WAYNE THOMSON has joined BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) as regional field service engineer for Australasia. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Thomson will support ERO’s customer base in the region, including operators of Honeywell TFE731 engines GTCP 36 series APUs, and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 and PT6A. Before joining ERO, he spent 14 years at Pratt & Whitney Canada’s overhaul, repair and field service operation in Brisbane.
Elite Simulation Solutions recently handed over a Model iGate G602 advanced aviation training device (AATD) to Mexican air charter operator Aeronaves TSM. The AATD is configured for Beechcraft King Air B200 training and will be used for IFR currency and cockpit resource management instruction. The Elite device enables the instructor to simulate cabin depressurization, engine fires, engine power loss and failure, hot and hung starts, and GPS RAIM failures, among others.
Sikorsky has delivered the first two of 16 S-92 offshore-support helicopters to the U.K.’s Bond Aviation Group. Once completed at Sikorsky’s Coatesville, Pa., commercial helicopter facility, the aircraft will be delivered in January to new Bond subsidiary Norsk Helikopterservice in Stavanger, Norway.
BELL Model 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0337; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-090-AD; Amendment 39-17185; AD 2012-18-09] — requires replacement of the tailboom-attachment hardware and initial and recurring determinations of the torque on the nuts of the tailboom-attachment bolts at all four attachment locations.
Lessons learned from the fatal April 2, 2011, crash of a Gulfstream G650 test aircraft in Roswell, N.M., could bolster safety for airframers and flight test departments globally if recommendations handed down by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are adopted.
Honeywell is expanding its partnership with Inmarsat, signing a five-year agreement to serve as a “master distributor” of the GX Aviation inflight connectivity services for the business aviation market. Honeywell previously had signed an agreement to develop and provide hardware for the services using Inmarsat’s planned Global Xpress satellite system. But the new agreement marks Honeywell’s first entry into distribution of the actual service itself. Inmarsat has selected OnAir and Gogo to provide the service to the commercial airlines.
Duncan Aviation is investing in new dry ice blasting machine technology in response to a Bombardier service bulletin covering Bombardier Challenger 600 series aircraft. The bulletin (ATA 55-11),“Special Check/Modification – Passenger Door-Epoxy Ramp Removal and Corrosion Prevention,” calls for the removal of the epoxy ramp in the passenger door to prevent further corrosion and recommends use of dry ice technology to safely remove epoxy, corrosion and other materials without damaging existing aircraft surfaces.
FAA in August 2013 will flight test a prototype of its next generation traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) on a Convair 580. Called the airborne collision avoidance system X (ACAS X), the system is designed to allow for next generation air transportation system (NextGen) air traffic changes that include reduced separation procedures, while improving the number of resolution alerts that airlines are already experiencing with current separation criteria.
Bombardier is implementing a contingency plan to reduce disruption to production after more than one-quarter of the workers at its Learjet facility in Wichita went on strike Oct. 8. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM ) Oct. 6 rejected a five-year contract proposal, paving the way for the strike. The IAM represents 825 of the company’s 3,000-plus workers in Wichita, and 79% of the voting union members supported the strike.
PIPER Models PA-24, PA-24-250, and PA-24-260 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0639; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-016-AD; Amendment 39-17169; AD 2012-17-06] — requires replacement of the stabilator horn assembly and/or repetitive inspections of the stabilator horn assembly for corrosion or cracks, as applicable. Corrosion or cracks could lead to failure of the stabilator horn. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks developing in the stabilator horn assembly. Consequently, failure of the stabilator horn could lead to a loss of pitch control in flight.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1408; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-10-AD; Amendment 39-17184; AD 2012-18-08] — requires cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating each tangential gearbox and adjusting, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control lever. This AD was prompted by the jamming of one of two fuel shut-off control levers because of solidified grease in the gearbox. A companion gearbox had extensive corrosion.
GREGG SLOW was appointed senior vice president of sales and national accounts for Xojet. Based in New York, Slow will be responsible for new client business and national strategic account management. He formerly served as senior vice president at NetJets, where he was responsible for sales in the New York City region, the company’s largest territory. Slow, who spent 11 years with NetJets, also managed its Northeastern and Canadian territories.
