Air Works in India plans to expand into cabin refurbishment for business jets over the next two years, adding to its maintenance, repair and overhaul expertise on numerous types of business aircraft. The activity will be based at its Mumbai hangar in Chembur. It will, the company says, be the first of its kind interiors facility in India. Last year it unveiled a prototype midsized aircraft interior in conjunction with auto icon Dilip Chhabria Design.
Jet Aviation, which recently realigned and downsized its European operations, is expanding in other regions. Jet Aviation’s Dubai operation opened a fixed-base operation at Al Maktoum International Airport. The FBO is the company’s second base in Dubai, complementing the existing facility at Dubai International Airport. The new facility will provide 24/7 handling service, along with a range of aircraft services.
Aircare Solutions Group, an Olympia, Wash.-based group of companies that provide emergency procedures training, medical assistance and crew staffing, has joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), bringing ACSF’s membership to more 100 companies.
Eurocopter is planning to retrofit the worldwide AS350B3e fleet with a modification to solve a tail rotor issue by August. The manufacturer, owned by EADS, says the retrofit, which involves the removal of chin weights fitted to the tail rotor assembly and the installation of a load compensator, will fix issues suffered by operators of the B3e variant of the Ecureuil single-engined light helicopter that was launched by the manufacturer at the 2011 Heli-Expo event.
Hawker Beechcraft is developing both short- and long-term plans to address a recurring landing gear part fatigue cracking problem highlighted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). An NTSB investigation focused on cracked nose landing gear (NLG) hydraulic actuator end caps that came to light when the gear collapsed on a Great Lakes Airlines Beech 1900D just after landing at Denver International Airport on May 17, 2011. That incident was traced to insufficient hydraulic pressure caused by a cracked cap.
The long-delayed solicitation for proposals to host six unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites across the U.S. has been issued by the FAA, along with the agency’s proposed approach to addressing public concerns over privacy.
EUROCOPTER Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-AD] – proposes to require inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes, and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This proposed AD is prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may lead to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could cause a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 693 helicopters on the U.S.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model 400A aircraft [Docket No. FAA-2012-1111; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-114-AD; Amendment 39-17342; AD 2013-03-07] – requires installing an inline fuse in the 5-volt DC system for each of the five instrument lighting control power supplies. This AD was prompted by a report that the wiring for the 5-volt direct current (DC) system is undersized and does not have adequate circuit protection for the smaller gauge wire.
The business and general aviation market continues its sluggishness as billings dipped slightly overall and business jet and piston aircraft deliveries faltered in 2012, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) annual shipment report released last week. And, whether that market improves at all this year – at least in North America – could hinge upon the high-level debate on how to avoid sequestration and tackle the national debt, GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce says.
RYAN ISAACS was promoted to assistant chief pilot for Executive AirShare. Isaac, who became an Executive AirShare pilot last year, has more than 6,800 flight hours and is rated in the Embraer Legacy and Phenom 100 and 300. Before joining the company, he was a captain with Miami-based Leon Aviation and a first officer for American Eagle Airlines.
GippsAERO/ Mahindra Aerospace achieved numerous milestones in 2012 that will underpin its expansion into larger aircraft. The year marked the first flight of its Rolls-Royce turboprop-powered GA10 evolution of the GA8, and the opening of the manufacturing hangar in Traralgon, Australia, for the GA18TP development of the twin-engined GAF Nomad. In addition, the 175th GA8 Airvan rolled off the production line, taking the record for the most Australian-produced civil certified aircraft.
President Barack Obama did not specify corporate jets during his Feb. 12 State of the Union speech, but the continued discussion about eliminating “tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and well-connected” leaves industry leaders and Republican lawmakers wary about the continued push to change business aircraft depreciation schedules.
Bangalore-based Empire Aviation, set up last year after Indian MRO specialist Air Works made a $30 million strategic investment in Empire’s parent company in Dubai, has taken its first business jet under management—a Challenger 300 that flies from HAL Airport. It is in discussions for three more aircraft, and plans to have five under management in India by the middle of this year. Challenges facing the development of private aviation in India include tough regulations on aircraft importation and ownership, says Paras Dhamecha, executive director of Empire Aviation.
Part 135 operators are concerned that FAA’s proposed contract maintenance rulemaking will impose a series of costly new mandates, goes beyond the scope intended by Congress and does not take into account the differences between Part 121 and 123 operations. FAA issued the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in November 2012 calling for operators to keep an updated list of maintenance contractors, create more contractor-centric maintenance instructions and include them in their maintenance manuals.
DOWTY R408/6-123-F/17 model propellers [Docket No. FAA-2009-0776; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-32-AD] – proposes to revise an AD that requires initial applications of sealant between the bus bar assembly and the backplate assembly of certain line-replaceable units (LRUs), and repetitive applications of sealant on all R408/6-123-F/17 model propellers. Since FAA issued that AD, Dowty has introduced an optional terminating action to the applications of sealant. This proposed AD would add the optional terminating action.
Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Center, which in 2011 became the first dedicated business aviation maintenance facility to receive Chinese approval, has also become the first to obtain FAA Part 145 certification.
A Finmeccanica bribery scandal has prompted the Indian government to defer a decision on the much-awaited $1.5 billion purchase of 197 light utility helicopters for its military. The defense acquisition council, headed by Defense Minister A.K. Antony, decided to delay a deal for the reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) hours after the Indian government ordered a federal probe into alleged corruption in the sale of 12 AW101 VVIP helicopters to the Indian air force (IAF) by AgustaWestland, the helicopter company owned by Italy’s Finmeccanica.
FAA is revising a proposed airworthiness directive (AD) covering air conditioning (A/C) systems on nearly 2,000 Cessna Citations to incorporate new procedures developed by the Wichita airframer, but the agency rejected requests to extend the compliance times. The proposal, initially released in September, would require an inspection to determine if certain A/C compressor motors are installed. The proposal also calls for a repetitive replacement of the drive motor brushes or, as an option to brush replacement, deactivation of the A/C system.
Xojet, already one of the fastest-growing operators, is partnering with Travel Management Company (TMC) in a move that will effectively double its available fleet and add a fourth type to its portfolio of offerings. Under the partnership, Xojet will be able to offer flights aboard TMC’s fleet of Hawker 400XP and Hawker 800XP aircraft. The aircraft will continue to be operated by TMC under the TMC brand, but will be available for Xojet programs, including its Fixed-Price Charter and Preferred Access.
NELSON GARCIA has joined FirstFlight’s scheduling and dispatch group. Garcia has nearly 15 yr. of customer support experience and spent the past five years involved in Latin American aviation operations from his base in Mexico City. He most recently served as director of sales and government affairs for Pegasus Flight Support. He also has served as a liaison manager and customer service representative, air export customer service representative, flight operations supervisor and operations manager.
Daher-Socata’s TBM700/850 single-turboprop fleet has amassed more than 1 million flight hours, a milestone accumulated during 20 years of operation. More than 620 TBMs have been produced, and the fleet now averages more than 120,000 flight hours annually.
A partnership between Signature Flight Support and a company representing the personal aircraft of Google executives is emerging as the winning bidder for what could be one of the largest fixed-base operation (FBO) developments undertaken. The city of San Jose last week announced its intent to award a potential long-term lease and operating permit for the Signature/Blue City Holdings partnership to operate an FBO at Norman Mineta San Jose International Airport. The $82 million proposal, which is expected to be refined, initially calls for more than 120,000 sq. ft.
A U.K. helicopter operator has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to begin flying air ambulance operations using night vision goggles (NVG).
