The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy believes FAA has significantly understated the costs associated with its proposed changes in the Part 145 rewrite and is suggesting that the agency conduct a supplemental regulatory analysis that includes less costly alternatives. The SBA Office of Advocacy, which hosted a meeting earlier this month on FAA ’s Part 145 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), expressed industry groups’ concerns that FAA ’s proposal omits a number of costs in its cost-benefit analysis .
Fadec International, a BAE Systems and Sagem engine control joint venture, has formed a new company with General Electric called Fadec Alliance to develop digital controllers for the CFM Leap and GE Passport engines. The Fadec Alliance will supply all the controllers for the Leap family which is in development for the Airbus A320NEO, Boeing 737 MAX and Comac C919, as well as the GE Passport, which is being developed for Bombardier’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets. The company will be responsible for the design, manufacture and aftermarket support of the system.
SIKORSKY Model S-76C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0340; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-073-AD; Amendment 39-17250; AD 2012-22-13] – requires installing an improved throttle stop and a wider trigger on the engine control levers (ECL). This AD was prompted by a bird-strike to the windshield that resulted in unintended movement of the engine control levers from the forward position and toward the flight-idle position, which reduced power on both engines.
An industry-based general aviation (GA) security working group is hoping to present a series of initial recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) early next year that will update airport and operational guidelines that are now almost 10 years old.
The Bristol Flying Center (BFC) Group, based in Southwest England, is on pace for significant growth with the ongoing expansion of its fixed-base operation and the award of two large handling contracts. The group, which includes aircraft operator Centrelineair based at Bristol Airport, recently signed a deal with bmi regional, along with another brand. Bristol estimates the two handling contracts will result in an exponential increase of passenger business. In addition, the company is doubling its facilities, including a 6,500- sq.-ft.
Hangar8 is expanding its international charter and management business with the acquisition of International JetClub for 1.1 million pounds (U.K.) ($1.76 million) and the issue of 500,000 ordinary shares. The acquisition increases Hangar8’s managed fleet from 40 to 50 aircraft, including four helicopters. Nearly half of the fleet are large-cabin, long-range jets. International JetClub founder and Chairman Murray Law will serve as vice chairman of the new combined company, responsible for management development systems and integration.
ROLLS-ROYCE BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines, and certain BR700-710C4-11 model engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1055; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-AD] – proposes to require reducing the life limits for certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and stage 2 discs. This proposed AD was prompted by RRD performing an evaluation that determined that certain HPT stage 1 and stage 2 discs from a specific supplier may contain steel inclusions that may cause the discs to fail before they reach their current life limits.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) lifted his objection to Michael Huerta’s elevation to the top spot at the FAA just weeks before a year-end deadline to confirm the acting administrator’s position. DeMint’s objection initially stemmed from concerns about the FAA’s labor policy. DeMint will lead Republicans on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in the Democrat-controlled Senate next year.
A jury is set to begin hearing testimony in a 7-year-old patent infringement lawsuit between rival avionics vendors L-3 and Avidyne in a U.S. District Court starting in February. According to Avidyne, the court case centers on sales of Avidyne’s Entegra integrated avionics system between 2004 and mid-2005, when the system was the primary avionics suite for the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 single-engine general aviation aircraft.
Embraer continued to expand its work outside of Brazil with the groundbreaking of a new engineering center in Melbourne, Fla., and the beginning of deliveries from its new factory in Portugal. Embraer last week began construction of its 67,000-sq.-ft. Embraer Engineering and Technology Center USA. The center, located on 13 acres at Melbourne International Airport, will house capabilities including three-dimensional, computer-aided design, computational fluid dynamics, finite element modeling and virtual reality.
Gulfstream Aerospace’s new aircraft service center in Beijing, Gulfstream Beijing, has secured Part 145 approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and has officially opened. The center is one of only a few business aviation services facilities in China to have achieved CAAC 145 approval. The certification authorizes the center to work on aircraft registered in China. The facility is a joint venture between Gulfstream and Hainan Airlines Group subsidiaries Hainan Aviation Technik (HNAT) and Deer Jet.
A government-industry rulemaking committee is recommending that FAA create a single master electronic database encompassing all guidance documents to help improve the agency’s consistency in interpreting regulations. The Consistency of Regulation Interpretation Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), established in April to address issues surrounding FAA’s lack of standardization, presented its findings and recommendations to the agency last week. FAA will review the recommendations and forward them to Congress early next year.
