Cessna’s plan to bring up to six new or improved aircraft to market in 2013 is part of an overall strategy to build a new pipeline of products that will arrive just as the market for light and midsized aircraft is expected to strengthen, executives say. But it is also designed to build consumer confidence in a market that has remained uncertain for the past several years, executives say. “During the downturn, we worked very, very hard to continue new product development, says Brad Thress, senior vice president-business jets for Cessna.
General aviation groups welcome the confirmation of Michael Huerta as the next FAA administrator, saying permanent leadership at the agency’s helm is particularly important as FAA must tackle key environmental, certification and NextGen issues while operating under the threat of substantial budget cuts.
CAE has secured Level D approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for a Gulfstream G450/G550 full-flight simulator based in Shanghai. Training using the simulator will begin early this year at the Shanghai Eastern Flight Training Center in Shanghai’s Pudong Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone. CAE has sold more than 65 commercial aviation simulators to airlines in China and is expanding into the business aviation realm in that country with the Gulfstream simulator. Shanghai is CAE’s 10th business aviation training base worldwide.
Cutter Aviation received FAA supplemental type certification for a Garmin G950 glass cockpit panel retrofit package aboard Piper Meridian aircraft. The retrofit replaces either the originally installed Meggitt or Avidyne EFIS systems. Cutter worked with Garmin to develop the G950 package, which incorporates technology found on Garmin’s G1000 cockpit. The cockpit includes 12-in. Garmin GDU-1240A primary flight display (PFD) and multifunction display (MFD) units configured as either a two-display (single PFD/single MFD) or three display (dual PFD/single MFD) package.
LILLIAN ZARRELLI RYALS was promoted to director, senior vice president and general manager of the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) for Mitre. Ryals has served with Mitre since 1979, working with a broad range of national airspace system research, modernization and operations activities. She is responsible for CAASD’s work supporting the FAA and international civil aviation authorities’ efforts to address operational and technical challenges to meet global capacity, efficiency, safety and security needs.
As legislators in upcoming weeks renew negotiations over the federal deficit and looming cuts, business aviation advocates believe the most important thing lawmakers can do is make decisions to help bolster the economy. “Nothing would help us more than getting back to a growing economy,” says Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President and CEO Craig Fuller.
Gulfstream is expanding its completions capacity as it ramps up deliveries of completed G650s. The Savannah, Ga., manufacturer is adding about 100 workers to its Appleton, Wis., completions center to keep up with demand for completions work, including on the 650. The Appleton center currently employs 725 workers, including nearly 425 technicians. Gulfstream received full certification for the G650 in September and began initial deliveries last month. The company has a backlog extending into 2017 for its flagship business jet.
Hawker Beechcraft is seeking court approval for a “distress termination” of two of its three pension plans, calling the move critical for the completion of its reorganization and emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection next month.
Bell Helicopter has signed a pact with India’s Dynamatic Technologies Ltd. (DTL) to explore the possibility of a helicopter cabin assembly partnership. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the U.S.-based company will evaluate establishing Dynamatic as a subcontractor for the assembly of the airframe cabin for its 407 helicopters, as well as airframe components and details.
Bell has secured its 13th approval for a maximum gross weight increase for the Bell 429. The Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (INAC) in Venezuela validated the aircraft and approved a maximum gross weight increase to 7,500 lb. based on Transport Canada’s certification. FAA denied Bell’s petition for the increase, and the European Aviation Safety Agency has indicated that it was against the increase under Bell’s current Part 27 type certification.But Bell has appealed the FAA’s denial.
Garmin last week obtained FAA technical standard order authorization and approved model list (AML) supplemental type certification (STC) for the first dual-link ADS-B equipment for certified aircraft. Announced in July, the GDL is designed for Part 23 aircraft. The unit can receive both the 978 MHz UAT and 1090 MHz frequency, and provides access to traffic and weather information. Garmin plans to begin shipment of the units immediately.
