ANDRE COHEN was appointed non-executive director of Capital Lease Aviation. Cohen is currently CEO of the consultancy Coherent Financial. He has also served as managing director of Transportation Finance at WestLB and as finance director for TNT’s European operations. He began a commercial banking career in 1977 with Citicorp in Australia.
Air medical services specialist Air Methods is expanding its reach into the air tour business with a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and its affiliates. The acquisition will provide Air Methods with a strong presence in the Hawaii air tour market, complementing its Grand Canyon business that it acquired through the purchase of Sundance Helicopters late last year.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model BO105C (C-2 and CB-2 Variants) and BO105S (CS-2 and CBS-2 variants) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0519; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17623; AD 2013-20-17] – requires, for affected helicopters with a certain third stage turbine wheel, installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM).
Dassault Aviation, working with Honeywell, has developed a “Falcon Elite II” upgrade package for Falcon 900C and 900EX aircraft that will permit operators to comply with air traffic management mandates such as ADS-B Out, reduce crew workload and enable use of new approach procedures such as WAAS-LPV and RNP. The French airframer expects the package will be the first of a series of avionics improvements that will be offered as individual upgrades or as a package of upgrades.
JayJet Private Aircraft Charter recently launched in Swanton, Ohio, to provide charter broker and consulting services for individuals and flight departments. JayJet was founded by Jay Treat II, who spent nearly 20 years in multiple roles with FlightSafety International, including director of standards. Treat has also served as a Part 135 pilot and is currently an accredited IS-BAO auditor.
The Manassas Regional Airport Commission is considering a series of changes to rules and regulation of the Manassas, Va.-based airport, including new nighttime restrictions on engine run-ups. The commission currently asks operators to avoid engine run-ups between 10 p.m.-6 a.m., but says if they are necessary they should be limited to designated run-up pads with the aircraft oriented to channel the noise to the north, which faces a business park. The new regulations ban the run-ups outright.
CONRAD VANDERSLUIS was promoted to sales development director for AJW Group. Vandersluis will help AJW expand globally. He has more than 25 years of aviation experience, including with Flightspares and the BBA Group. He joined AJW in 2004 as commercial and contracts manager.
The designer of the distinctive Edgley EA-7 Optica is looking for new investment to restart production of the lightweight observation aircraft. John Edgley, who designed the EA-7 in the 1970s, believes there is now a wider market for observation aircraft for security and utility operations. He claims that the Optica, with its unique, helicopter-like visibility around the cabin, could find a niche in operations for which helicopters would be too expensive.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0938; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-057-AD] – proposes to require repetitively inspecting frame number (No.) 9 for a crack. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a crack in frame No. 9 on an AS365 helicopter. The proposed actions are intended to detect a crack and prevent loss of structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the proposal would affect 37 helicopters on the U.S.
AGUSTA Model AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0529; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-050-AD; Amendment 39-17648; AD 2013-22-16] – requires replacing certain solder splices in the co-pilot audio system. This AD was prompted by the discovery of improper installation of solder splices on the co-pilot audio system causing intermittent noise through the audio system during flight.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), which formally launched its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) in the Great Lakes region in August 2012, is working to expand the program next in the Western Pacific, New England and Eastern regions, ACSF President Bryan Burns says. The program is one of a couple of cornerstone programs that the organization has been developing as it continues to expand its membership and reach new categories of members.
President Obama on Nov. 27 signed into law the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, setting a definitive timeline for FAA to complete a sweeping rewrite of Part 23 certification regulations with the goal of doubling safety while cutting certification costs in half. Industry leaders lauded the signing, calling the December 2015 deadline for new Part 23 rules necessary to ensure that the effort stays on track on a global scale.
Landmark Aviation, known as one of the largest chains of fixed-base operations, has been working to raise the visibility and build up two of its other core businesses – Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Aircraft Management and Charter – as the company continues on the acquisition trail. Landmark President and CEO Dan Bucaro notes that Landmark “clearly has a different model than most in that we fill all three spaces.” But he adds that those spaces – FBO, MRO, and management/charter – “fit well together” to serve the customer base.
The designer of the distinctive Edgley EA-7 Optica is looking for new investment to restart production of the lightweight observation aircraft. John Edgley, who designed the EA-7 in the 1970s, believes there is now a wider market for observation aircraft for security and utility operations. He claims that the Optica, with its unique, helicopter-like visibility around the cabin, could find a niche in operations for which helicopters would be too expensive.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0631; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-142-AD; Amendment 39-17640; AD 2013-22-08] – requires repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, repair of the pylon pick-up brackets. This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked pick-up bracket of the forward outboard pylon of the number 1 engine due to stress corrosion.
LOR IZZARD was appointed director, sales support and technical marketing for Gulfstream Aerospace. Izzard will lead sales engineering, technical marketing and sales and design center operation. He has served with Gulfstream since 1999, beginning as an electrical engineer for Service Engineering. He has held several engineering and program manager positions, including serving as entry-into-service program manager for both the G150 and 200, along with G280 entry-into-service program director.
Quest Aircraft obtained certification for its Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft from Venezuela’s Civil Aviation Authority. The Kodiak has now been certified in 13 countries, and Quest expects more approvals this year. Quest is planning to deliver the first Kodiak to a Venezuelan customer shortly. The new owner will operate the aircraft for personal and business use. Quest began deliveries of the Kodiak in 2007 and the aircraft is in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, U.S. and international governments and humanitarian organizations.
DIAMOND Models DA 42 NG and DA 42 M-NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0937; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-029-AD] – requires installation of the Secondary Configuration Card P/N 010-12074-02 “Additional ALTN FAIL trigger” for the alternator indication system and System Software P/N 010-00670-10 for all DA 42 NG and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. The AD also requires installation of GEA Alternator fail control cable on certain model DA 42 M-NG aircraft. This AD also prohibits installation of System Software prior to P/N 010-00670-10.
VistaJet is expanding a recently formed partnership with Jet Aviation, naming the international fixed-base operation chain its handling services provider in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia regions. VistaJet in early September announced a teaming agreement with Jet Aviation and newly formed membership-based private aviation company Wheels Up as part of its plans to expand in the U.S.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that FAA significantly scale back a proposed airworthiness directive (AD) seeking inspections and replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 model reciprocating engines.
The National Business Aviation Association is appointing two new vice presidents to lead the association’s government relations efforts. Dick Doubrava, currently director of legislative affairs for NBAA, was promoted to vice president. Christa Fornarotto, currently FAA associate administrator for airports, also joined the association as vice president. The appointments come as Lisa Piccione, senior vice president of government relations, plans to leave the association at year’s end to move to Brussels.
China is continuing to ease regulations to foster growth of general aviation in the nation. The latest move, which takes effect Dec. 1, lifts a requirement to obtain flight mission approval for many general aviation flights, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. While they don’t need approvals in many cases, general aviation operators are still required to file flight plans. Operators still need approvals for flights in certain areas, such as border areas and prohibited zones, GAMA says.
Gulf Helicopters has signed the largest order by an offshore operator so far for the AgustaWestland AW189 eight-metric-ton helicopter. The Qatar-based operator will buy 15 of the aircraft, which is awaiting imminent certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The firm order, announced during the Dubai Airshow, is the second-largest for the new helicopter, behind Bristow Group’s, which has ordered six aircraft for offshore operations and a further 11 to support its U.K. search-and-rescue (SAR) contract awarded this year.
