The National Transportation Safety Board is meeting April 9 to discuss the probable cause of the Aug. 26 crash of a Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter near the Midwest National Air Center in Mosby, Mo. The pilot, flight nurse, flight paramedic, and patient were killed, and the helicopter was substantially damaged.
FAA has granted operators of small business aircraft a two-year exemption that permits them to participate in certain cost-sharing arrangements that are available to large aircraft operators. The approval, for National Business Aviation Association members, extends an ongoing exemption, but came just before that last extension was set to expire April 1.
DAVID ASHTON was promoted to executive vice president for business development and technology for Cobham. Ashton, most recently vice president of Cobham’s Tactical Communications & Surveillance strategic business unit, becomes a member of the company’s group executive committee in his new role. He has more than 20 years of aerospace and defense experience.
ROBINSON Model R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1088; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-005-AD; Amendment 39-17387; AD 2013-05-15] – requires, for affected helicopters equipped with emergency floats, replacing the inflation valve assembly. This AD was prompted by the failure of the emergency floats to deploy during a factory test because a needle was binding within the inflation valve assembly. The actions are intended to prevent the failure of the floats to inflate during an emergency landing. FAA estimates the AD affects 165 helicopters on the U.S.
Rizon Jet received an approved maintenance organization (AMO) designation from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority for its facility in Doha, Qatar. The authorization permits Rizon’s Doha facility to perform maintenance, repairs and inspections on business aircraft registered under the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan. Rizon, which also operates a Part 145 facility at London Biggin Hill, is equipped to service various Bombardier and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft at both facilities.
HUGHES HELICOPTERS AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0890; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-019-AD; Amendment 39-17388; AD 2013-05-16] – requires, for helicopters with certain serial-numbered tailboom assemblies, measuring the distance between aft longeron rivets and the outboard edge of frame rings. If the distance is too short to ensure a safe flight, the AD requires installing a doubler. This AD was prompted by the discovery of short-edge margin conditions on two tailboom assemblies.
Signature Flight Support is planning to continue its rapid growth as San Jose, Calif., officials are scheduled to meet April 9 to give final approval for a new Signature fixed-base operation (FBO) complex at San Jose International Airport. The $82 million complex, to encompass 270,000 sq. ft. over 29 acres, will be the FBO chain’s largest. Work on that facility could begin by the end of the fourth quarter, says Maria Sastre, Signature Flight Support president and COO. Signature is partnering with Google executives on the project.
SIKORSKY Model S-61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and V helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0085; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-004-AD; Amendment 39-17389; AD 2013-05-17] – requires replacing each forward and aft fuel system 40 micron fuel filter element with a 10 micron nominal (40 micron absolute) fuel filter element.
JULIAN HELLEBRAND was promoted to executive vice president for life cycle management and program management for Cobham. Hellebrand most recently has been chief of staff to the CEO and group director of communications. He will retain those roles until a successor is appointed. He has more than 25 years in project and program management experience.
A. U.S. District Court ruling this week supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s stance that it is not yet ready to issue a finding that lead emissions from general aviation may endanger public health. EPA last summer denied a 2006 petition from the Friends of the Earth (FOE) to issue an endangerment finding and propose standards regulating the use of leaded aviation gasoline, saying it needed to gather more evidence. EPA contended that such a finding could not be made until the second half of 2015.
DAVID WELCH was named vice president of sales for SkyWay Aero. Welch, who has more than 25 years of aviation experience, joined the company in January 2009. Before that he served as an aviation researcher for Gantt Aviation, aircraft sales manager for West Air and regional sales member for Texas Piper. He also launched Intgrity Aero in 2000, selling the firm in 2008.
General aviation supporters on Capitol Hill are renewing their opposition to White House proposals to impose air traffic control user fees. The Obama administration will unveil its budget April 10, and general aviation advocates are preparing for a return of past efforts to impose a $100-per-flight air traffic control user charge. GA Caucus members have drafted a letter in the House once again expressing opposition to user fees. The letter, addressed to President Obama, calls the fees the “wrong approach” and asks him to abandon the idea.
April 16–18—Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013), Shanghai, China, (703) 783-9000, www.abace.aero April 16-18—Aviation Week MRO Americas 2013 Conference & Exhibition, George World Congress Center, Atlanta, www.aviationweek.com/events April 22-23—National Air Transportation Association Aviation Business and Legislative Conference, Renaissance Capital View, Arlington, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero April 29-30—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Munich, Germany, www.aea.net/events.asp
Seven years after it set out to transfer the U.K.’s search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter service from the Royal Air Force to a commercial contractor, the government has awarded Bristow Group a £1.6 billion ($2.4 billion) contract to operate 22 helicopters from 10 bases across the country. U.K. subsidiary Bristow Helicopters will operate a mix of AgustaWestland AW139s and Sikorsky S-92s, replacing RAF Westland Sea Kings and AW139s and S-92s operated by Bristow and CHC Helicopter for the U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Garmin, which expanded into the Part 25 market in 2010, is widening its reach at the smaller end of market with a range of new products for experimental and light-sport aircraft. Garmin unveiled its first seven products targeted for the experimental market that were designed by a dedicated engineering team – many of whose members are pilots and home builders.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0641; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-17378; AD 2013-05-06] – requires modifying the left-hand engine upper core-cowl. This AD was prompted by reports of jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) opened a new satellite service station in Van Nuys, Calif. to provide inspections, troubleshooting and line maintenance for all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series models, along with the Falcon 7X. “Our new satellite service station in Van Nuys is ideally positioned to serve the high concentration of Falcon operators based there, as well as the significant volume of transient traffic that comes through the area,” says Bob Sundin, senior vice president and COO of Dassault Aircraft Services.
NetJets reached Level IV of FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) pilot program, becoming the first private aviation/ Part 135/91K operator to reach the level. The SMS pilot involves a four-level system that recognizes the development and extent of the program. To reach Level IV, NetJets conducted thousands of hours of additional safety training for its employee group and created new management review procedures.
Airport executives are looking at their internal budgets hoping to come up with money to save 149 contract air traffic control towers that are slated to close beginning next month, but officials fear that few individual airports have the resources necessary to privatize the towers. FAA on March 22 announced plans to shutter about 60% of the contract towers as part of its effort to make requisite cuts under sequestration.
Eclipse Aerospace moved closer to bringing its Eclipse 550 very light jet to market with the receipt of an amended production certificate (PC) covering final assembly, test and certification.
