The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority will conduct a review of offshore helicopter operations in the North Sea following a fatal accident off the Shetland Islands last month. Four oil workers died Aug. 23 when a CHC-operated Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma ditched into the North Sea just minutes before it was due to land at Sumburgh Airport. Twelve passengers and the two pilots escaped, but one crewmember was seriously injured.
Flexjet is staging six private events across the nation as part of its celebration of the Learjet’s 50th anniversary. Flexjet is teaming with brands including Aston Martin and Royal Salute Scotch Whisky in the “Legends Redefined” six-city tour that will showcase the Learjet 85 aircraft. Stops include Menio Park, Calif., Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Washington, D.C., New York and Houston. Flexjet has 30 of the aircraft on order, with deliveries scheduled to begin next year.
Quest Aircraft is reaching a “critical decision” point on whether to boost production of its single-turboprop Kodiak from two to three aircraft per month, a move that comes as the Sandpoint, Idaho-based manufacturer reaches a milestone delivery mark. Quest this month celebrated the handing over of the its 100th aircraft, six years after it received type certification and 12 years after the company was formally established. The 100th aircraft went to Phoenix-based Sunstate Aviation.
Business aviation leaders are backing an emissions proposal that the full International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly is set to consider, saying it could lead to a global compromise on aviation emissions. The ICAO Council earlier this month agreed to a proposal to implement global market-based measures by 2020 to help curb aviation emissions. The assembly is expected to take action on the proposal during its meeting from Sept. 24-Oct. 4.
KIMBERLY HOLLOWAY has joined the SkyWay Aero aircraft acquisitions team. Holloway has more than 16 years of industry experience, beginning as a marketing coordinator with Textron Financial’s Aerospace Finance Division. She has since worked with other companies including Stevens Aviation, Gantt Aviation and Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation.
Eurocopter is shoring up work at its Columbus, Miss., plant by opening an assembly line for the AS350 Ecureuil/AStar light helicopter. Work on AS350 assembly will begin during the fourth quarter of 2014 in a bid to offset the impact of the U.S. Army’s decision to reduce the number of UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters it plans to buy. The factory will initially build 50 AS350s, with plans to expand by 2016 by producing up to 60 additional helicopters annually by 2016, the company announced on Sept. 20.
Embraer plans to unveil a number of enhancements to its business jet lineup during next month’s National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas. The improvements will involve new equipment and upgrades to existing products, along with some new features and specifications for Legacys under development.
328 SUPPORT SERVICES Model 328-100 and 328-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0702; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-181-AD] - proposes to supersede AD 2008-14-16, which currently requires installing warning placards on the inside of the passenger door and service doors and modifying the hinge supports and support struts of the passenger doors. Since FAA issued AD 2008-14-16, the agency received reports that certain fasteners, which were installed as part of the modification, are the wrong length.
CHRIS LESNIAK was named manager of outside parts sales for RBR Maintenance. Lesniak has more than 30 years of experience, holding positions as director of sales and marketing, account manager and parts manager for companies including Arnoni Aviation and Avant Aerospace. In his new position, Lesniak will be involved in all aspects of the parts department, including overseeing inventory levels, working with clients, providing parts support and working with the logistics team.
A former Metrojet and Hongkong Jet executive has launched T3 Private Jets Asia Limited to help clients in the Asia Pacific region better manage their aircraft. T3, which has bases in Hong Kong and Thailand, will advise on management companies, reviewing contracts, monthly billings and aircraft logbooks, along with performing aircraft inspections to ensure client expectations are met. The company was founded by Mark Thibault, former COO at both Metrojet and Hongkong Jet, with the aim of providing an “unbiased and unrushed approach” in the Asia Pacific region.
While Redbird Skyport’s $1-per-gal. aviation gasoline trial does not begin until Oct. 1, the fuel price sensitivity experiment is already gaining substantial attention from would-be customers, company executives say. The San Marco, Texas-based fixed-base operator announced in August that it was working with more than a dozen general aviation companies and organizations on a $1-per-gal. avgas experiment to gather data on the price sensitivity of operators.
Oct. 8-10—Latin American & Caribbean Engineering & MRO Summit, Bogota, Columbia, www.alta.aero/2010/ Oct. 10-12—2013 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Summit, Fort Worth, Texas, www.aopa.org Oct. 20–21—National Business Aviation Association Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Oct. 20–23—ATCA 58th Annual Conference and Exposition, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Washington, D.C., www.atca.org/58annual
BEECHCRAFT Models 1900, 1900C and 1900D airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0753; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-025-AD] - proposes to require inspections of the vertical stabilizer spar angles and hat section for cracks, with corrective actions as necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the front spar cap angles and hat section structure of the vertical stabilizer. FAA estimates that the proposal affects 400 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $51,000, or $127.50 per aircraft. FAA will accept comments on the proposal through Oct. 11.
