Cirrus Aircraft is increasing the SR22/SR22T gross weight to 3,600 lb. The company says the increase will enable the aircraft to carry an extra person, more baggage or additional cargo while carrying more fuel. The aircraft can carry five passengers more than 700 nm. Cirrus developed the “Generation 5” change after conducting a comprehensive aircraft review. Generation 5 involves alterations to increase airframe load and provide aerodynamic and flight performance improvements.
JASON LITTLE joined NationAir Aviation Insurance as a sales executive. Based in Atlanta, Little will handle NationAir’s agricultural and general aviation insurance sales in the Southeast U.S.
GROB Model G115EG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0013; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-046-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections of the elevator trim tab arm to detect cracks and, if detected, replacement of the part with a serviceable part. The proposal would provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites reports of cracks found in the elevator trim tab arms on several Grob G 115 airplanes.
More public endorsements for general aviation and the aviation industry in general: 12 mayors in Virginia have signed a petition asking President Barack Obama to recognize the value of general aviation and to drop his support of a $100-per-flight user fee. The Alliance for Aviation Across America, which helped coordinate the letter, says general aviation contributes more than $728 million into the economy every year and supports 5,200 jobs. The Virginia letter follows a similar letter sent by 15 Ohio mayors in late December.
Jet Aviation’s facility in St. Louis recently reached a milestone when it completed its 200th green aircraft. The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605, was completed in December and delivered 11 days ahead of schedule. The 199th aircraft, a Bombardier Global 6000, was delivered the day before the Challenger 605, and that aircraft was 10 days ahead of schedule. The recent deliveries marked the results of a number of changes that Jet Aviation has implemented over the past couple of years to make its completions operations more efficient.
CRAIG SMITH was named manager of Blackhawk Modification’s newly formed aircraft sales department. Smith has more than 28 years of aircraft marketing experience and more than 3,600 flight hours with multiple ratings. He will be responsible for managing the brokerage and upgrade process for Blackhawk Modifications, including locating Cessna Caravans for upgrade and resale in the market.
HONEYWELL air data pressure transducers [Docket No. FAA-2012-1315; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-191-AD; Amendment 39-17310; AD 2012-26-15] – requires, for certain transducers, tests or checks of equipment having certain air data pressure transducers, and removal of equipment if necessary. As an option to the tests or checks, this AD allows removal of affected equipment having certain air data pressure transducers.
Garmin is releasing a new series of aviation VHF COM and NAV/COM radios, the GTR and GNC series, replacing the SL 30 and SL 40 products. The GTR COM transceivers and the GTR NAV/COM radios will meet the requirements of the 8.33 kHz channel spacing mandate recently enacted by the European Union under the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. They also will incorporate new features, such as reversed database look-up, to reduce pilot workload, Garmin says. The SES mandate requires all aircraft using European airspace to be equipped with 8.33 kHz radios by Dec. 31, 2017.
Bombardier’s Flexjet fractional operation is planning modest growth in its fleet with new Learjets coming online and possible additional Challenger 605s, but plans to celebrate the anchor of its fleet – the Challenger 300 – even as competitive pressures grow within the market with that model.
Hawker Beechcraft is lining up $600 million in financing as part of its plan to formally exit bankruptcy next month. At the same time, the Wichita airframer is defending its request for a “distress termination” of two of its three pension plans, saying it would be “impossible” to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection otherwise. The company filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for authorization to move forward with the financing packages to emerge from bankruptcy.
Cleveland-based Nextant Aerospace is taking steps to build its presence internationally with the hiring of former Hawker Beechcraft senior executive Sean McGeough as president. McGeough had served as president-Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific for Hawker Beechcraft, where he led all of the company’s sales in the region. McGeough, an aviation veteran who also held sales positions with Diamond Aircraft, plans to use his contact network to help expand Nextant’s base in international markets, he tells Aviation Week.
A government-industry panel is urging FAA to review its operations specifications (OpSpecs) to ensure that they are clear and not used as a “proxy for rulemaking.” The Consistency of Regulation Interpretation Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) last week wrote FAA Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety Margaret Gilligan detailing a number of problems it found with OpSpecs that could create confusion with FAA inspectors and industry alike.
JAMES FUNK was appointed vice president of operations for Piper Aircraft. Funk has nearly 30 years of operations management, manufacturing engineering and program leadership experience. He formerly was general manager of operations for Bombardier’s Learjet 85 program. Before that, he was vice president of operations for Hawker Beechcraft Corp. In his new role, he is responsible for aircraft manufacturing operations, production engineering, logistics and quality.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0632; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-044-AD; Amendment 39-17305; AD 2012-26-10] – requires inspecting portions of the main gearbox (MGB) for the presence of sealing compound and corrosion. This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion on the main MGB casing lower area between the two servo-control anchoring fitting attachment ribs.
The Federal Communications Commission is planning to solicit comment shortly on the “appropriate treatment” of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). The agency has released a notice that is expected to be printed in the Federal Register in upcoming weeks that questions whether, how and when the continued use of the 121.5 MHz ELTs should be phased out. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association calls FCC’s notice a measured approach to the issue.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA (P&WC) PW118, PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-AD; Amendment 39-17303; AD 2012-26-08] – supersedes an AD that requires initial and repetitive inspections of certain serial numbers (S/Ns) of propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service if found cracked.
U.K. officials are calling for a review of helicopter operations over London following the fatal crash of an Agusta A109 on Jan. 16. Two people, including the pilot, died when the aircraft struck a crane in poor weather. Kate Hoey, member of Parliament for the area of London where the helicopter crashed, called for an examination of “where and how and why helicopters fly through our city,” particularly with London’s rising skyline.
THIELERT Models TAE 125-01, TAE 125-02-99, and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0820; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-31-AD; Amendment 39-17308; AD 2012-26-13] – supersedes an AD that requires installation of full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) software version 2.91. This new AD requires removing all software mapping versions prior to 292, 301, or 302, applicable to the TAE engine model. This AD was prompted by reports of possible power loss on airplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines.
Avfuel has added Vail Valley Jet Center to its network of branded dealers. Vail Valley Jet Center is offering Avfuel contract fuel and is participating in the Avfuel contract fuel and Avtrip Points program. The fixed-base operator is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Signature Flight Support is building a new facility at its London Luton location, part of a series of investments the fixed-base operation (FBO) chain has been making as it expands and upgrades its locations. The company last week held a groundbreaking ceremony at Luton for a new 65,000-sq.-ft. FBO and hangar complex to replace the existing facility.
Engineers hunting for the cause of a gearbox issue that has grounded the North Sea fleet of Eurocopter EC225 helicopters say their search may extend further into 2013 than originally planned. Eurocopter had hoped it would find the root cause of the main gearbox (MGB) problem, which forced pilots to carry out controlled ditchings of two EC225s into the North Sea last year, and be able to return the EC225 fleet to full operational capability by the end of February.
BELL 205A, 205A-1 and 205B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0601; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-033-AD; Amendment 39-17306; AD 2012-26-11] – requires replacing the power cable assemblies and their associated parts, and performing continuity readings. This AD was prompted by the determination that the power cable assembly connector can deteriorate, causing a short in the connector that may lead to a fire in the starter/generator, smoke in the cockpit that reduces visibility, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Eclipse Aerospace remains on track to bring new Eclipse very light jets to market in July, Chairman and CEO Mason Holland says. The company in June restarted the production line that had been shuttered for nearly four years. Eclipse executives, who bought the program out of bankruptcy in August 2009, have maintained that they have had the resources to resume production, but first wanted to realign the supplier team and wait for the market to improve before building new aircraft.
