TROY BRUNK was named vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. Brunk, who joined Rockwell Collins in 1992, previously was senior director of Airborne Communications Products. In his new role, he oversees the company’s business that provides avionics and flight deck products for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The organization also includes the company’s unmanned airborne systems business.
GIPPSAERO GA200 and GA200C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0946; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-037-AD; Amendment 39-17294; AD 2012-18-10 R1] – revises an existing AD that requires inspection of the inboard (upper) wing strut fitting. That AD stemmed from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority that cites reports of failure of the wing strut bolt through the main spar. The AD extends the repetitive inspection compliance time from 100 to 500 hr.
CESSNA (previously Columbia or Lancair) Models LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1330; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-006-AD] – proposes to require insertions into the pilot’s operating handbook (POH) and the airplane maintenance manuals (AMM) regarding proper use of the brakes and inspection of the aft fuselage.
Bombardier’s business aircraft programs are entering this year with momentum, with plans for three new aircraft to enter service and orders growing for both its larger and light jets. Bombardier capped last year with announced orders for six of its new Learjet 75s, valued at $81 million, and five Global 6000s valued at $293 million. The latest order brought the total firm Global family orders announced last year alone to 93 aircraft valued at $5.3 billion. The Global 6000 accounts for 52 of last year’s announced firm orders.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0496; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-263-AD; Amendment 39-17283; AD 2012-25-02] – supersedes an existing AD that currently requires revising the airworthiness limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the Canadair Regional Jet Maintenance Requirements, manually incorporating new procedures for repetitive detailed and special detailed inspections for cracking of the aft pressure bulkhead.
Corporate Air Parts was selected to provide training for charter operator JetSuite. Corporate Air Parts and its CAPS Flight Crew Training provide emergency crew training, including hypoxia recognition, first aid and cabin training services.
Ametek is solidifying its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base in Miami with the acquisition of Aero Components International (ACI) and Avtech Avionics. ACI expands Ametek’s reach in the Miami market for the repairs and overhaul of hydraulic, pneumatic, power generation and heat exchanger components. Avtech provides repair capabilities for both new and legacy avionics. Both are located near Ametek’s High Standard Aviation MRO operation in Miami, which also specializes in electrical/electromechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic repair services.
French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation has named Eric Trappier to replace outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne, who will step down Jan. 8.
Asset Insight has developed an aircraft grading system to help buyers, sellers and financial services companies evaluate an aircraft’s maintenance condition. The Asset Grading System Process provides an index to evaluate and compare technical conditions of different aircraft. The process analyzes age, hours, cycles on airframe, engines, propellers, auxiliary power unit, paint and interior, along with cost to repair or replace parts with no defined life.
New FAA rules are simplifying the process of obtaining certification for significant changes to products that are already type certified. A final rule published this month narrows the scope of the certification requirements to require that only areas affected by changes meet the latest airworthiness standards. This revises regulations adopted in 2000 that requires a certification applicant demonstrates that the entire “changed product” comply with “applicable” airworthiness standards.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski ( D-Md.) will lead the Senate Appropriations Committee, replacing Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat who died earlier last week of respiratory complications. She picks up the gavel after Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who was next in line in terms of seniority, opted to remain the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Garmin has expanded its international charting options with the release European VFR and IFR charts for the aera 795/796 aviation portable GPS. The VFR data is sourced directly from Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS). “Pilots have flown behind DFS paper charts for years, but the ability to display the charts electronically is something our European customers have been asking for,” says Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. Garmin earlier this year introduced European VFR terminal charts, or Bottlang charts, from Jeppesen for the aera 795/796.
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) high-level working group on climate change, which met this month in Montreal, will reconvene in January, several months earlier than previously expected. At the first round of meetings, the high-level group established an agenda to combat aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering, the parent company of ST Aerospace, has entered into an agreement to buy Volant Aerospace, a company headquartered in Burlington, Wash., that specializes in aircraft interiors. The agreement stipulates that ST Engineering will buy 100% of Volant for $13.1 million, “subject to post-closing adjustments,” says ST Engineering, adding that it hopes to complete the transaction by the end of this month. Following the acquisition, Volant will become a subsidiary of ST Engineering’s VT Aerospace, a U.S.
Gulfstream has begun delivery of the first completed G650 aircraft. Deliveries began as Gulfstream received the production certificate and European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the aircraft.
Jet Aviation Basel recently installed a Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management and high-definition (HD) entertainment system on an Airbus A319 CJ. The installations include HD monitors and digital audio throughout the aircraft for Blu-Ray and other high-resolution content, including flight information from Rockwell Collins’ Airshow 3D Moving Map. Venue has been installed on more than 17 business aircraft.
EMBRAER Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0590; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-112-AD; Amendment 39-17265; AD 2012-23-09] – supersedes an AD that requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate modifications in the Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of the Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR). This new AD requires revising the maintenance program to include new inspection tasks and their respective thresholds and intervals.
AGUSTA Model A109E and A109S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0501; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-083-AD; Amendment 39-17258; AD 2012-23-02] – requires, for helicopters with certain lower semichannel assemblies installed, a one-time inspection of the lower semichannel assemblies to determine if metallic spacers are installed. If the metallic spacers are installed, this AD requires an inspection for the correct installation of the metallic spacers on the semichannels and for the correct seating of the gaskets.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-8C and CF34-8E turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1288; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-37-AD] – proposes to require, for engines with certain part numbers (P/N) of operability bleed valves (OBV) installed, removal and replacement of affected OBVs. This proposed AD was prompted by three failure events of ring lock fuel fittings on the OBV. Two of those events led to an engine fire. This proposed AD would require the affected OBVs be removed from service and replaced with OBVs eligible for installation.
Universal Avionics is opening a satellite office in Singapore early next year. The Asia Pacific office will support Universal’s customer base throughout the region, including Thailand, Japan and Australia, where the company says numerous flight deck retrofit projects are in the works. The office will include both local sales and support representatives.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is implementing changes to air traffic management and other aspects of operations at Singapore’s Changi Airport, in an effort to increase aircraft movements to 430,000 per year. The CAAS commissioned the consultancy arm of the U.K.’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to conduct a study that would help the CAAS find ways to increase the airport’s throughput.
As the first wave of age 65 pilot retirements begins this month, a coalition of industry, academic and government officials are pushing for an in-depth study to highlight what they fear is a looming pilot shortage.
