NAVEEN RAO has joined the aviation practice of Washington, D.C. law firm Patton Boggs. Most recently with Jones Day, Rao brings a background of aviation regulatory and policy experience. He formerly was counselor to the assistant secretary for Aviation and International Affairs for the Department of Transportation and also worked as a regulatory attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel at FAA.
JIM GRANT was appointed senior vice president of military programs for Beechcraft Corp. He will be responsible for new business in Beechcraft’s Trainer/Attack, Special Mission and Global Mission Support organizations. He was a former command pilot with the U.S. Air Force and has more than 5,000 flight hours in a range of combat aircraft. After retiring from the service in 1995, Grant joined Lockheed Martin, where he has held a range of leadership positions including vice president of new business.
AGUSTA Model A109A, A109AII, and A109C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0518; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-021-AD] – proposes to require installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD is 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.
International Jet Aviation Services at Centennial Airport in Colorado added a Falcon 900B to its charter fleet. The aircraft joins a fleet that includes a range of Learjet, Hawker, Beechcraft and Gulfstream aircraft.
Duncan Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Lincoln, Neb., was recently named an approved aircraft maintenance organization by the South African Civil Aviation Authority. The approval increases the number of authorizations to 10 that Duncan has received for its facilities in Lincoln, Battle Creek, Mich., and Provo, Utah.
Gulfstream Aerospace is expanding its market for its G280 super midsize business jet with recent type validations from China and Canada. The approvals enable operators to register the aircraft in those countries. Gulfstream has been encouraged by sales interest from both Canada and China, and says the validations will provide a boost to that interest. China and Canada are the first validations to come outside of the FAA, Israeli Civil Aviation Authority and European Aviation Safety Agency. The 3,600-nm aircraft entered service in November.
A bill calling on FAA to improve certification standards for light aircraft moves to the Senate following House passage July 16. The bill, H.R.1848, the Small Aircraft Revitalization Act, is designed to boost the sagging general aviation segment by mandating the adoption of new Part 23 standards by the end of 2015.
Skytime Jets was designated as a certified broker by ratings firm Wyvern. Skytime joins only 2% of the European broker firms to receive such recognition. As part of the designation, Skytime will offer a comprehensive safety program to its customers using Wyvern’s safety materials. Wyvern will provide Skytime Jets with access to an expanded database of audited operators that are included in the Wyvern Report. Skytime Jets will be able to download safety information on the operator, aircraft and crew and send that information to clients.
The Experimental Aircraft Association board of directors expects to return its attention to the search for a new president after the association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., concludes next month, a spokesman says. Former Cessna Chairman Jack Pelton has steered the association as chairman since Rod Hightower stepped down as president in October. Hightower was only the third president of the association that was founded by Paul Poberezny. Pelton has clearly stated he had no plans to lead EAA on a permanent basis, but that he wanted to help with the leadership transition.
Gulfstream Aerospace’s Beijing Service Center recently secured authorization to service Gulfstream aircraft registered in Hong Kong and Macau. Gulfstream was granted that approval through a Joint Maintenance Management (JMM) agreement among the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong and the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau SAR.
Thrush Aircraft last week handed over the first three of 20 new dual cockpit 510G aircraft to China. The order, from Heilongjiand State Farms Beidahuand Group in Jiamusi, is the single largest that the Albany, Ga., airframer has received and includes spare parts and training. Thrush has been conducting pilot and mechanic training over the past two months at it training center in Albany. Once the aircraft arrive in Jiamusi, Thrush will provide on-site orientation and assistance. At least six of the new 510Gs are slated to enter service during the 2013 spray season.
BELL Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD] – proposes to require replacing or reworking certain aft bearing caps. This proposed AD is 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 proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 80 helicopters on the U.S.
BELL Model 439 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0491; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-012-AD] – proposes to require installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD is 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.
House and Senate lawmakers, though nearly $1 billion apart on their recommended fiscal 2014 FAA budget, are in agreement on a number of priorities, including support for the transition to an unleaded aviation gasoline and funding for FAA’s certification and inspection workforce.
Avidyne has earned an FAA supplemental type certificate for installation of its DFC90 autopilot on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft equipped with the Aspen Avionics Evolution Pro EFD1000 primary flight display (PFD). The DFC90 is a plug-and-play retrofit for existing STEC55X systems in Cirrus SR20s and SR22s; it also covers the upgrades from STEC System 20 and System 30 autopilots found in some earlier Cirrus aircraft. Avidyne initially gained approval of the DFC90 in SR20s and SR22s fitted with its Entegra PFD.
Like the U.S., Canada has committed to identifying an alternative fuel to 100LL avgas for general aviation use, as part of the Canadian government’s Clean Air Agenda. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) last month formally launched a concentrated research effort to find and test potential replacement fuels. An alternative avgas is vital to ensuring the long-term operational viability of piston-powered aircraft, says Jerzy Komorowski, general manager of the NRC’s aerospace division.
Cessna has resumed deliveries of the Corvalis single-piston aircraft, now called the TTx and equipped with a number of enhancements. Cessna announced in April 2012 that it would restart the TTx’s production line, and began production later that year. The company flew the first of the new production TTx aircraft in early March.
A modified Diamond DA42 is to be used for flights over Alaska later this year to measure greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost. Aurora Flight Sciences has performed flights of its Centaur aircraft over the Chesapeake Bay to calibrate the specially developed measurement system. The twin-diesel Centaur was developed as an optionally piloted aircraft (OPA), but will be flown manned for the measurement flights over Alaska’s Northern Slope later this year, says Aurora. The research mission is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Jet Aviation’s facility in Basel, Switzerland, was selected to support International Jet Management’s managed aircraft fleet. International Jet Management, a Vienna-based management and charter company, has a fleet that includes nearly 20 Bombardier, Dassault, Gulfstream and Cessna aircraft based throughout Europe. Jet Aviation will provide both line and base maintenance, including warranty support.
Bell Helicopter’s facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport is being purchased by Tarrant County College. The educational institution plans to utilize the former 161,000-sq.-ft. Bell Helicopter Military Programs Center to expand its successful aircraft maintenance programs currently offered at the college’s Northwest Campus. Tarrant County College plans to occupy the facility in June 2014.
A French company is getting close to beginning certification work on a small turbofan aimed at replacing piston engines in light aircraft, culminating 15 yr. of work The Anglet, southwest France-based Price hopes its 560-lb.-thrust DGEN 380 and 730-lb.-thrust DGEN 390 turbofans will lead to a personal jet that can be priced at between $1 million to $1.5 million.
As aircraft become more electric, so, too does the complexity of integrating their systems and making sure they work together as planned under all scenarios. Now GE Aviation, better known for engines, has invested heavily in what may be the world’s first facility to do just that. GE Aviation is four months away from opening what it believes is the largest and most sophisticated electrical power research and development facility for future aircraft and UAVs.