NetJets took delivery of its first Bombardier aircraft, a “Signature Series” Global 6000, marking the beginning of a new fleet of the large cabin class that could include hundreds of Global and Challenger aircraft. The aircraft will help expand NetJets’ fleet, and also replace Gulfstreams and Dassault business jets that have traditionally filled the large-cabin role.
Dassault and Gulfstream are continuing to build up their infrastructure in the Asia Pacific, hoping to capitalize on what they see as one of the fastest growing, yet largely untapped markets in the world. Dassault is establishing a wholly owned subsidiary, Dassault Falcon Business Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., in Beijing to provide support services to customers in the region. The Dassault facility will be headed by Jean Michel Jacob as general manager and Jean Rosanvallon as chairman.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen was honored with the Charles Lindbergh General Aviation Diploma in recognition of his years of service to general aviation (GA). The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) presents the award annually to those who have contributed significantly to the progress and success of GA in either air sport or transportation, or in the work of international bodies concerned with GA. The award was presented during the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Fall Awards Banquet Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. “Mr.
Progressive Aerodyne’s SeaRey amphibian fully passed an FAA Light Sport Aircraft Prototype Audit, a step that Progressive says clears the way for the production model. FAA’s Orlando Manufacturing Inspection District Office awarded an airworthiness certification this month to Progressive Aerodyne for the production model SeaRey. The two-place amphibian has been offered as a kit for 20 years, but Progressive has been working with SilverLight Aviation for the past few years to meet ASTM standards for a production version.
Business aircraft flight hours overall continue to stagnate, remaining a concerning indicator of market health. But, unlike aircraft sales, the strongest improvements are at the small end of the market, according to a special report from industry analyst Argus.
GE Aviation, selected to provide the H85 turboprop for a new five-place aircraft that China’s Caiga is developing, secured European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the engine and its sister H75. GE Aviation announced during the recent Airshow China that Caiga’s carbon-fiber composite Primus 150 business aircraft would be the first application for the H85, positioning the engine maker to have a foothold in the rapidly growing business and general aviation market in China.
AERONAUTICAL ACCESSORIES (AAI) high landing gear forward crosstube assemblies installed on Agusta Model AB412 and AB412EP; and Bell Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0502; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-097-AD; Amendment 39-17242; AD 2012-22-06] — requires counting and recording the total number of landings for the crosstubes, and inspecting the crosstubes and replacing them if a crack or other damage exists. This AD was prompted by two reports from the field of failed crosstubes.
MIKE ASKEW was named CEO of Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. Askew previously had served as managing director of APPH Group, which designs and manufacturers hydraulic systems and landing gears. He also has held senior positions at Doncasters and GKN Westland Helicopters. GRANT BOAST was appointed regional sales manager for BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO). Boast has spent the past three years as a field service representative for ERO.
MIKE ASKEW was named CEO of Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. Askew previously had served as managing director of APPH Group, which designs and manufacturers hydraulic systems and landing gears. He also has held senior positions at Doncasters and GKN Westland Helicopters. GRANT BOAST was appointed regional sales manager for BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO). Boast has spent the past three years as a field service representative for ERO.
Jet Aviation has added 20 aircraft to its charter and management fleet worldwide in the past six months, and its European and U.S. divisions combine for more than 200 aircraft. Of the new aircraft 11 joined the U.S. fleet and nine in the Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia regions. The U.S. additions include four Bombardier Global Express and Challenger aircraft, three Gulfstreams and four Dassault Falcon business jets. Outside the U.S., Jet Aviation added four Gulfstreams, a Challenger, Hawker Beechcraft Hawker and Falcon.
The FAA’s sweeping effort to align its draft repair station regulation with industry reality should go back to the drawing board for a second draft that incorporates more public feedback, industry groups tell FAA.
AERONAUTICAL ACCESSORIES (AAI) high landing gear forward crosstube assemblies installed on Agusta Model AB412 and AB412EP; and Bell Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0502; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-097-AD; Amendment 39-17242; AD 2012-22-06] — requires counting and recording the total number of landings for the crosstubes, and inspecting the crosstubes and replacing them if a crack or other damage exists. This AD was prompted by two reports from the field of failed crosstubes.
