Avantair is stepping up its yearlong efforts to cut costs and raise new capital as the fractional ownership provider attempts to regain its footing after grounding its fleet for several weeks. The Clearwater, Fla., operator began returning its Piaggio Avanti aircraft to service last week after completing comprehensive nose-to-tail inspections of its fleet and reviewing and overhauling its maintenance records and operational procedures.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, says the nomination of Michael Huerta as the next FAA administrator should go forward. The question is when that will happen. Even if a hold on the nomination by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), the man who next year will lead Republicans on the committee dealing with aviation policy, is lifted, it may not proceed until next year. “I think getting a lot of stuff done in the few days that we have is going to be tough,” Rockefeller says.
Eric Byer, vice president of government and industry affairs for the National Air Transportation Association, is leaving the organization at the end of the year to pursue other interests. In a notice to members, new NATA President Tom Hendricks praised Byer’s leadership and guidance during his 13 years with the association.
Avfuel Corp. continues to grow its extensive network of branded dealers with the additions of fixed-base operations (FBOs) in Minot, N.D., Burbank, Calif., and Montreal. Minot Aero Center becomes a dealer after seeing business grow thanks to activity in the Bakken Oil Region. The Bakken formation, underlying parts of North Dakota, Montana and Saskatchewan, has made the region the second largest oil-producing state in the union, after Texas.
JAMES MORRISON was appointed CEO of Partner Jet. Morrison succeeds Ian McDougall, who retired. He joined the company in 2011 as managing director. In his new position, Morrison will be responsible for the day-to-day management, oversight and direction of all business in addition to managing the growth, development plans and activities of Partner Jet.
A troublesome safety record for general aviation (GA) has landed the sector on the NTSB’s “Most Wanted” transportation safety improvements list for the second consecutive year.
Piper’s Archer and Seminole trainers are getting a makeover with new Garmin G1000 cockpits. Piper announced plans for the new equipment during its 75th anniversary and fly-in celebration held Nov. 10 in Vero Beach, Fla. The Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics is the launch customer for the program, with plans to take delivery of eight of the aircraft next year. The G1000 integrates primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather and engine instruments on two 10.4-in. displays.
Pilatus next spring is planning to unveil its PC-24 twin jet, the company’s first twin-engine business jet, company executives confirm. The company has publicly acknowledged development of the PC-24 over the past couple of years, but would not say whether the aircraft would be a twin or a jet. But Pilatus last week verified that the aircraft would be a twin jet as part of its announcement that COO Markus Bucher was named CEO, succeeding Oscar Schwenk, who remains chairman of the board.
TONY GRINDBERG has joined Appareo Systems as aviation business unit manager. Grindberg has more than 20 years of business development and aviation experience. Most recently, he launched the NDSU Research & Technology Park, Inc. as a startup entity, where he steered $70 million in private investment that created nearly 900 jobs.
Hawker Beechcraft, which originally expected to receive U.S. Bankruptcy Court consideration on Nov. 15 for its disclosure statement on the amended joint plan of reorganization, has rescheduled that court date for Nov. 29. But the Wichita airframer last week filed a motion formally seeking court approval to cut off warranty support for Hawker 4000 and Premier business aircraft. That motion also is expected to come under court consideration on Nov. 29.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association appointed Steve Hedges director of media relations. Hedges has 20 years of media experience, covering national security, foreign, domestic, and aviation issues. He also has managed public affairs and media relations for a number of clients in Washington, D.C.
West Star Aviation in East Alton, Ill., installed the first set of Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) blended winglets on a Dassault Falcon 50EX. API received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for the winglets in September 2012, and European Aviation Safety Agency approval is pending. West Star has completed a number of API winglet installations on Falcon aircraft and also has installed spiroid winglets on a Falcon 50 as a research project. The blended winglets reduce wingtip vortex, resulting in less drag, lower fuel burn and improved climb and cruise.
WAYNE THOMSON has joined BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) as regional field service engineer in the Asia Pacific region. Thomson previously spent 14 years at Pratt & Whitney Canada in Brisbane, Australia, where he was a mobile repair lead technician. In his new role, he will be based in Brisbane to support regional field service efforts integrated with ERO’s Singapore-based First Support service.
SCOTT MCDONALD is joining West Star Aviation as director of sales. McDonald has more than 20 years of aviation experience, holding mechanic, planning, scheduling and regional sales manager roles. Most recently, he was director of sales for Gulfstream Product Support.
Piaggio’s P.180 Avanti II aircraft has entered service in China. Piaggio, and its dealer in China, CAEA (Beijing) Aviation Investment Co., last week formally handed over the first P.180 Avanti II aircraft registered in China, S/N 1228, to Free Sky Aviation. Piaggio obtained Chinese CAAC certification for the aircraft in October 2011. Piaggio anticipates delivering a second Avanti to Free Sky next month for use in a new private aircraft club for Chinese business aviation travelers.
Bombardier’s Learjet workers in Wichita last week ended a month-long strike after 70% of the voting members of the International Association of Machines and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 639 voted on Nov. 10 in favor of the newest contract proposal. The strike affected 825 workers, or more than 25% of the 3,000 employees at Bombardier’s Wichita plant.
Airbus received an order for the ACJ319 with the Sharklet winglet option from a Chinese customer. The order is the first for that version of the ACJ319, but is among about 25 orders Airbus has received from customers in greater China for ACJs. ACJs are flying with operators including BAA Jet Management, Beijing Airlines, China Eastern Executive Aviation, Comlux Asia, Deer Jet, Hong Kong Jet and TAG Aviation.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0342; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-028-AD; Amendment 39-17216; AD 2012-21-01] – supersedes an existing AD that requires a visual inspection, and if necessary, an eddy current inspection of the main rotor lower hub assembly for a crack. If a crack exists, the AD requires replacing the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub before further flight. Because that AD was immediately effective, FAA declined to require certain long-term actions prior to public comment.
Gulfstream’s new G280 super midsized business jet is entering service after the Savannah, Ga., manufacturer last week delivered the first aircraft to a U.S.-based company. Delivery of the first aircraft comes a little more than 10 weeks after Gulfstream secured full U.S. FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Israel type certification. Gulfstream had received provisional certification for the aircraft late last year.
TREVOR VAN ROOYEN was appointed regional sales manager for sub-Saharan Africa for BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO). Van Rooyen, known for his technical expertise in the ERO field, will be based at Lanseria Airport in South Africa.
GAL Aviation, based in St. Joseph, Quebec, received Transport Canada recognition as an approved maintenance organization, authorizing the firm to repair and modify business aircraft interiors. The authorization covers both green and in-service aircraft. GAL Aviation has applied for similar recognition from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The firm also has FAA approval under a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada. GAL, which operates from a 40,000-sq.-ft.
DIAMOND Models DA 42, DA 42 M-NG, and DA 42 NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1148; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-039-AD] – requires modification of the affected main landing gear (MLG) leg shock absorber, P/N D60-3277-10-00. This AD also prohibits installation of unmodified P/N D60-3277-10-00 MLG leg shock absorbers.
PILATUS Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0732; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-022-AD] – proposes to require several revisions of the Structural and Component Airworthiness Limitations, including an inspection of the wing main spar fastener holes and follow-on actions, if necessary.