Rolls-Royce and Scott’s–Bell 47 Inc. (SB47), a Minnesota-based upgrade and modification specialist, have signed an agreement to study the potential development of a new build version powered by the RR300 turboshaft.
Gama Support Services (GSS), a U.K.-based business aviation services provider, expanded its access to spare parts, signing an agreement for Professional Aviation Associates to hold a consignment stock for European-based Hawker Beechcraft aircraft. Gama is a Hawker Beechcraft service center, providing maintenance for King Air series, Premier jets and piston-engine aircraft. Gama says the agreement with Professional Aviation Associates significantly increases its access to spares for those aircraft.
House Democrats again are predicting job losses at the FAA if Congress fails to prevent the budget penalty known as sequestration. FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) would have to lay off more than 2,200 employees, including air traffic controllers, technicians and support staff, says Rep. Norm Dicks (Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, in a letter to Congress. The ATO’s web site says it employs more than 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers and support personnel.
TONY GILBERT was named regional manager for the Great Lakes region for Duncan Aviation. Gilbert, who is based at Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich. facility, has served with Duncan since 1988. He formerly has handled a number of Duncan initiatives in Europe and South America. An aeronautical engineer, he has 33 years of aviation experience.
Thrush is beginning to ship out the first of its newly certified Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft, which is the first application for GE’s H80 turboprop. Certification follows a two-year development program with both GE and Albany, Ga.-based Thrush Aircraft and comes just a few weeks after Thrush obtained type inspection authorization from FAA. GE obtained certification for the H80, which is based on the Walter M601 engine, earlier this year.
MARTYN LEWIS was appointed senior regional director, EMEA and India, and vice president, marketing for CIT Aerospace. Lewis, who most recently was vice president, marketing focused on European markets, retains his current accounts, in addition to planning and executing CIT Aerospace strategy for India and the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. He joined CIT in 2001.
BEN CLOUSE joined Executive AirShare as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Clouse most recently was assistant vice president, audit services for H&R Block. He has 16 years of experience in finance, including serving as an assurance and advisory services manager with the Kansas City office of Deloitte & Touche, and vice president of finance and corporate controller for Gold Bank Corporation, along with 10 years with H&R Block.
Business aviation is playing a key role in helping with the economic recovery in Europe, a new study finds, saying that each passenger flown on a business aviation flight generates the same gross domestic product as nine business passengers on a scheduled flight.
MARKUS WEINSEISS was appointed managing director and head of planning and strategy for CIT Aerospace. Weinseiss will continue to serve as managing director of CIT Aerospace International. He joined CIT in 2000 as a credit officer, and most recently was chief credit officer.
Hawker Beechcraft, while working through its financial struggles through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is continuing to invest in one of the strongest areas of the company – customer support – with the opening of a new factory service center in Mexico. The company late last month celebrated the grand opening of the facility based at the Aeropuerto Internacional del Norte (MMAN) in Monterrey. The 48,000-sq.-ft.
FAA issued special conditions for installation of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) on some older model Bombardier Challengers, including CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R and CL-604. The special conditions apply to aircraft that incorporate an Atlantic Aero modification for the EFVS. Atlantic Aero applied for a supplemental type certificate in October 2011 for the installation and operation of a head-up display (HUD) and EFVS in the Bombardier Model CL-600-2B16, including the -3A, -3R and 604 variants.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0634; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-016-AD; Amendment 39-17182; AD 2012-18-06] – requires the installation of a covering cage on the screwjack, as a temporary corrective action, which does not allow the disengagement of the affected gear. The AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency that cites reports of failures of the Main Wing Outboard Flap external actuator.
JENNIFER VILLA-TENNITY was named chief credit officer for CIT Aerospace, where she will oversee the risk function for the business. Villa-Tennity joined the company in 1998 as an analyst. Most recently, she served as director, credit/risk management with responsibility for the Americas.
