Honeywell’s business and commercial aviation products were top performers among its four business sectors in the third quarter and will remain so through 2013, despite expectations for a continued slowdown in the global economy, the company says. Sales for the Aerospace division, which includes business and commercial aviation, as well as defense and space, were up 4% to $3 billion year-over-year in the third quarter due to a 9% increase in commercial product sales. Defense and space revenue decreased 1%.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) expanded its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) to include N-Jet and Priester Aviation, both of Wheeling, Ill. ACSF launched the ASAP pilot last summer with Best Jets International of Minneapolis and Bemidji Aviation Services of Bemidji, Minnesota. The ACSF ASAP is designed to encourage employees to report safety issues to management and FAA to help monitor safety trends. The program is designed for small and mid-sized companies that do not have the resources to establish their own programs.
LYCOMING (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-360, O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, and IO-720 series reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-24785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-17196; AD 2012-19-01] – supersedes an AD that currently requires replacing certain crankshafts in the affected engines. This AD continues to require replacing certain crankshafts, corrects the start date of affected engine models in Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 569A to the start date in Supplement No. 1 to Lycoming MSB No.
FAA is urging transport category aircraft operators and repair stations to check inventories and maintenance records for windows and other glass parts that may have been part of an elaborate records falsification scheme by a former repair station in Florida.
Business Jet Center (BJC) has added a 61,505-sq.-ft. hangar to it its facility at Oakland International Airport (OAK) in California. The hangar, previously a cargo handling facility, is one of the largest in the region, capable of accommodating multiple large aircraft such as the Gulfstream 650. The structure increases BJC’s space at OAK to more than 155,000 sq. ft. BJC, which recently completed $250,000 upgrade of a separate 14,500-sq.-ft. business aviation hangar at OAK, is investing $5 million in renovating the newest hangar.
The Westchester Aviation Association (WAA) sponsored a luncheon Oct. 4 attended by more than 250 people who were members of flight departments at Westchester County Airport (HPN), area business representatives and local government officials. Held at in a Million Air hangar, the “Westchester Business Takes Flight” gathering was designed to highlight the major economic, convenience and safety contributions the airport makes to the county and its surrounding areas.
A team of aviation communication veterans are partnering to launch Conventional Wisdom (CW), an effort to provide small- and mid-sized exhibitors expertise on planning their presence at aviation trade shows and conventions.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0142; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-275-AD; Amendment 39-17188; AD 2012-18-11] — requires an inspection for part numbers; repetitive inspections for any cracking of certain hydraulic system accumulators, and replacement, if necessary; and revising the maintenance program to include a life limit for certain hydraulic system accumulators.
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation elected John Petersen as its new chairman, succeeding Larry. Williams, who has completed his three-year term. Petersen, who has served on the foundation board for seven years, is the founder and CEO of The Arlington Institute.
Sao Jose dos Campos, BRAZIL — Embraer expects the business aviation market to remain down for the rest of the year, despite record corporate profits and a record number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). But Embraer Executive Jets President Ernest Edwards, speaking to reporters in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, believes those trends will position the industry to take off in the future.
This month’s National Business Aviation Association 65th Annual Meeting and Convention in Orlando, Fla., is shaping up to come close to last year’s event in Las Vegas. The 2011 show drew 26,077 attendees and a total of 1,106 exhibitors. The latest NBAA report estimates that some 25,000-plus are expected in Orlando and more than 1,000 exhibitors have booked space.
Astronics Corp, which recently acquired enhanced vision system (EVS) specialist Max-Viz, handed over the 600th Max-Viz unit for installation on Cirrus SR22 airplanes. Cirrus offers the Max-Viz Model 600 as an option on SR22 aircraft, and more than 60% of customers have selected the system. The system relies on infrared technology to improve visibility in haze, fog, smoke, mist, rain and night.
Cleveland-based fractional ownership provider Flight Options is laying the groundwork to expand globally, beginning with a few long-range aircraft, and also is looking to add a new midsize type to its fleet. Flight Options, which has the second-largest fractional fleet—after NetJets—at nearly 90 aircraft, has been phasing out older models and building its base on the Embraer Phenom 300, Nextant 400XT, Cessna Citation X and Embraer Legacy 600.
PIPER Models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0983; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-001-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires a detailed repetitive inspection of the exhaust system downstream of the turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as necessary. Since FAA issued that AD, forced landings of aircraft have occurred due to exhaust system failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between recurring detailed inspections.
The Transportation Security Administration is warning the general aviation community to remain vigilant in its security, saying it “is everyone’s responsibility.” TSA released a broad General Aviation Security Awareness Bulletin warning that “While there is no known credible threat to general aviation, it is still considered by many to be a target of opportunity.” The bulletin urges use of the 1-866-GA Secur number or law enforcement contact if operators see something out of the ordinary.
The business aviation traffic malaise in the U.S. and Canada continued into September, according to the latest report from market analyst Argus, which found month-over-month traffic down 7.1% and year-over-year traffic down 2.9%. Large-cabin jet fractional traffic dropped 17.4%. All fractional traffic declined 11.6% in September, compared with August. Year-over-year, fractional traffic is down 6.2%.
Embraer is conducting final validation tests of the fly-by-wire system on its new Legacy 500 midsize business jet, and is hoping to finally obtain clearance for the aircraft’s first flight within weeks. Software issues with the fly-by-wire system have pushed back first flight by almost a year. But the system is fully installed, and executives are optimistic that those issues are well behind them.
An aging workforce, limited supply of newcomers and increased certification requirements are adding up to a looming pilot shortage, contends a new white paper by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). Industry will need 82,800 pilots over the next two decades but will have a smaller pool. And the regulatory environment is becoming tougher, as Congress has moved to require more training for commercial pilots, which adds cost.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association released the 22nd edition of the AOPA Foundation Air Safety Institute Joseph T. Nall Report, a comprehensive review on general aviation safety. The latest Nall report examines accident data through 2010, finding overall, that 2010 showed little change in the accident rate from previous years.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is hoping to help build, link and support a network of as many as 1,000 flying clubs over the next five years as part of its overall effort to attract new pilots and promote flying. The association has conducted comprehensive research on flying clubs, finding them to play a critical role in keeping aviation affordable and accessible.
Bell Helicopter is continuing to work with U.S. and European certification authorities in the hope of overturning their rejection of a gross-weight increase for the Model 429 light twin that takes the aircraft beyond the certification limit for its class. The 500-lb. increase, to a gross weight of 7,500 lb., allows the 429 to carry eight passengers and full fuel, but requires an exemption from certification rules that limit the gross weight of Part 27 normal-category helicopters to 7,000 lb.
COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNAM Model P2006T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0816; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-022-AD; Amendment 39-17180; AD 2012-18-04] — requires the installation of the new landing gear emergency accumulator (Part Number 26-9-9500-000) and an inspection after the installation of the LG emergency accumulator and the LG retraction/extension system.
Kansas officials Sept. 29 formally dedicated the opening of Rooks County Regional Airport in western Kansas. The facility is the first new airport in the state since 1989. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback attended the dedication, and a Bombardier Learjet 45 “officially” became the ceremonial first jet to land at the airport. The $6 million project included the development a 5,000-ft. paved runway. The airport essentially replaces two little-used grass strips in the area.
