Four years after interest all but died in a new generation of midsize, long-range business jets, Honeywell is refreshing plans to develop a new or derivative engine for the sector amid signs of a coming market revival.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1131; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-17440; AD 2013-08-22] – requires daily post-flight checks of the engine tachometer’s unit cycle-counting feature. This AD also requires ground-run functional checks within every 1,000 operating hours. This AD was prompted by detailed analysis and review of the accuracy of the engine’s tachometer cycle-counting feature.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is hoping to expand its business aviation conference venues to multiple locations throughout the Middle East. The event will continue to be held in Dubai, but MEBAA is adding a Middle East Business Aviation Conference (MEBAC) in Saudi Arabia. The first MEBAC in Saudi Arabia will be held on June 4. The event, to be held at the Hilton Hotel in Jeddah, will provide a forum for aviation leaders in the region to discuss issues affecting the Kingdom’s business aviation market.
ALAN PROWSE was appointed vice president and managing director for the Americas for Rockwell Collins. Prowse most recently was senior director, Government Systems sales and business development operations for Rockwell Collins. He has 21 years of Rockwell Collins experience, serving in sales, marketing and as a life cycle value stream manager in Government Systems.
The used market has crawled out if its trough from 2009, when a high of about 17% of the business jet fleet was up for sale, but it has come at a cost as aircraft values continue to plummet, industry experts say. The used market hit an all-time high in 2012 with the number of transactions reaching 2,240. This bested the 2007 peak of 2,181 aircraft transactions, JetNet reports. And the number of aircraft for sale has declined over the past three years, reaching 13.4% by the end of 2012.
Eclipse Aerospace Inc. (EAI) named Crownair Aviation in San Diego as an authorized “Gold Service Center” for both the Eclipse 500 and the new Eclipse 550 very light jet. The authorization covers maintenance, inspections, parts and warranty support, as well as aircraft-on-ground services for Eclipse aircraft.
Solairus Aviation named industry veteran Bob Marinace executive vice president. Marinace, who has 30 years of aviation experience, formerly was president and CEO of Oxford, Conn.-based Key Air. He also formerly served with Sentient. He has held positions on the National Air Transportation Association board of directors and the Air Charter Safety Foundation executive board, along with a number of FAA advisory groups. The appointment comes as the San Francisco-based charter and management company moves to expand its presence on the East Coast.
CORRECTION: Signature Flight Support has plans to relocate its West Coast headquarters to San Jose, Calif., as part of its plans to open a new fixed-base operation complex at Mineta San Jose International Airport. The April 22 and May 13 editions of BA incorrectly stated Signature’s plans for its headquarters.
FlightSafety International (FSI) is expanding its Gulfstream maintenance and support training curriculum to add cabin systems courses. The courses will be folded into a Total Technical Training program that FSI and Gulfstream jointly developed for Gulfstream maintenance technicians, along with flight attendants, pilots and others who would support and operate the cabin systems. Initial course offerings at the Savannah, Ga., training center will cover G650, G450 and G550 systems. Additional G280 cabin systems courses will be taught at FSI’s Dallas training center.
In the next legislative session, the European Business Aviation Association plans to push for more fair treatment should the European Union’s Emissions Trading System remain in place, says EBAA President Brian Humphries “Today, what we have is not acceptable,” Humphries says. EU ETS has created a market in carbon credits that favors small airlines, severely penalizes business jets and has raised the specter of an international trade war.
Embraer has received both FAA and Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) clearances for installation of its Prodigy Touch flight deck aboard the Phenom 300. NetJet is launching the new flight deck aboard the Phenom, and Embraer is offering the suite as an option for other Phenom 300 aircraft beginning in the fourth quarter. Based on the Garmin G3000 platform, the Prodigy Touch incorporates touch-screen technology with automation designed for single-pilot operation. The suite includes three 14.1-in.
Ametek Sensors & Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) was selected by Embraer as a supplier for the recently awarded U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract. Embraer teamed with Sierra Nevada Corp. on the program and is producing the Super Tucano for the LAS contract. Ametek was selected to provide products including advanced triaxial accelerometers and Amphion solid-state relays.
