MARK SAXTON has joined TWC Aviation as director, sales and acquisitions. In his new role, Saxton will help clients purchase and sell Embraer business jet aircraft. He previously served as regional sales director for Embraer Executive Jets, managing West Coast sales for eight years.
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND BR700-710 [Docket No. FAA-2012-1100; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-29-AD; Amendment 39-17385; AD 2013-05-13] – requires replacement of the affected fuel pump splined couplings. This AD was prompted by service experience that demonstrated premature wear of the splined coupling on the fuel pump. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine and loss of the airplane. FAA estimates the AD affects about 1,040 engines installed on U.S.-registered airplane at a cost of $1.6 million. The AD takes effect April 24.
The Aircraft Electronics Association released the first of what is to be an evolving series of avionics market reports, finding sales by 19 manufacturers reaching nearly $6.3 billion in 2012. The initial report, presented during the opening ceremonies of the association’s 56th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show at the MGM Grand Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, is designed to provide a picture of the value of the general aviation avionics market.
Malaysia’s Senai International Airport, which is located near the border with Singapore, is considering a VIP helicopter service to the city state’s Seletar Airport. Senai’s Assistant General Manager Commercial, Hariss Abdullah, speaking to Aviation Week on the sidelines of the LIMA Airshow in Malaysia, says a general aviation operator at Senai Airport has three helicopters and the airport may lease one more to support a VIP service.
Air traffic controllers are anxiously shifting duties and realigning workloads as they prepare for rolling furloughs beginning April 21 and the closures of up to 149 contract air traffic control towers beginning April 7. “It’s going to be rough in a month from now,” says Jim Marinitti, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) representative at the Miami Tower and Terminal Radar Area Approach Control (TRACON).
Beechcraft’s reaction to losing the U.S. Air Force’s Light Air Support (LAS) contract a second time reveals as much about the company’s post-bankruptcy financial worries as it does about the service’s contracting credibility.
Solairus, the San Francisco Bay area-based charter and management firm, is continuing its East Coast expansion with the addition of three new members to its sales team. Solairus has added Brain Velelis and Tony Ciaravino in its Manhattan regional sales office, along with Lisa Deny in Washington, D.C. The newest members of the sales team will help expand the company’s national and international retail client base. The East Coast regions are among 25 locations for the growing operator.
Tom Hendricks, who took the reins at the National Air Transportation Association late last summer, outlined a vision for the association to serve as the “Chamber of Commerce” for businesses at airports with an expanded membership. Speaking to a group of aviation business leaders in Teterboro, N.J. last week, Hendricks says he hopes to change association restrictions on membership to include many more businesses at airports that currently do not fall under the association’s reach.
Honeywell is set to receive initial certification of a combined satellite-based communications and helicopter health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), which will send real-time alerts of exceedances and maintenance issues to ground personnel. The development, which will be offered initially as an option under a supplemental type certificate on the Sikorsky S-76C++, combines the company’s Zing HUMS and the latest Sky Connect III version of Honeywell ’s satcom and aircraft tracking system.
Anchorage-based avionics engineering and services firm One Sky Aviation is working with Astronics and the Pilatus authorized service center network to develop a supplemental type certificate (STC) package to install the Max-Viz 1500 enhanced vision system (EVS) on Pilatus PC-12 and PC-12NG aircraft.
The FAA, releasing its final list of contract towers slated to close beginning April 7, shaved off 24 of the original air traffic control towers from the closure list and then postponed the closure of another 16 towers in the cost-share program until Sept. 30. But the remaining list of 149 contract towers still represents 60% of the entire contract tower program.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0721; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-076-AD; Amendment 39-17356; AD 2013-03-22] – requires replacing the existing cargo compartment liners with liners that comply. This AD was prompted by reports that airplanes with a Class C cargo (baggage) compartment have liners that do not meet flammability requirements. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent inadequate fire protection in the cargo compartment and consequent uncontrolled fire.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week launched an investigation into the third Beechraft 390 Premier crash in a month. Two of four people aboard died in the March 17 crash, including former University of Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis. The aircraft, N26DK, crashed on approach to South Bend Regional, Indiana. According to initial information compiled by Flight Safety Foundation’s Aero-Safety Network, the pilot had reported electrical problems, made a number of attempts to approach and then stalled on the final approach attempt, crashing into a home.
SIKORSKY Model S-64F helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0689; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-065-AD; Amendment 39-17301; AD 2012-26-06] – supersedes an existing AD, which requires inspections, rework, and replacement, if necessary, of the main gearbox (MGB) second stage lower planetary plate (plate). Since FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer has conducted a configuration review and analysis, and a review of the service history of certain components.
DAVID BOWMAN was named vice president of operations for Constant Aviation’s Cleveland facilities. Bowman formerly spent more than 28 years with Honeywell in a number of senior roles. He most recently was senior business manager, site leader, responsible for multiple locations in the Aviation Electronics Aftermarket Repair and Overhaul business.
BAILEY SIEGFRIED was promoted to vice president, global marketing, and added to the board of directors for Nordam. Siegfried joined the sales team for the company’s Repair Division in 2008, and most recently was director, global marketing and customer service. Before joining Nordam, Siegfried worked with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s commercial risk management group.
Canadian regional carrier Air Tindi has made significant safety upgrades in the wake of an October 2011 Cessna C208B Caravan accident that killed the pilot and one passenger. Two seriously injured passengers were rescued several hours later from the crash site in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
JODI HACKLER was promoted to vice president, ethics and compliance for Nordam. Hackler joined Nordam in 2011 as director, compliance and integrity. Before that, she held controller posts with Laredo Petroleum and Flint Energy Services, along with spending more than 12 years with IBM Business Consulting Services, all in Tulsa.
Heavy-lift helicopter specialist Erickson Air-Crane is acquiring operators in the U.S. and Brazil in a move to diversify from its niche in firefighting into a global aviation services business. The acquisition of Oregon-based Evergreen Helicopter (EHI) and Air Amazonia of Brazil for up to $350 million will double Erickson’s revenues and operating earnings. The deals will also take the Portland, Ore.-based company into new commercial and government markets, halving its dependence on seasonal firefighting revenues.
Beechcraft is showing little sign of backing down from its fight for the Light Air Support (LAS) contract, filing suit in the Court of Federal Claims to object to the U.S. Air Force’s decision to move ahead with work on the program during a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the LAS contract award.
The European Business Aviation Association is stepping up its efforts to curb illegal flight activity, outlining plans to seek more stringent regulation. Illegal charter flights have been a priority for the association in recent years, and it launched a formal campaign in early 2011 to help curb the activity.
PHIL MARSHALL joined Nordam as vice president and general manager for the Interiors and Structures Division. Marshall formerly was vice president of production operations for United Launch Alliance and general manager for Boeing facilities in Decatur, Ala. and Pueblo, Colo. He has held roles in industrial engineering, manufacture, assembly, testing and product support of space-launch vehicle components and commercial aircraft parts.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0240; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-060-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the tail rotor control stop screws to determine if they are correctly aligned and adjusting the screws if they are misaligned. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery of a loose nut on the tail rotor control stop and a misaligned tail rotor control stop screw.
The FAA, releasing its final list of contract towers slated to close beginning April 7, shaved off 24 of the original air traffic control towers from the closure list and then postponed the closure of another 16 towers in the cost-share program until Sept. 30. But the remaining list of 149 contract towers still represents 60% of the entire contract tower program.
