JASON BERG has joined TWC Aviation as chief aviation officer. In this role, Berg will oversee TWC’s flight operations, safety, and maintenance departments. He will also help implement the company’s new environmental initiative. He formerly spent more than nine years at Sun Air Jets, where he served as chief pilot. He has also served as a lead pilot on a Global Express for an entertainment company.
BELL Model 230 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0492; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-013-AD; Amendment 39-17608; AD 2013-20-02] – requires installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by several incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-state operations.
As budget talks heat up in Washington, so is renewed focus on depreciation schedules for business aircraft. Senate Democrats reportedly are floating a list of a dozen tax loopholes that they are calling most egregious. In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post, Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (Wash.) states, “The U.S. tax code clearly benefits the wealthy and well-connected.
Bombardier received FAA certification on Nov. 14 for the first of the new Learjets, the Learjet 75, clearing the way for deliveries to formally begin. Bombardier on Oct. 17 held a ceremonial celebration for the delivery of the initial Learjet 75s – ceremonial because the aircraft was not yet certified. Bombardier had hoped to arrive at last month’s National Business Aviation Association annual convention with FAA approval in hand, but that was pushed back by the government shutdown.
Flexjet, which every year packages a holiday experience that couples flights with venues typically not readily available to the public, this year has assembled a $1.5 million “Passport to the World” trip with around-the-world experiences. FlexJet worked with Abercrombie & Kent to develop the package, which includes a 14-day journey for up to eight people aboard a Challenger 605 aircraft. The travel, provided by Jet Solutions, includes stops in Anchorage, Kyoto, Japan, Beijing, Hong Kong, Arga, India, Istanbul and Paris.
Cessna Aircraft recently confirmed the Mach 0.935 speed of its new Citation X in high-speed certification flights with the FAA, taking a key step toward reclaiming the fastest business jet title. Cessna says it has now completed all testing requirements to validate the Mach 0.935 speed. The original X reigned as the fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.92 until Gulfstream’s Mach 0.925 G650 reached market last year.
The City of Santa Monica, Calif., is claiming that FAA is violating its constitutional rights by insisting that it continue operating Santa Monica Airport (SMO), saying U.S. interests in the airport ended in 1953. The city on Oct. 31 filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in an attempt to gain control over the future of SMO, a step that would allow the city to close the airport.
BELL Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD; Amendment 39-17633; AD 2013-22-01] – requires replacing or reworking certain aft bearing caps. This AD was prompted by the manufacture of certain freewheel aft bearing caps without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into the aft bearing support assembly. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the AD affects 80 helicopters on the U.S.
Jeppesen successfully completed rapid decompression tests on the new iPad Air, confirming the integrity of the device in the event of sudden cabin pressure loss. Jeppesen, which tested the device to an altitude of 51,000 ft., conducted the trials as part of its program for operators to obtain FAA authorization for inflight use of its mobile app services. Jeppesen has completed similar tests on other iPad products.
Landmark Aviation is increasing its presence at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York with the acquisition this month of Panorama Flight Service. The acquisition further consolidates the number of fixed-base operations at the busy New York-area airport from the five that existed just a few months ago to three.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Business Aircraft division is getting a new leader as the Canadian aircraft and train manufacturer manufacturer moves Steve Ridolfi to the new role as senior vice president, strategy and mergers and acquisitions. Eric Martel will succeed Ridolfi as president of Bombardier Business Aircraft. The appointments are effective Jan. 1. Martel is currently president of Bombardier Aerospace’s customer services and specialized and amphibious aircraft.
Nearly a month after the 16-day government shutdown ended, FAA has made strides in working through its Aircraft and Airmen Registry backlogs and has agreed to provide some operational leeway with oversight and training deadlines. But the agency is still catching up on an already strained certification workload.
JUSTIN ROBERTS is joining Argus as marketing manager, based in the Cincinnati office. Roberts brings a background in strategic multimedia management, website development and optimization, marketing research and project and budget execution. He is an air defense officer in the Ohio Army National Guard and working toward his master’s of business administration at the University of Cincinnati.
DANIEL MACLELLAN was promoted to vice president of operations for FlightSafety International. MacLellan will be responsible for operations at FlightSafety’s worldwide learning center network, taking over duties from Greg McGowan, who is retiring at the end of the year as senior vice president of operations. MacLellan has served with FlightSafety for more than 30 years in positions of increasing responsibility.
The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing maintenance, medical records, pilot flying history and air traffic control records as part of its resumed investigation into the Sept. 29 crash of a Cessna Citation 525A (CJ2+) at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California, killing all four aboard.
FAA is shelving a controversial proposed interpretation that would have applied a rest requirement originally designed for Part 121 carriers to Part 135 pilots. FAA formally withdrew the proposed interpretation Nov. 7 at the direction of Congress, which included a measure in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 prohibiting its implementation.
B-N GROUP Models BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0924; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-032-AD] – proposes to require a one-time inspection and functional test of the engine control cables and, depending on findings, replacement of the cables.
While general aviation airports can be controversial facilities in many communities, the city of McKinney, Texas, recently agreed to change the name of the local airport from Collin County Regional Airport to McKinney National Airport to highlight its new ownership of the facility and underscore the important role it plays in the community and within the national aviation system. McKinney, which is 30 mi.
FAA Nov. 5 issued a final rule that will give scheduled carriers and training providers five years to upgrade flight simulators and begin more comprehensive training of pilots for stall and upset incidents, as well as for crosswind and gust events. The training update, as well as two other recent FAA rules, come as a direct consequence of the crash of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 near Buffalo, N.Y., in February 2009, after the captain inappropriately responded to a stall warning system alert.
Along with releasing a comprehensive new rule aimed at airline pilot training and simulator use, FAA last week released a report containing a series of recommendations on improving testing standards for private, commercial and instructor certificates. The recommendations were developed by a government-industry working group – the Airman Testing Standards and Training Work Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee.
Million Air continues to expand its network of fixed-base operations (FBOs) through new franchised additions and has plans under way to invest millions into its new facilities. But at the same time, CEO Roger Woolsey stresses that the company remains firmly focused on the FBO business – not the mergers and acquisition business.
SIRKORSKY (ERICKSON AIR-CRANE) S-64E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0454; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-81-AD; Amendment 39-17621; AD 2013-20-15] – supersedes an AD requiring inspecting and reworking the main gearbox (MGB) assembly second stage lower planetary plate. This action establishes or reduces the life limits for certain flight-critical components, removes from service various parts, requires repetitive inspections and other corrective actions, and requires replacing any cracked part discovered during an inspection.
NetJets expanded its network of customer-exclusive terminals with the grand opening Nov. 6 of a facility at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in Florida. The 10,000-sq.-ft. terminal, built and operated by Signature Flight Support, is the sixth NetJets-exclusive facility in the U.S. with specific amenities tailored to the fractional ownership provider’s specifications.
Paul DeHerrera was appointed CEO of Universal Avionics, moving into a new leadership role. Joachim (Ted) Naimer remains as president and chairman. DeHerrera has served with Universal since 1994, beginning as manager of OEM marketing in the company’s headquarters in Tucson, Ariz. He later became vice president of marketing and product support before taking the role of COO in January 2008.
