The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build A Plane named Canby High School in Canby, Minn., and Saline High School in Saline, Mich., as the winners of the first nationwide Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) aviation design challenge competition. GAMA teamed with Build A Plane on the competition to foster interest in aerospace engineering at the high school level.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0353; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-029-AD] – proposes to require inspecting for the presence of blind holes in the tail gearbox (TGB) attachment fittings, and, if they are missing, installing an additional washer under the head of the attachment bolt until the attachment fitting is replaced with an airworthy attachment fitting.
While industry leaders focus on potential aviation tax changes, such as proposals for new business jet depreciation schedules or aviation user fees, one analyst believes a tax change that took effect earlier this year is eroding sales. “We believe the income tax hike at the start of the year was a material driver of the fresh weakness [in the light jet market],” says J.P.Morgan. The analyst calls the latest detractor to the market “another leg down,” but says it is not a sign that the industry is impaired. Some industry indicators are improving.
CESSNA Model 525 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0880; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-004-AD; Amendment 39-17422; AD 2013-08-05] – requires, for airplanes equipped with certain part number (P/N) air conditioning (A/C) compressor motors, inspection of the number of hours on the A/C compressor hour meter, inspection of the logbook, replacement of the brushes on certain P/N A/C compressor motors or deactivation of the A/C system until replacement of the brushes, and reporting of airplane information related to the replacement of the brushes.
London Gatwick Airport has reopened a helicopter landing site after a 12-year absence, enabling helos to land without having to taxi on the runway. Based at the end of taxiway Uniform on the west side of the airport, the helicopter aiming point (HAP) reopens after two years of feasibility discussions and joint planning between Gatwick officials and Signature Flight Support.
Bell Helicopter is finalizing the design of its new Bell 525, a medium-lift helicopter in development that is due for first flight in 2014. The U.S. helicopter maker has completed much of the detailed design, says Bell Helicopter’s chief engineer on the 525 program, David King. “We have been releasing detailed designs for a six-month period now … and this month we are having a batch of critical design reviews (CDR),” he said. CDR is one of the final steps before the program moves into “build phase,” he says.
FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen is continuing his effort to change the agency’s approach to enforcement, but is still receiving pushback from FAA’s general counsel office. Flight Standards officials have hoped to move away from a punitive system to one that enables inspectors to help operators correct minor issues before immediately jumping into an enforcement. Allen sees the change as a necessary step toward a safety management system approach that will help the agency best direct its resources toward the areas of highest risk.
DAVE NEWTON was named regional engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Newton, based in Tampa, Fla., will represent the company’s services in Central and North Florida. He has more than 30 years of sales, technical, management and customer relations experience, previously spending 24 years in the Southeast U.S. with British Aerospace and Hawker Beechcraft supporting technical services, maintenance, sales and marketing support. He also has served with Gulfstream Aerospace and Atlantic Aviation.
C.Z. SEAN ANTHONY has joined Avantair as vice president of maintenance. Anthony will oversee all Avantair aircraft maintenance activities, including production, planning, quality, reliability and appearance. He has 29 years of industry experience, including 20 years focused on maintenance. Most recently, he was vice president of maintenance development for a Part 135 operation. He previously held maintenance leadership positions with Sentient, JetDirect, Presidential and NetJets.
Honda Aircraft, facing further delays in the certification of the GE Honda HF120 engine, is pushing back its target for certification of the HondaJet until the end of 2014. The program already had encountered delays after problems with the HF120 surfaced during ice testing in 2011, forcing changes in the engine fan design and a delay in engine certification. The company had hoped the redesigned engine would receive certification by mid-2013, clearing the way for certification and the first deliveries of HondaJet later this year.
Atlantic Aviation is suing to halt plans for Signature Flight Support to build an $82 million fixed-base operation (FBO) complex at Mineta San Jose International Airport in California. The San Jose City Council April 16 voted 10-1 to approve a 50-year lease for the FBO, which is to be developed on 29 acres on the west side of the airport. Signature, which hoped to begin construction this year on the project, also has plans to relocate its headquarters from Orlando, Fla. to the new California base.
