JACK PELTON has joined the board of directors for Redbird Flight Simulations. Pelton, the former chairman of Cessna Aircraft, has more than three decades of aviation experience. He also has served with Dornier Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft. He currently serves on the FAA’s Management Advisory Committee, as well as on the boards of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Corporate Angel Network.
GIPPSAERO Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1007; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-031-AD] – proposes to require modification of the pitot heat wiring on the left-hand wingtip with a terminal block to prevent loss of heating to the pitot system. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia, which cites reports of burnt electrical connectors leading to the left-hand wingtip pitot heater, which may result in loss of air speed indication.
Monte Mitchell, the former president of the Aircraft Electronics Association and 40-year general aviation industry executive, died Oct. 16 in Lee’s Summit, Mo., following a brief illness. He was 83. Mitchell first served as executive director and then president of AEA from 1977 to 1996. He was awarded the 2007 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award. His career began in 1956 when he joined transponder producer Wilcox Electric, where he remained until the mid-1970s. He then became vice president of marketing for radar altimeter maker Bonzer before joining AEA.
Net orders are slowly picking up for Dassault’s Falcon line, reaching 37 through the first nine months of the year. Dassault values the new orders at €1.598 ($2.08 billion). This compares with net orders (orders after cancellations) of 30 Falcon jets valued at €1.391 billion ($1.81 billion) through the first three quarters of 2011. At the same time, Dassault’s Falcon deliveries increased from 35 in the first three quarters of 2011 to 43 this year.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N1, AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1018; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-052-AD; Amendment 39-17204; AD 2012-19-09] – requires visually inspecting the tail rotor hub (TRH) for a crack and removing the TRH if a crack exists. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks on two TRHs. These actions are intended to prevent the tail rotor from jamming, which could lead to reduced or loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that the AD would affect 34 helicopters on the U.S.
Albert Lee Ueltschi, a farm boy who became one of aviation’s giants through his founding and long leadership of FlightSafety International, died Oct. 18. He was 95. “Al was an aviation icon and pioneer,” says FlightSafety CEO Bruce Whitman. “Al’s passion for aviation and significant contributions to safety will be recognized for years to come.”
TERRY PALMER has joined Metro Aviation as director of training. Palmer has 20 years of experience in developing and marketing new aviation training and technology products. In her new role, Palmer will oversee all training activities for Metro’s nearly 250 fixed- and rotary-wing pilots, 250 maintenance technicians and other associated support personnel.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is preparing for a prolonged strike at Bombardier’s Learjet facility in Wichita, approving increased benefits beginning on the third week of the walkout. About 825 of Bombardier’s 3,000-plus workers in Wichita went on strike Oct. 8 after IAM members rejected the company’s five-year contract proposal over health benefits and wage increases.
Pilatus Business Aircraft recently honored ferry pilot Robert Engel for his 200th and final transatlantic delivery flight of a Pilatus PC-12. The flight, which takes 22 hr. over three days, begins at the Pilatus facility in Stans, Switzerland, with stops in Prestiwck, Scotland, Reykjavik, Iceland, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and Iqaluit Nunavit, Thunder Bay Ontario, before reaching Pilatus Business Aircraft in Broomfield, Colo. The Broomfield facility handles all completions work for new aircraft that are destined for customers in North and South America.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 412 and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1016; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-009-AD] – proposes to establish a lower life limit on certain outer rings, requiring a revision of the retirement life on the components’ history card or equivalent record, and a revision of the maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). This proposal also would prohibit installing these outer rings on any helicopter. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking in the swashplate outer ring assemblies.
Duncan Aviation recently released a four-part video series to explain Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS), including the evolution of FANS, how FANS operates, certification and upcoming mandates. The FANS video series explains Controller Pilot Data Link, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ADS-C) and how they operate. The videos also detail initial setup and operation, including air traffic controller handoffs, and explains the components included in a typical FANS system. The series also discusses FANS mandates in Europe and the North Atlantic tracks.
Scott Donnelly, chairman and CEO of Cessna parent Textron, is encouraged by progress in Cessna’s negotiations to jointly conduct business with China’s AVIC. Cessna has been in active discussions on three separate agreements – a general agreement on the development of business and general aviation in China, another covering Citation production in China, and a third involving Caravan production with AVIC’s CAIGA unit. Donnelly says all three are “progressing well.
Bizliner Aviation recently completed comprehensive cockpit and cabin crew ditch training required under Part 125 for a Boeing Business Jets BBJ2 operator based in North America. Bizliner developed customized ditching checklists and standard procedures for cockpit and cabin crews, and provided training on emergency door operation, evacuation and raft use.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0997; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-060-AD] – proposes to supersede an AD that requires repetitive inspections of the rudder travel limiter (RTL) return springs and primary actuator, and corrective actions if necessary. Since FAA issued that AD, terminating action has been developed which eliminates the need for the repetitive inspections.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2012-0638; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-266-AD; Amendment 39-17201; AD 2012-19-06] – requires installing or reworking, as applicable, metallic diverters and aluminum sheets; modifying the light assembly on the tail boom rear movable fairing; and replacing the hood assembly with a new hood assembly and rerouting its electrical harness.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will recognize four members for their safe flying achievements during the association’s 65th Annual Meeting and Convention next week in Orlando, Fla. NBAA will honor NiSource Inc. and The Procter & Gamble Co. for flying 60 years or more without an accident, along with Hormel Foods Corp. and Muscatine Corp. for 50 years or more without an accident. The awards are based on each company’s safety record compiled as of Dec. 31, 2011.
FAA is hoping that the effort to rewrite Part 23 certification rules for small aircraft will create flexible, global standards that will halve the cost of bringing new aircraft to market, FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta says. Speaking to the Wichita Aero Club this month, Huerta updated on the activities of the Part 23 aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) and promised to proceed with rulemaking once the committee’s work is completed. But he warns that a rulemaking could take three years.
CHRIS MCDOWELL has joined Vector Aerospace’s Helicopter Services North America team as vice president of sales and marketing. He formerly was vice president of sales and business development for Heli-One, and before that was responsible for strategic sales plans for CHC Helicopter.
One of the world’s largest helicopter operators has established a new corporate identity with a principal goal of driving improved safety and operating standards across its territories. Avincis Group has been established in London from the former Word Helicopter Group, the holding company for global onshore and offshore helicopter service providers Bond Aviation Group and Grupo Inaer.
Bombardier Aerospace has added a second line maintenance facility (LMF) in India. Air Works in New Delhi was named a LMF for Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Global Express and Global Express XRS business jets. The Air Works facility joins the company’s center in Mumbai as a Bombardier authorized service facility. Located at Indira Gandhi International Airport, the New Delhi facility has a 9,042-sq.-ft. maintenance hangar. Air Works, which operates at 14 locations in India, dedicates 550 technicians to general aviation maintenance.
Nearly a year after receiving certification for the 400XT remanufactured Beechjet, Cleveland-based Nextant Aerospace is expanding facilities to ramp up production, working on the next series of product improvements for the 400XT and looking at adding a second airframe to its lineup. Nextant, the sister company of fractional ownership provider Flight Options, is moving over the next couple of weeks into its recently acquired 125,000-sq.-ft. facility, where it hopes to begin production by the end of the month.
