BEECHCRAFT Models 1900, 1900C and 1900D airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0611; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-019-AD] – supersedes an AD that requires inspecting the elevator bob-weight and attaching linkage for correct installation and for damage or deformation to the weight and/or weight bracket with corrective action as necessary. Since FAA issued AD 2011-27-51, a secondary elevator bob-weight stop bolt has been designed. This proposed AD would require installation of the secondary elevator bob-weight stop bolt.
Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co., (HEAI), Embraer’s joint venture with Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), successfully flew the first Legacy 650 business jet assembled in China. Embraer test pilots flew the aircraft for 2 hr. and 30 min., evaluating handling and performance characteristics along with the flight control, communication and navigation systems.
A revised Federal Communications Commission plan to phase out 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters is failing to sway the Department of Transportation and the FAA that the ban should be implemented.
The National Parks Overflights Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee (NPOAG) will continue its review of new air tour reporting requirements and the status of voluntary agreement efforts during the next scheduled meeting on Sept. 19. NPOAG first formed under the directive of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 to provide a balanced forum of issues affecting air tours over national parks, including quiet aircraft technology, measures that could accommodate interests of national parks visitors, environmental concerns and safety concerns.
West Star Aviation was appointed as authorized installation dealer for the Jetcraft Corp.’s enhanced flight vision system (EFVS), HUD Vision Access system for the Challenger 604 business jets. The approval follows FAA’s grant of “lower landing credit” for approved EFVS in June. The Jetcraft HUD Vision Access system improves visibility during taxi, takeoff and landing in darkness, fog, rain, snow, and smog.
LISA SASSE was named vice chair of Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Advisory Committee. Sasse, a longtime member of the committee, serves as director, corporate strategies for VisionSafe Corporation.
MARK BRADENHOFF was named global director of sales for Donaldson Aerospace & Defense. Bradenhoff has served with Donaldson for 13 years, joining the company in 2000 as an engineer in the Gas Turbines Systems unit. In 2008 he became director of engineering for the Gas Turbine Systems unit and later sales director. In his new role, he will help unify sales efforts of recently acquired business units, including the former companies Aerospace Filtration Systems of St. Louis, Le Bozec Filtration & Systems of Paris and Western Filter Corp. of Valencia, Calif.
Duncan Aviation has secured a supplemental type certificate to install Wi-Fi on Cessna Citation CJ2+ aircraft. The STC covers 525A series – both the CJ2 and CJ2+ – along with the CJ3 aircraft. Duncan has installed Wi-Fi upgrades, including Aircell Gogo Biz and SwiftBroadband systems, on nearly 400 aircraft. Duncan Aviation has invested heavily in the market, obtaining 13 STCs for broadband with Wi-Fi. The STCs cover a range of Hawker, Falcon, Citation, Challenger, Learjet, Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft.
DASSAULT Model Fan Jet Falcon, Mystere-Falcon 200 and Model 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0626; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-180-AD] – proposes to require checking manufacturing references of pyrotechnical cartridges for batch number and date, repetitive checking of cartridges for electrical continuity, and replacing defective pyrotechnical cartridges if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of defective fire extinguisher bottle cartridges.
A Chapter 7 trustee, beginning to search through the records of Avantair for potential wrongdoing, has moved to halt an employee lawsuit against the company’s executives for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The trustee, Beth Ann Sharrer, sought an injunction against the litigation, saying the employees’ action could potentially interfere with the bankruptcy action. Sharrer further filed a notification that FAA has issued emergency orders of suspension of most of the Avantair fleet.
Signature Flight Support, which recently signed a deal to become a dominant presence at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., has struck an accord with Maguire Aviation Group that will make it the single largest entity at another major business aviation airport – Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in California.
Dallas-based fractional ownership provider Flexjet is seeing the first signs of sustained growth since the downturn, with new customers buying shares and flight hours increasing, the company says. As a result, the fractional ownership provider is beginning to expand its workforce for the first time since the downturn began.
BBA Aviation and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) are exploring possibly merging certain parts of their businesses, a combination that, depending how much of the businesses would be merged, could create one of the largest independent engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) entities worldwide, with annual revenues approaching $2.5 billion.
ANA Holdings, the parent company of Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, is planning to expand training offerings in Asia with its purchase of Miami, Fla.-based Pan Am International Flight Academy from American Capital. Pan Am provides training to airlines and individuals worldwide through simulation and other training services. All Nippon plans to expand Pan Am’s reach in Asia by providing training to other Asian airlines.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is bringing in a seasoned business executive who has a background managing large companies to serve as its next president. Mark Baker, a long-time general aviation pilot and AOPA member since 1987, is stepping down from his role as CEO of San Jose-based Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation, to become the fifth president of AOPA.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. intends to display a VIP version of the SSJ100 this week at MAKS 2013, an early production airframe initially planned for Armavia that now carries the logo of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s government-owned arms trade monopoly. Sukhoi representatives tell Aviation Week the aircraft will be delivered in the next few months, but stressed that it is not the Sukhoi Business Jet variant that is expected to be ready as early as 2015.
FAA released its final policy putting in place permanent procedures for aircraft owners seeking to block their registration information from near-real-time flight-tracking programs. The policy comes about 20 months after the agency restored the program, formerly known as the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR), on an interim basis at the direction of Congress.
Executive AirShare, the Kansas City-based “regional” fractional provider, is adding a third jet type to its fractional fleet, the Cessna Citation CJ2+, to fill a gap between its Phenoms. Executive AirShare placed three used CJ2+s on its operating certificate and closed on its first share sale last week, with three more closings anticipated next week.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has updated its online NATA Safety 1st Hazardous Communications (HazCom) training program to align it with new Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements. OSHA in 2012 issued changes to its HazCom Standard with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Employers were required to train their employees by Dec. 1, 2013 on the new label elements and safety data sheet formats contained within the standard.
Cessna’s first production M2 flew for the first time last week, bringing the company closer to certification in upcoming months. Announced in September 2011 as a step up from the company’s entry-level Mustang, the M2 is expected to reach customers’ hands early in the fourth quarter, just a few weeks behind its original schedule as the company ironed out certification issues with the all-new Garmin G3000 avionics suite.
Paul Poberezny, the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the creator of the world’s largest general aviation air show – AirVenture – passed away at the age of 91 from cancer at a retirement village in Oshkosh, Wis., on Aug. 22.