KELOWNA FLIGHTCRAFT R&D Tracor (Convair) Model 340 and 440 airplanes and certain military Model C-131B, C131D, C-131E and C131F/R4Y-1 airplanes [Docket No.
As NetJets displayed its recently acquired Phenom 300 at the famed Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting May 4, the company has gone from one deemed the “major problem” for its parent company to one that is helping spur increased earnings on the strength of improving fractional sales.
JOHN DAUT was appointed U.S. regional sales director for the Northeast for Nextant Aerospace. Daut has 30 years of business development and sales experience. Most recently he was executive vice president of sales for Marquis Jet and then, after Marquis was acquired by NetJets, senior vice president of sales for NetJets.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) added Dennis Fox, senior vice president, operations of Executive Jet Management (EJM), and William Mayo, president and CEO of Mayo Aviation, to the ACSF Executive Committee. Fox, a former officer with the U.S. Army with 24 years of aviation experience, has spent 12 years with EJM. He currently leads a department responsible for the regulatory compliance, safety, training and welfare for more than 540 crewmembers operating more than 180 aircraft.
Beechcraft is hoping to sell most of its jet programs by midyear, the company says. The company confirms that the “expiration” process is under way and hopes to conclude it in upcoming months. The company declined to detail whether the sale would involve all of the programs, or parts. But Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture told Aviation Week earlier this year that the programs have attracted a fair amount of interest.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, EC135 T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0340; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-081-AD] – proposes to require, for affected helicopters with a certain external mounted hoist system with boom support assembly installed, inspecting the boom for a crack and, if a crack exists, replacing the boom with an airworthy boom. This proposed AD is prompted by cracks found on the boom during a pre-flight check of a hoist on an MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopter.
NetJets is beginning the rejuvenation of its light-jet fleet with the delivery of its first “Signature Series” Phenom 300. This delivery will be the first of up to 50 Phenom 300s the Columbus, Ohio-based fractional ownership provider has on order. Including options, NetJets could potentially receive 125 of these aircraft in an order worth up to $1 billion that the carrier announced in fall 2010.
Piper Aircraft received FAA approval for the Garmin G1000 avionics suite aboard its Piper Archer models. Piper moved to equip its Archer, along with its twin Saratoga, as it works to increase its presence in the training market. The Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and CAE Oxford Aviation Academy are the initial fleet customers for the G1000-equipped Archer. FIT is slated to receive eight of the aircraft this year, while CAE Oxford Aviation Academy plans to receive 22 Archers in 2013. Both schools have options for follow-on orders.
NetJets is taking a cautious approach toward its operations in China, beginning with its management of whole aircraft for clients there, says Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell. Hansell acknowledges other companies have announced plans to begin fractional operations in China, and says he’s interested in watching how that develops. But the nature of the Chinese regulatory structure “does not lend itself to the flexibility” of fractional operations, he tells Aviation Week.
FAA dropped its furlough plans for all 47,000 workers in its employee base after Congress passed a bill permitting the agency to shift up to $253 million in funds to prevent “reduced operations and staffing.” But industry leaders and lawmakers late last week were still awaiting word whether it would also drop plans to end funding for 149 contract towers. Numerous lawmakers last week ratcheted up pressure on the agency to continue funding the towers.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is using a series of simulations as exercises to bolster communications among airports, the local community and operators during times of increased security threats, says Kerwin Wilson, manager of TSA’s General Aviation Branch. The simulation exercises come as the TSA reviews a draft update to general aviation airport security guidelines.
American Aero in Fort Worth has joined the Signature Select affiliate fixed-base operation program. Under Signature Select, American Aero will participate in Signature customer rewards programs, including Signature Status and Signature TailWins. American Aero also will reflect Signature Select along with its own branding and is participating in Signature’s safety and service training programs. American Aero is currently operating in an interim facility as its facility at Hangar 11N at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport is being upgraded.
The FAA is seeking companies to conduct airport operations and safety research at the agency’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J., and is accepting responses through May 9. According to a market survey issued on April 30, the agency is specifically looking for “competition level” companies able to conduct research, test and demonstration efforts related to operational efficiency, safety and enhanced infrastructure.
