Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services (RECAS) acquired Westfield, Mass.-based fixed-base operator AirFlyte. Details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Rectrix called the acquisition a “strategic link” in its plans to expand on the East Coast. AirFlyte founder Gary Potts will remain as president of the Westfield facility. “An important factor in our decision to make this acquisition was the agreement of Gary to stay on as president of AirFlyte, thus assuring a seamless continuity of business,” says RECAS President and CEO Richard Cawley.
MARK TAYLOR was promoted to managing director of H+S Aviation, a BBA subsidiary. Taylor will oversee day-to-day activities of the engine repair and overhaul company. He joined H+S in 1990 as an engineer, and has since held roles in customer service, quality assurance, continuous improvement, operations and business management. He also spent several years with H+S affiliate Dallas Airmotive and most recently was general manager of H+S.
Sterling Partners, a Chicago-based private equity company, acquired an established aviation-maintenance college and plans to build partnerships with airlines, aircraft manufacturers and MRO providers, enhance the school’s Tulsa, Okla., campus and open new campuses. “We’re particularly excited about the opportunity to develop deeper partnerships with the industry,” says Jason Rosenberg, a principal with Sterling Partners.
For general aviation, the return on investment in NextGen aircraft equipage may not be as apparent as it is for commercial air transport operators, an industry analyst says. The U.S. NextGen air traffic control modernization program could yield $281 billion through 2035, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s 2013 Global Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook. This includes fuel efficiency gains and reductions in weather-related and congestion delays.
Business aviation veteran Jim Christiansen joined FlightSafety International as vice president, international business development. Christiansen will look for opportunities to expand FlightSafety’s programs and services globally. He joins FlightSafety after serving as vice president of sales for Hawker Beechcraft, where he managed Hawker business jet sales in the Eastern U.S. He also spent nearly 10 years with NetJets in senior executive positions, including as president of NetJets Aviation and senior vice president, national accounts.
Business aircraft accidents were down overall worldwide in 2012, but those involving U.S. business jets have been increasing, according to the latest statistics from business aviation safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates. At the same time, U.S. helicopter accidents jumped notably in 2012, while the non-U.S.-registered helicopter fleet improved its safety record.
MARK LEFEVER was named chief operating officer for Avjet Corp. Lefever joined Avjet in 1989 as executive vice president and became a partner in the company. He became president in 2005.
BRIAN SCHANK was appointed product support sales director for Gulfstream Aerospace. Schank, based in Savannah, Ga., will be responsible for maintenance sales to both Gulfstream and non-Gulfstream operators in Alabama, West Virginia and along the East Coast. He is a 24-year Gulfstream employee who most recently was director, business and program support, product support sales.
CESSNA Models 190, 195, 195A and 195B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-18033; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-16-AD] – proposes, for aircraft equipped with certain inboard aileron hinge brackets, to supersede an existing AD that requires repetitive inspections of the affected inboard aileron hinge brackets for cracks or corrosion and replace them if cracks or corrosion is found. Replacement with aluminum brackets would terminate the need for the repetitive inspections.
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.
