Airport revenue diversion remains an ongoing problem and may be more prevalent as budgets get tighter within local communities, says Randall Fiertz, director of FAA’s Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis. Over the past decade, the office has been conducting a couple of audits a year, and in every case except one revenue diversion was found, he told the National Air Transportation Association 2013 Aviation Business and Legislation Conference. The clean audit involved Orange County last year.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, L and L1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1087; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-32-AD; Amendment 39-17424; AD 2013-08-07] – requires an initial and repetitive inspections of the outer skin, butt strap, and fuselage frame for a crack and modification of the helicopter. This AD was prompted by an AD issued by the European Aviation Safety, which states that a crack was discovered in a fuselage frame during a daily check.
Keystone Aviation was named a dealer for Quest Aircraft’s Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft for Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Northern California. The addition marks the fourth manufacturer that Keystone represents. Others include Piper, EADS Socata and HondaJet. Quest, meanwhile, continues to expand its reach as it remains on pace to deliver its 100th aircraft by early fall. Originally designed for mission and humanitarian work, the Kodiak has been delivered for a range of uses, including personal use, Part 135 and government operations.
President Barack Obama on April 29 nominated the leader of a city with a USAirways hub to become the nation’s next transportation secretary, citing Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx’s experience in local government, relationships with other local government officials and advocacy for infrastructure improvements in his city. Those infrastructure projects included a third parallel runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which opened in 2010, as well as improvements for light rail and streetcar service.
PETER SHERLOCK was appointed senior vice president and director of Bedford operations for Mitre. Sherlock will be responsible for strengthening cross-sector research and development in cybersecurity, aviation, homeland security, law enforcement, and the financial and health care areas. He joined Mitre in 1986 and most recently was executive director for integration in the National Security Engineering Center.
BEN MURRAY has joined Landmark Aviation as president of its Aircraft Management and Charter unit. Murray has more than 15 years of experience in aircraft sales, maintenance, management, fractional and chart. He previously held president positions with Xojet, NetJets and Executive Jet Management.
Signature Flight Support is opening a satellite facility at Berlin Tegel in Germany, marking its second location in the area. Signature also operates a fixed-base operation at Berlin Schoenefel Airport. Tegel is the closest airport to the city center of Berlin. Signature also has operations in Frankfurt and Munich. The addition is part of an expansion plan to provide a full range of services for Berlin customers.
May 21–23—13th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2013), Geneva, Switzerland, (703) 783-9000, www.ebace.aero June 6—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, White Plains, N.Y., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 17-19—National Air Transportation Association 2013 Air Charter Summit, Marriott Dulles, Dulles, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero
Industry leaders are encouraged that they are seeing commitments from the highest levels of FAA to streamline the certification process, but plan to keep seeking congressional help to ensure that progress continues.
Millennium International has expanded its service offerings to include Honeywell Primus avionics suite support. The move bolsters Millennium’s support for Embraer ERJ 135/145 aircraft. Based near Kansas City, Millennium provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commercial, military and rotor-wing aircraft.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 variants) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0332; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-009-AD] – This proposes to require, for certain airplanes, inspecting for drain bottles having certain part numbers, and replacing affected drain bottles. This proposed AD would require, for certain other airplanes, replacing drain bottles. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of airspeed mismatch between the pilot and co-pilot’s airspeed indicators, which occurred during or after heavy rain.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1127; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-035-AD; Amendment 39-17423; AD 2013-08-06] – requires replacing certain components of the air data system. This AD was prompted by the discovery of incorrect indicated airspeed when the helicopter was tested to the cold temperature limits (-40 degrees centigrade) required for Category A operations. The actions of this AD are intended to correct the published Vne and to correct the indicated airspeed. FAA estimates that the AD affects 52 helicopters on the U.S.
AgustaWestland is planning a final assembly line for its new twin light-intermediate category AW169 helicopter at its Philadelphia facility. Assembly of the helicopter in Philadelphia will begin in May 2014, with first customer delivery in early 2015. AgustaWestland expects to ramp up Philadelphia production to 20 helicopters per year by 2017. The new line will be scalable based on demand. AgustaWestland’s facilities in Vergiate, Italy and Yeovil, U.K. will also be involved in AW169 production.
Cessna Aircraft has flown the first production model of the new Citation Sovereign, beginning the production flight-test program about six months after unveiling the upgraded aircraft. Cessna introduced the new Sovereign during the National Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting and convention in Orlando, Fla., in October, but the program had long since been under way.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0341; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-025-AD] – proposes to require, for affected helicopters with certain emergency flotation gear installed, inspecting the float for chafing of the fabric covering and adding protectors to the float installation to prevent contact between the float and the protruding sections of the installation. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a float that would not inflate during overhaul because one of the float compartments was punctured due to chafing.
CAV Ice Protection has named AirNet Systems an authorized installer of the CAV TKS aircraft ice protection system. The authorization covers AirNet’s headquarters facility at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, along with facilities in St. Louis and Tampa, Fla. Installation work has begun at the 53,000-sq.-ft. Rickenbacker facility. The appointment is part of a strategy to make TKS installation more accessible to customers, says Ken Weaver, CAV Ice Protection vice president – sales and marketing.
Embraer’s results slid in the first quarter thanks to sagging commercial sales, but an improved mix of business jet sales helped buffer the results and an improving backlog positions the company to gain strength throughout the year.
Jet Aviation completed a refurbishment of its fixed-base operation (FBO) in Geneva. The company plans to hold an opening celebration of the updated facility during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE). The project nearly doubled the facility’s size to 648 sq. meters and includes a new Jet Aviation brand design that is being incorporated throughout Jet Aviation’s FBO and maintenance, repair and overhaul network.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0306; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-049-AD; Amendment 39-17417; AD 2013-07-13] – requires revising the aircraft flight manual (AFM); performing operational tests of the oxygen mask oxygen assembly; and replacing affected stowage boxes, which terminates the AFM revision and operational tests. This AD was prompted by failure of the flight crew oxygen supply due to a potentially defective flight crew mask oxygen assembly.
SUSAN ASELAGE was promoted to president for Sabreliner. Aselage also serves as vice chairman and vice president, secretary and assistant treasurer. She was the second employee to join Sabreliner when it was established in 1983. She most recently had managed the corporation’s risk insurance program and maintenance of all corporate records. Her duties have expanded to include supporting current customers and generating new business, while overseeing operational efficiencies and improvements.
SHARI JONES was named senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Xojet. Jones will be responsible for developing integrated brand strategies for the San Francisco-based operator. Jones has more than 15 years of corporate brand management and marketing experience, most recently holding a consumer marketing position at Levi Strauss & Co. She has also served as a consultant with Bain Co., where she worked with clients in the consumer products, health care and private equity sectors.
The Santa Monica Airport in California is more than doubling its aircraft landing fees of $2.07 certified maximum gross landing weight per 1,000 lb. to $5.48 beginning Aug. 1. The Santa Monica City Council approved the change last week in an effort to cover what city officials have said has been a continuing shortfall that’s been ongoing for years. The fees will be applied both to transient and based aircraft.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0216; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-206-AD] – proposes to require revising the maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitation tasks. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that certain flap actuators require restoration by installing a redesigned flap actuator inboard pinion seal. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent flap system failure, and consequent reduced landing performance of the airplane.
California lawmakers are pushing Congress to adopt legislation that would mandate helicopter operating restrictions over Los Angeles, but FAA Administrator Michael Huerta is backing voluntary measures that he says would provide relief much more quickly.
