BOB KING was named business leader for the Mustang, M2, CJ2+, CJ3 and CJ4 aircraft for Cessna Aircraft. King was previously vice president of information technology for Cessna. Before that, he had held positions at the corporate office of Cessna parent company Textron, along with Cessna affiliate companies Jacobsen and E-Z-Go.
German light-sport aircraft (LSA) manufacturer Flight Design continues to make progress on its first Part 23-certified aircraft with the selection of a Garmin avionics package, negotiations for a diesel engine and plans to assemble the C4 in both the U.S. and China.
ERICKSON AIR-CRANE Sikorsky Model S-64E helicopters (type certificate previously held by Sikorsky) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0556; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-30-AD] proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires checks of the main rotor blades for a crack. This proposed AD would retain the actions of the existing AD, would reflect that the type certificate (TC) for this model helicopter has been transferred to Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (Erickson), and expand the applicability to include the similar Erickson Model S-64F helicopters.
Signature Flight Support is remaining on the acquisition trail, picking up the Jet Systems facility at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. for $38.5 million, a move that strengthens its position on a key business aviation airport.
A group of business aviation officials led by VanAllen Group Chairman Peter Agur is teaming with Georgia State University (GSU) to help develop leadership skills of industry executives. VanAllen and GSU are hosting a Business Aviation Leadership Summit/Certificate Program next month to improve executives’ performance as leaders.
Air Tractor celebrated the delivery of its 3,000th airplane, an AT-502B that was handed over to a Brazilian customer. The single-seat ag plane rolled off the company’s production line in Olney, Texas in mid-July and was on display at EAA AirVenture 2013 in Oshkosh, Wis., before last week’s formal delivery. Air Tractor’s roots trace back to founder Leland Snow, who began designing and building ag in 1958 as The Snow Aeronautical Company. The company later was sold to Rockwell-Standard and began building the first “Thrush” aircraft.
Putting its Oklahoma operations on the market could be the first major step in Spirit AeroSystems’ effort to re-focus resources on what it does best: playing major roles in maturing, growing Boeing and Airbus airliner programs. Spirit executives last week announced that the company’s Tulsa manufacturing operation is for sale, along with its McAlester, Okla., facility, which provides machined parts and subassemblies.
FAA is soliciting comments on the next round of recommendations to streamline and improve pilot training and certification standards. The agency considers the push to revise the standards as a key component in a multipronged effort to improve the general aviation fatal accident rate. The latest round of documents, open for comment through Aug. 23, includes new recommendations for authorized instructors standards, along with revisions to previous work of pilot certification/instrument ratings.
DAVE MILLS was appointed general manager of Landmark Aviation’s facility at Oakland International Airport (OAK) in California. He has 30 years of aviation experience, formerly as general manager for Business Jet Center in Oakland. He has also served as director of operations for Sierra Academy of Aeronautics.
Purdue University is expanding biofuel research to very light jets, teaming with Embraer and Honeywell on a project involving a Jet A/camelina-based blend.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) continues to expand its membership with online broker JetCharters.com the latest to join. JetCharter.com is among a handful of brokers and operators that joined the foundation this summer, with others including Air Trek, New Flight Charters, Private Jet Charter and Apollo Jets. The foundation membership has reached 107 businesses.
Kestrel Aircraft is stumbling along on the road to developing its 320+ kt. single-engine, carbon-fiber JP10 turboprop, as the company’s president and CEO Alan Klapmeier looks for sponsors willing to invest the tens of millions needed to bring the aircraft to market. Absent Chinese or Russian investors with deep pockets, he’s finding it very tough to woo white knight venture capitalists to back his program. How tough is this task?
The Small Airplane Revitalization Act, a bill calling on FAA to rewrite light aircraft standards, is set to head to the Senate floor after the Senate Commerce Committee approved it July 30. The bill, S.1072, is the companion to legislation passed by the House earlier this month. The bill essentially would require FAA to rewrite Part 23 certification standards, taking into account the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), by Dec. 31, 2015.
Quest Aircraft recently secured two more certifications for its Kodiak single-turboprop – from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation – bringing to 12 the total number of approvals for the aircraft. Quest notes that its aircraft, designed for multi-mission operations in rugged terrains, has received strong interest in both regions, and the certifications “will help us move the discussion forward.” Quest received an order for 12 Kodiaks from Blue Eagle Aviation Investment Corp.
JIM BENNETT was appointed vice president of flight operations for Key Air. Bennett is a 40-yr. aviation veteran, most recently holding a similar position with Jet Access. He has more than 21,000 flight hours and holds type ratings in Boeing, Cessna, Bombardier, Dassault, Hawker and Gulfstream aircraft, among others. He also held numerous positions with Tag Aviation.
Piper Aircraft is continuing to see a steady increase in orders, with both revenues and deliveries up through the first half of the year, the company reports. The 13% increase in deliveries to 86 aircraft and 11% increase in revenue to $77 million continue a three-year trend of improved results for the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer. The company’s top-of-the-line M-Class family continues to slowly edge upward, with three more delivered in the first half, compared with a year ago.
Cessna Aircraft checked off two more milestones in its business jet development programs. The first production model of the new Citation X completed its first flight, and the first production M2 rolled off the assembly line. Slated to enter the market early next year, the new X flew a 3.1-hr. flight, averaging a cruise speed of Mach 0.915 at 41,000 ft. The aircraft reached 49,000 ft. and its top speed of Mach 0.935, putting the aircraft on track to reclaim the business jet speed title from Gulfstream’s 650.
CESSNA Models 172R, 172S, 182S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1052; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-014-AD; Amendment 39-17471; AD 2013-11-11]—supersedes AD 2000-04-01, requires an inspection of the engine oil pressure switch and, if applicable, replacement of the engine oil pressure switch. This AD increases the applicability of the AD, places a life-limit of 3,000 hours time-in-service on the engine oil pressure switch, and requires replacement when the engine oil pressure switch reaches its life limit.
AVIC International’s Continental Motors unit is establishing a management team to assess the integration of the newly acquired Thielert Aircraft Engines as the company looks to expand and strengthen its diesel technologies, says Continental Motors President Rhett Ross.
Jeppesen is expanding its Mobile FlightDeck applications, rolling out a VFR version for the U.S. Already available in Europe, Jeppesen is offering U.S. VFR coverage for a $49 annual subscription. Jeppesen Mobile FlightDeck VFR includes navigation information, route planning capabilities, access to NOTAMS and weather data.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-366G1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1214; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-071-AD; Amendment 39-17482; AD 2013-12-04]—requires modifying the fuel tank draining system. This AD is prompted by a closed fuel tank drain that, in the event of a fuel leak, could result in fuel accumulating in an area containing electrical equipment. The actions are intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in an area with electrical equipment or another ignition source, which may lead to a fire.
Fractional ownership provider Avantair’s future appears doubtful, after certain creditors filed an involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation of the company. Avantair, which grounded its fleet and furloughed its workforce in June, has until mid-August to respond to the petition. But in the interim, more of the company’s senior leadership are leaving. The latest to depart is CFO Bret Holmes, who is following the departures of President and CEO David Haslett, and other board members.
Cirrus is beginning initial production work of the first conforming Vision SF50 single jet, and is hoping to launch an 18-month certification program early next year. Patrick Waddick, who in March was named president of the Duluth, Minn., general aviation manufacturer, says the company is focused on completing the first certification aircraft, called C0, and kicking of the certification program late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of next year.
