Top FAA officials continue to highlight their concerns about general aviation safety. Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker this month called GA safety “one of my pet issues” and turned to the Air Line Pilots Association for help. In his prepared speech before a recent ALPA Flight and Duty Symposium, Whitaker urged ALPA members to “engage fully in this issue – to reach out to your fellow GA pilots and stress the need to pay attention to basics.” He suggested ALPA members sign up for FAA safety seminars or participate in type clubs.
Gulfstream Aerospace last week celebrated two anniversaries for key programs – the 55th anniversary of the first flight of the original Gulfstream I (GI) and the 10th anniversary of the G550. The GI, a twin turboprop among the first aircraft designed specifically for business travel, first flew Aug. 14, 1958 from Bethpage, N.Y., where the headquarters of Gulfstream predecessor company Grumman were located. The aircraft received certification in 1959 and was first delivered to Sinclair Oil. The company delivered 200 GIs over the next decade, ceasing production in 1969.
The National Business Aviation Association praised a recent decision by the Canadian Federal Court to overturn a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) determination that a U.S. company, Atlantic City, N.J.-based Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, was providing transportation to the public and was subject to compliance and certification requirements of scheduled airlines. The CTA issued the ruling when the company had conducted cross-border flights between the U.S.
DIAMOND Models DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0597; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-016-AD] – proposes to require an inspection to identify the affected nose landing gear (NLG) actuators, Part Number P/N X11-0006/2, and, if an affected unit is installed, modification of the actuator. The proposal also would prohibit installation of any affected P/N X11-0006/2 NLG actuators that may be held as spares, unless they are modified.
PETER HOKANSON was appointed chief financial officer for Yankee Pacific Aerospace. Hokanson has 30 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing and MRO companies in senior positions. He formerly has served with Honeywell, Garrett Aviation Services, MD Helicopter and Azmark Aero Systems.
Cessna, which recently completed the fuselage for its first midsize Citation Latitude, has begun production on the first prototype article in preparation for first flight in early 2014. Cessna mated the fuselage and nose sections in July, and recently has begun using the completed article for static tests. Work is well under way on the second test article, which will be used for structural trials. Cessna expects testing to begin on the second article shortly.
NASA has unveiled a new “strategic vision” for aeronautics that focuses civil-aviation research into six themes. But there is no new money, so work that does not align with the main thrusts will be reduced. The strategy is based on understanding emerging global trends, including new competitors for U.S. manufacturers, and focuses research on the drivers of those trends, such as growing worldwide demand for mobility and concerns over climate change, says NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
JERRY KOH was named vice president-flight sciences for Jormac Aerospace, a division of Yankee Pacific Aerospace. Koh has more than 15 years of experience in the design, testing, analysis and certification of Jormac’s cabin liner and bins systems for VIP Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Five years after DayJet’s on-demand air service using very light jets ceased operations, the dream of air taxis remains alive. But industry is looking at unmanned aircraft technology as a way to reduce or eliminate the pilot costs that contributed to DayJet’s demise. A commercial airline can require up to 19 pilots for every aircraft, says John Langford, CEO of UAV specialist Aurora Flight Sciences. DayJet reduced this to four-five per aircraft, but the need for two pilots in each of its three-passenger Eclipse 500s drove its costs.
PIPER AIRCRAFT Models PA-46-310P, PA-46-350P, PA-46R-350T, and PA-46-500TP airplanes.[Docket No. FAA-2013-0535; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-018-AD; Amendment 39-17489; AD 2013-13-01] – requires inspecting the fuel vent valves to identify if the nitrile parts are installed and modifying and eventually replacing the fuel vent valves if the nitrile parts are installed. This AD was prompted by nitrile fuel vent valves not providing the correct ventilation.
FAA is calling for repetitive inspections and eventual replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 model reciprocating engines at a cost that could reach $82.6 million.
Pricing is showing a mild recovery in the used market, but as prices begin to inch up, the number of transactions are also starting to slow. The number of transactions reached record levels in 2012 as aircraft values plunged. But industry analyst Jetnet reports this trend reverses in the first half.
Amid an increasing number of helicopter crashes, India’s air safety regulator has issued several stringent measures, including instituting a mandatory breathalyzer test for pilots before takeoff. “It will be ensured that doctors are available at the helipads prior to commencement of operations of helicopter services and the doctors shall be fully conversant with the breath analyzer equipment and procedures to be followed,” an official of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) says.
PHILLIP WADE was promoted to vice president of business development in Titeflex Aerospace. Wade will be responsible for identifying new product development opportunities and expanding into new markets. He joined Titeflex in October 2000 and most recently managed the Quality and R&D groups.
A fatal midair collision between a Beechcraft Bonanza piloted by a National Transportation Safety Board employee and a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee piloted by an FAA employee underscores the fact that the see-and-avoid principle alone is insufficient to guard against midairs when aircraft are flying under visual flight rules (VFR), the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) concludes.
Rockwell Collins’ largest acquisition to date—purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, Arinc, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group—will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
Embraer unveiled a series of “block-point” changes that include new standard and optional features for the Phenom 100 very light jet. These include multi-function spoilers, 11 new interior selections and new options including a refreshment center, stowage space and premium seats. The multi-function spoiler acts as a ground spoiler and speed brake. It can be used to increase drag and lift dump, along with reducing speed and sink-rate increase on the approach phase. The 11 new interior collections include new color choices and materials such as wood veneer.
VULCANAIR (type certificate previously held by Partenavia) Models P 68, P 68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, P 68 “Observer,” P68TC “Observer,” and P68 “Observer 2” [Docket No. FAA-2013-0602; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-010-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that established safe limits for the wing structure and required repetitive inspection and repair of the wing and stabilator structures when the airplanes reach safe life limits. That AD stemmed from reports of cracking and/or corrosion discovered in the wing spar.
Eclipse, in the final stages of certifying avionics systems before it begins delivery of the new Eclipse 550, has packaged some of the upgrades developed for the new aircraft as a retrofit option for existing Eclipse 500 very light jets.
COLT MEHLER was named vice-president - project engineering for Jormac Aerospace. Mehler joined Jormac in 2012 and has more than 13 years of customer completions engineering, project management and operations experience. He has served with Bombardier, Lufthansa Technik Completion Engineering, Midcoast Aviation and JetTech Aerospace.
Inflight connectivity specialist Aircell has enjoyed a fourfold growth in its business aviation division over the past four years as inflight Internet is becoming commonplace in fractional, charter and other operations.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 99900, 900EX and 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1067; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-231-AD; Amendment 39-17444; AD 2013-09-03] – requires modification of the wing fuel tanks in the area of the wheel well. This AD was prompted by reports that collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) could cause wing tank structure failure, which could result in fuel spillage and consequent fire hazard. FAA is issuing the AD to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a MLG collapse, and consequent fire hazard.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0554; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-009-AD] – proposes to require analyzing the main gearbox (MGB) oil for indications of metal chips or pieces, reviewing the MGB log or equivalent record, and inspecting certain teeth in the MGB after two chip indications. This proposed AD is prompted by a partial tooth rupture found in an MGB that was returned to the manufacturer for repairs.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0573; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-042-AD] – proposes to require replacing the rivets on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) Y350 longitudinal beams (longitudinal beams Y350). This proposed AD is prompted by a report that non-conforming rivets had been installed on an AS332 helicopter during a production modification. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the longitudinal beams Y350 and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