Business aviation veteran Eric Hinson is stepping in as president of SimCom Training Centers. Hinson, who reports to SimCom CEO Wally David, will be responsible for the activities at SimCom’s four training centers. He will also be charged with identifying potential growth opportunities and helping further expand the company’s business base. Hinson has nearly three decades of aviation experience, beginning with the U.S. Navy, with which he flew the A7E Corsair and F/A-18 Hornet.
Air medical services specialist Air Methods is expanding into the air tour segment with its acquisition of Las Vegas operator Sundance Helicopters for $44 million in cash.
MICHAEL DIGEORGE was appointed managing director of Arinc’s Asia Pacific division based in Singapore. DiGeorge formerly served as senior director for E-enabled programs and was based in Hong Kong. He has more than 25 years of aviation, aerospace and defense experience. In his new role, he will grow Arinc’s business and infrastructure in Asia Pacific, supporting the company’s business lines including aviation communications, networking, airport operations and security.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105LS A-1, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1285; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-073-AD] – revises an earlier proposal which called for inspecting for debonding of the erosion protective shell (abrasion strip) on the leading edge of each main rotor blade. This supplemental proposed AD proposes to revise those inspection requirements by identifying specific dates of replacement of the applicable parts and identifying a specific inspection method for debonding of an abrasion strip.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No.FAA-2012-1226; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-122-AD] – proposes to require replacing the handle shaft with a new single-piece machined handle shaft on the aft entry and service doors, and require revising the maintenance program by incorporating a new airworthiness limitation task. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a translating door handle jamming during opening of an aft door.
General aviation groups believe 2013 is shaping up to be a pivotal year on the environmental front as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) tackles aviation emissions curbs and the general aviation industry works with FAA to replace leaded aviation gasoline. Environmental initiatives join a full plate of issues confronting the industry this year, ranging from NextGen and helicopter routes to the overhaul of Part 23 and FAA standardization.
Maxcraft Avionics, based near Vancouver, secured Transport Canada supplemental type certification for installation of the Sandel ST3400 Class A terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) on Hawker Beechcraft 1900C and 1900D aircraft. The TAWs unit meets new Transport Canada requirements for Enhanced Altitude Accuracy. Under the Maxcraft installation, the Sandel unit is integrated with existing compatible GPS receivers such as the Garmin GNS400/500 and GTN6XX/7XX series navigators, or can provide a new dedicated WAAS/GPS Sensor, if required.
DAVE NIEUWSMA was appointed vice president of Government Systems strategy and business development for Rockwell Collins. Nieuwsma, who has 20 years of experience, previously led the Government Systems Airborne Solutions unit for two years. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the company’s marketing and sales organization.
Gulfstream Aerospace promoted Steve Cass to vice president of communications. Cass, formerly director of sales support, will be responsible for internal and external communications at Gulfstream. He reports to Scott Neal, senior vice president of sales and marketing. Cass joined Gulfstream in 1992 and most recently coordinated activities at Gulfstream’s Savannah, Ga., sales and design center, as well as the sales development and sales engineering groups.
EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 and ERU 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1230; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-107-AD] – supersedes an existing AD that requires repetitive replacements of the low-stage check valve and associated seals of the right hand (RH) engine’s engine bleed system with a new check valve and new seals, replacing the low pressure check valves (LPCV), and revising the maintenance program. For certain other airplanes, the existing AD requires replacing a certain low-stage check valve with an improved low-stage check valve.
Airlines for America (A4A) has named Dan Elwell senior vice president for safety, security and operations. The position is a liaison with the Transportation and Homeland Security Departments, the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration. Elwell joins A4A from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), where he was VP-civil aviation. Prior to AIA, Elwell was FAA assistant administrator for aviation policy, planning and environment. Elwell will join A4A on Feb. 1.
Bell Helicopter is expanding its completion and customer delivery facility in Piney Flats, Tenn. The expansion, which Bell says represents a $10.1 million investment, is expected to accommodate up to 125 new workers. “We continue to see a growing demand for commercial helicopters, and Bell Helicopter’s anticipated production requirements are outpacing the size of our current facility in Piney Flats,” says Eric Cardinal, executive vice president, Customer Support and Services for Bell Helicopter. The expansion includes the purchase of a 150,000-sq.-ft.