House General Aviation Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is planning to host a general aviation roundtable with industry leaders this week to delve into a range of issues. The meeting, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 3, comes as the caucus has surpassed the 50% mark with 223 members. The Senate GA Caucus, meanwhile, has reached 40 members and has remained equally as active, holding a meeting this month on certification concerns.
Jet Aviation’s base in Zurich has moved into a new fixed-base operation built alongside the existing General Aviation Center in Zurich. The facility incorporates the new branding and corporate look that was unveiled earlier this year at Jet Aviation’s Geneva FBO. The company also moved its operations center rampside, placing it closer to the customs and immigration area, and farther from the customer area.
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s board of directors plans to discuss the future leadership of the organization at its fall meeting in November, a little more than a year after Rod Hightower stepped down as president. EAA Chairman Jack Pelton, the former Cessna CEO who has had experience dealing with Washington, has steered the organization in the absence of a president.
The French government’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, has taken delivery of the first of four newly converted Dassault Falcon 50s for the maritime patrol mission. The aircraft, which eventually will be used by the French navy for maritime surveillance, was handed over to the DGA on Sept. 6 by Dassault Aviation, which is making the conversions. The four Falcon 50Bs previously had been part of the French air force’s ETEC VIP squadron.
The House General Aviation Caucus has reached a new record level of membership, now accounting for more than 50% of the House Representatives. The caucus has grown to 223 members. GA Caucus Co-Chair John Barrow (D-Ga.) calls the membership “an important milestone for the industry. Our mission is to inform folks about general aviation, and having a majority of the House...will help achieve that goal.” Fellow Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) adds that passing the 50% mark is “a great victory for general aviation.”
Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer, which recently flew its first Legacy 650 to be built in China, is predicting a market for more than 800 business jets in China over the next decade. Embraer has released its China Executive Aviation Market Outlook 2014-2023, forecasting a demand for 805 executive jets. Of those aircraft, 51% will be large-cabin aircraft, representing 78% of the value, the company says.
Sweden’s Maritime Administration (SMA) has taken delivery of the first of seven new AgustaWestland AW139s ordered for search and rescue. The aircraft were ordered in October 2012. They will replace several Sikorsky S-76s, operating in the same role from bases at Ronneby, Visby, Gothenburg, Norrtäljegatan and Umeå. The state-owned operator inherited the S-76s after the Swedish government nationalized private operator Norrlandsflyg, which flew the aircraft on SAR and air ambulance duties on behalf of the agency.
JONATHAN BUFF was named general manager of the Hawthorne Global Aviation Services facility at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW). Buff will oversee the management of the fixed-base operation, which includes a terminal and more than 50,000 sq. ft. of hangar space. He has 14 years of FBO experience, most recently as an FBO development strategic advisor for The 500 Group Ltd.
Chicago Jet Group (CJG) was awarded supplemental type approval for retrofit of FANS systems aboard the Dassault Falcon 50. The supplemental type certificate, the first for the FANS1/A+/Controller Pilot Datalink (CPDLC) system over Iridium in a Falcon 50, was accomplished in coordination with Universal Avionics. CJG has a number of other airframes in process for FANS retrofit certification.
MORRIS SMITH has joined West Star Aviation as Gulfstream/Bombardier technical sales manager at the company’s East Alton, Ill. (ALN) location. Smith has nearly 35 years of technical and management experience, including overseeing a Honeywell 731 engine major periodic inspection shop and C-20 depot maintenance.
Aviation Modification Leaders (AML), the Dallas-based aircraft communications and entertainment systems specialist, is offering a program to upgrade the first generation of CNX routers. The routers, installed on about 2,000 large-cabin jets, are no longer manufactured and support services for them are decreasing, AML says. CNX is based on Swift 64 bandwidth at early DSL speeds. AML’s program entails removing the CNX and installing an interface plate in the existing slot with the same connectors. The plate can house AML’s new OOM-200 broadband router.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0472; Directorate Identifier 98-CE-097-AD; Amendment 39-17538; AD 99-07-10 R1] – rescinds an existing AD that required inspections for inner protective film detachment of the nacelles and corrective actions. That AD stemmed from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency that cited reports of partial detachment of the inner protective film of the composite nacelles.
