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.
REIMS AVIATION Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1346; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-047-AD] – proposes to require inspection of the pushrods and horizontal tail structure to detect fretting, bending or eccentricity and, depending on findings, replacement with a serviceable pushrod, or repair. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites a report of retting (wear and/or chafing) found between the elevator pushrod assembly and horizontal tail structure.
Aerion Corporation promoted Doug Nichols to CEO and appointed him to the board of directors. Nichols, who had been COO, will be responsible for all of Aerion’s corporate activities. He also will be responsible for Desktop Aeronautics, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based software and consultancy firm that Aerion recently acquired. Nichols, who formerly spent 30 years with Boeing, also was CFO for Aerion.
DARWIN STOUT was named product support sales director for Gulfstream Aerospace. Stout, who is relocating to Southern California, will be responsible for sales along the West Coast, mountain states, Hawaii, Alaska, parts of Canada, and Central and South America. Stout has served with Gulfstream for 17 years, most recently as a national sales manager for product support sales.
RICHARD HILDENBRAND was promoted to president of Avjet Corp. Hildenbrand joined Avjet in 1995 as director of aircraft management and became executive vice president in 2006.
Cessna is releasing a series of service bulletins for the installation of Astronics Corporation’s Max-Viz-600 enhanced vision system (EVS) on newer model Cessna 172 Skyhawk, 182 Skylane or 206 Stationair single-piston aircraft. The bulletins provide the factory provisions for retrofit of the systems on the aircraft. The retrofit has received both FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency approval. The Max-Viz systems are also offered as optional equipment on new Skyhawks, Skylanes and Stationairs.
THIELERT TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD; Amendment 39-17307; AD 2012-26-12] – requires inspection of the oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is required before next flight. This AD was prompted by an inflight shutdown of an airplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine.
Bombardier’s Business Aviation division enjoyed gains across the board with orders jumping 80% in 2012. Bombardier received 343 net orders in 2012, compared with 191 a year earlier. Bombardier’s business jet deliveries, meanwhile, were relatively flat in 2012 at 179 aircraft. The manufacturer delivered 163 aircraft in 2011, but that only reflects activity of the final 11 months (an accounting change to a calendar fiscal year shortened the 2011 reporting time frame). The 2012 deliveries were actually at about the same pace – only slightly increased from 2011.
U.K. air accident investigators have widened their search into the root cause of gearbox failures that forced the crews of two Eurocopter EC225 helicopters to ditch into the North Sea last year. In late 2012, investigators from the U.K. Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) linked their probes into two controlled ditchings of EC225s – one operated by Bond Offshore in May and a second operated by CHC Scotia in October. The rest of the North Sea EC225 fleet was grounded in the U.K. and Norway following the incidents.
