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.
AGUSTA Model A109S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0448; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-016-AD; Amendment 39-17223; AD 2012-21-07] – requires modifying the electrical power distribution system to carry a higher electrical load.
Van Nuys, Calif.-based Jet Edge recently strengthened its partnership with Hong Kong-based Asia Jet and completed another round of funding as the rapidly growing aircraft and management firm expands into Asia and adds 14 aircraft to its fleet this year. Asia Jet, appointed the exclusive sales and marketing partner in Asia for Jet Edge, also has become a shareholding partner with Jet Edge. Asia Jet CEO Mike Walsh joined the Jet Edge board of directors.
EADS CASA Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1102; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-062-AD] – proposes to require a one-time inspection to identify the correct polarity for each pair of electrical connectors on each engine fire extinguisher cartridge, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of incorrect electrical polarity connections on engine fire extinguishing discharge cartridges.
Aircraft movements for Shanghai Hawker Pacific show double-digit growth so far this year, which the business aviation services company regards as indicating steady expansion for the whole industry in China and the rest of Asia. “The business aviation community in China is finding its feet and step-by-step, support infrastructure is appearing at key locations and that will definitely enable continued expansion of the fleet,” says Shanghai Hawker Pacific General Manager Carey Matthews.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PT6C-67C turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD] – proposes to require initial and repetitive borescope inspections to verify the presence of a retaining ring securing the PT baffle located near the second stage PT disk. If the engine fails the inspection, this proposed AD also would require removing the engine from service before further flight. This proposed AD was prompted by five reported incidents of second stage power turbine (PT) disk damage.
Jeppesen cleared European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Operations Evaluation Board (OEB) review for use of its Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro and Jeppesen Mobile TC Pro applications on the iPad. Jeppesen notes the evaluation report is the first that EASA has ever granted for mobile electronic flight bag (EFB) with navigation charting.
Lawmakers must find a solution to avoid massive federal budget cuts and their potentially debilitating effect on the NextGen air traffic modernization system, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) tells Aviation Week. LoBiondo, a contender to replace Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) as chairman of the House aviation subcommittee after Petri steps down at the end of the year, says Congress should work to resolve differences the way it did during disagreements over union rules and airport subsidies earlier this year.
ROBINSON Model R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1088; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-005-AD] – proposes to require, for helicopters equipped with emergency floats, replacing the inflation valve assembly. The proposed AD is prompted by failure of the emergency floats to deploy during a factory test because a needle was binding within the inflation valve assembly. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the failure of the floats to inflate during an emergency landing. FAA estimates that the proposed AD would affect 165 helicopters on the U.S.
Rockwell Collins’ Ascend Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) recently was certified for the Cessna Citation CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ4 and Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft. AIM, a secured data transfer and maintenance management system available for Pro Line 4, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line Fusion-equipped aircraft, uploads flight-critical database updates and downloads maintenance information post-flight using Wi-Fi or cellular lines. The information is transferred to the Ascend Data Center.
Jet Aviation’s facility in St. Louis has secured its first Boeing Business Jet project. The aircraft, owned by toy manufacturer and hotel owner Ty Warner, will arrive in April for maintenance and upgrades, including the installation of Boeing enhanced vision system service bulletins. Jet Aviation has expanded its facility in recent years to accommodate larger aircraft and has begun training technicians at Boeing, in addition to sending employees to its facility in Basel, Switzerland, to get hands-on experience on the larger aircraft.
BELL Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1127; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-035-AD] – proposes to require replacing certain components of the air data system. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery of incorrect indicated airspeed when the helicopter was tested to the cold temperature limits (minus 40 C) required for Category A operations. The proposed actions are intended to correct the published VNE and to correct the indicated airspeed. FAA estimates that the proposed AD would cover 52 helicopters on the U.S.
The U.S. House of Representatives as early as Nov. 13 could vote on a bill prohibiting operators from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS). The House could vote on the matter Tuesday under procedural rules that would limit debate on the bill and allow no amendments. The bill is the Senate’s version of the ETS prohibition that was passed in September. The Senate bill, co-sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), would require the U.S. transportation secretary to hold hearings to debate if a ban is in the public interest.