BELL 206A, 206B and 206L helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0349; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-058-AD] – proposes to require replacing certain part-numbered engine auto-relight kit control boxes. This proposed AD is prompted by a design review that revealed the control box chipset did not meet the required temperature range requirements, which could cause the control box to malfunction, disabling the engine auto-relight system. This condition could result in increased pilot workload during a power loss emergency and subsequent loss of control of the aircraft.
The strength of the high-end, large business jet segment and a surge in twin turboprop deliveries helped increase industry billings by nearly one-third in the first quarter, even as the light jet market continues to stumble, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
In its first shipment results after emerging from bankruptcy, Beechcraft is reporting a more than 50% pickup in its turboprop and piston aircraft deliveries.
Entry into service for Bombardier’s revamped Learjet 70 and 75 business jets has slipped to the fourth quarter of this year because of issues with certification of the new avionics. The aircraft are updates to the “superlight” Learjet 40 and 45, with uprated engines, contoured winglets and Bombardier Vision flight deck based on Garmin G5000 integrated avionics.
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0352; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-063-AD] – proposes to require modifying the No. 1 engine forward firewall center fire extinguisher discharge tube. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery that the No. 1 engine tube installed on the helicopters is too long to ensure that a fire could be effectively extinguished on a helicopter. The proposed actions are intended to ensure the No. 1 engine tube would allow for complete coverage of an extinguishing agent in the No.
FAA is reversing course on its plan to end federal funding for 149 contract towers on June 15. The decision follows the passage late last month of The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 (RFDA), which provides FAA the ability to shift $253 million in funds to cover operations.
Piper Aircraft handed over eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes to Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Delivery of the aircraft follows the FAA’s approval last month of the new Garmin G1000 avionics suite aboard the trainer. FIT is the launch customer for the G1000-equipped Archer, and has options for up to 16 more aircraft – either for the Archers or twin-engine Seminoles. Piper has launched a Piper Aviation Career Alliance with FIT that includes vocational opportunities for aviation and other graduates of the school.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0307; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-079-AD; Amendment 39-17410; AD 2013-07-06] – requires, for Model AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters, and supersedes an existing AD to require for Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters, an inspection of the chip detector and modification of the chip collector, both installed on the main gearbox (MGB).
Alpha Air Center of Joplin Regional Airport (KJL) in Webb City, Mo., plans to open a new 5,000-sq.-ft. executive terminal this summer. The new terminal will include a range of amenities, including showers, conference rooms, flight-planning equipment and dedicated pilot and passenger amenities. The fixed-base operation is an Avfuel dealer that participates in Avfuel Contract Fuel and Avtrip points programs.
June 17-19—National Air Transportation Association 2013 Air Charter Summit, Marriott Dulles, Dulles, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero Jun 21–22—National Business Aviation Association Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, Washington, D.C., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 29-Aug. 4—2013 EAA Airventure Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org
A group of House lawmakers is pushing to set a 2015 deadline for FAA to release a rule that would dramatically overhaul certification regulations for small aircraft. Kansas lawmaker Mike Pompeo (R), joined by Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), last week introduced the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013. It calls on FAA to issue a rule by Dec. 31, 2015, that would essentially implement the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC).
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is adding its third location in a little more than a year with the recent acquisition of development rights at Chicago Executive Airport. Hawthorne, which teamed with Moelis Capital Partners in 2010 to build a nationwide fixed-base operation (FBO) chain, closed on a deal May 6 to acquire the rights from Sovereign Development Group and hopes to begin construction later this month on a nearly 40,000-sq.-ft. terminal and hangar facility.
Cessna recently completed the mating of the wing and fuselage of the first production unit Citation M2. The light jet, a step up from the company’s Mustang very light jet, is on track for certification in the second half of this year. Wing mating clears the way for engine installation and preparation for function testing of the aircraft systems, including avionics, hydraulics and flight controls. The M2, powered by Williams FJ44-1AP-21 engines producing 1,965 lbst, will have a maximum cruising speed of 400 kt., a 1,300-nm range and the ability to take off in 3,250 ft.
