satellites by the end of 2014, enabling Inmarsat to provide seamless global Ka-band coverage under the GX Aviation brand. The satellites are built by Boeing Satellite Systems International.
Wheels Up, the recently established and rapidly growing private membership and aviation services company, is teaming with Cessna’s CitationAir operation to offer flights on Cessna Citation Excel and Sovereign jets.
KELLY ALLENDER was appointed manager of FlightSafety International’s learning center in Dallas. Allender joined FlightSafety in 2001, serving in the company’s Cessna facility in Wichita. There he served as assistant manager, director of programs, program manager for Cessna Citation Mustang training, and ground and simulator instructor. He most recently was manager of the company’s facility in Tucson, Ariz.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating a Florida executive jet company for its alleged role in aiding drug traffickers in South America, Africa and Mexico.
Beechcraft is nearing completion of the sale of its shuttered Hawker 4000 and Premier aircraft lines along with tooling and associated facilities. The company has long maintained that it had hoped to close on the sale of those programs by year’s end, and confirms that it is still on track this month.
ERICKSON AIR-CRANE (type certificate previously held by Sikorsky) Model S-65E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0556; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-30-AD; Amendment 39-17662; AD 2013-23-07] – supersedes an existing AD that required checks of the main rotor blades for a crack. This new AD retains the actions required by AD 90-26-12, reflects that the type certificate (TC) for this model helicopter has been transferred to Erickson Air-Crane, and expands the applicability to include the similar Erickson Model S-64F helicopters.
The General Electric Honda HF120 engine for the HA-420 HondaJet light business aircraft has received FAA Part 33 engine certification, clearing the way for the start of full-scale production.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 [Docket No. FAA-2013-0964; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-035-AD] – proposes to require accomplishment of a one-time measurement of the actual clearance between the elevator horn and the horizontal stabilizer tip rib, and depending on findings, restoration of the required minimum clearance value.
Air Tractor signed an agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada covering the acquisition of PT6A-15AG, -34AG, -60AG, -65AG, -67AG and -67F engines. Pratt & Whitney engines have powered Air Tractor aircraft since 1979, beginning with the AT-400. Since then, more than 2,100 PT-6 engines have been installed on Air Tractor aircraft. The agriculture market accounts for nearly one-quarter of PT6A deliveries. Separately, Air Tractor announced a new airframe and engine warranty policy.
BETH MCCLURG was appointed director of real estate for Gulfstream Aerospace. McClurg will be responsible for Gulfstream’s development and construction projects, lease transactions and property acquisitions worldwide. She will develop and execute a long-range strategic real estate plan. She was previously vice president of corporate real estate for Capital One in McLean, Va., and has also served as vice president of corporate real estate for NCR Corp. in Duluth, Ga.
The 11th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, scheduled Jan. 17, will honor FedEx founder and CEO Frederick Smith with the Legends Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Bruce Whitman, chairman and CEO of FlightSafety International, was selected as the recipient of the Lifetime Aviation Industry Award. Also being recognized are Major Gen. Patrick Brady, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, with the Freedom of Flight Award, and Col. Bud Day, posthumously, will be honored with a Bob Hoover medallion.
Despite growing opposition and a bill pending in Congress, the Federal Air Surgeon is staying on course with his plan to require pilots and controllers with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and seek treatment, if necessary.
