The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) secured another short-term extension – through March 31, 2013 – of its “Small Aircraft Exemption” that was set to expire Sept. 30. The exemption – for NBAA members – permits operators to use small aircraft under certain conditions and receive cost reimbursement under Part 91, Subpart F. Originally written for aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 lb., multi-engine aircraft or fractional aircraft, Part 91, Subpart F permits the use of time sharing, interchange, joint ownership and other cost-sharing agreements.
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-1088; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-76-AD] – revises an earlier proposal that calls for a revision of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), Operating Limitations section, to prohibit Class D external load operations, including human external cargo (HEC), because this model helicopter was not certificated to one-engine inoperative performance standards for carrying Class D external loads.
Democratic opposition has made it unlikely that a Senate bill barring U.S. carriers from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) will be considered by the House of Representatives before the Nov. 6 general elections, industry and Capitol Hill sources say.
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Honda has broken ground on a 90,000-sq.-ft., $20 million major repair and service facility on a 54-acre extension of the company’s campus in Greensboro, N.C. The planned occupancy of the new facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) is set for the second half of 2013, “prior to the HondaJet aircraft’s entry into service,” Honda says. The HondaJet development program has encountered a series of delays over the years, including a reworking of its GE Honda HF120 turbofan engine, which has yet to be certified.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0267; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-174-AD; Amendment 39-17192; AD 2012-18-15] – requires replacing the timer and monitor unit (TMU). This AD was prompted by reports that the automatic deicing mode became unavailable due to a failure of the TMU. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent loss of the automatic deicing mode and consequent increased workload for the flight crew, which, depending on additional failures, could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
Oryx Jet, a London-based aircraft management and charter operator, added a Challenger 605 to its fleet. The aircraft is based at Rizon Jet’s facility at Biggin Hill Airport. Ory Jet also operates Hawker and Falcon 50 aircraft, along with single and twin-engine helicopters.
Without better segmentation of the market and more accurate flight time data, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) says a 10-year FAA program to reduce general aviation (GA) fatality rates 10% by 2018 could miss its intended goal and leave behind certain “riskier” segments of the industry.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is countering an online news outlet’s claims that the organization is moving away from its work on behalf of general aviation in favor of commercial activities.
JAMAIL LARKINS , president and CEO of Ascension Air, was reappointed by the FAA as honorary ambassador for Aviation and Space Education. Larkins and acting Administrator Michael P. Huerta recently signed a memorandum of understanding extending the relationship, which began in 2004. As honorary ambassador, Larkins works to draw attention to aviation career opportunities for youth.
Business aviation leaders are relatively quiet when asked about the presidential election, saying both candidates face stark budget choices regardless of who gets into office. From an industry standpoint, their worries are less about who wins and more about the tough decisions that will need to be made once the election is over. And while President Barack Obama has an uneven track record with the industry during his first four years, Mitt Romney has virtually none – both leaving questions about the direction they would take entering 2013.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA (P&WC) PW118, PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of certain serial numbers (S/Ns) of propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service if found cracked.
During the Oct. 3 debate between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the president once again took a swipe at business jet owners, among his favorite targets, and the reference brought an immediate objection from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). On the subject of taxes, Obama said, “Why wouldn’t we eliminate tax breaks for corporate jets? My attitude is, if you’ve got a corporate jet, you can probably afford to pay full freight, not get a special break for it.”
TURBOMECA . Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0901; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-19-AD] – proposes to require performing a high gas generator speed (NG) rating vibration check. This proposed AD was prompted by several reports of uncommanded inflight shutdown (IFSD) on Arriel 1 engines. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown of the engine, which could result in an emergency landing.
Malaysia Airlines’ regional subsidiary in East Malaysia, MASwings, hopes to issue a request for proposals (RFP) soon for new 19-seat aircraft. “We are looking for six more” 19-seat aircraft, and they must have short takeoff and landing capability, says MASwings Managing Director Nawawi Awang. The airline currently operates four de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters that are 31 years old on average, according to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network.
Bombardier’s Maintenance & Operations (M&O) conference in Berlin became one of its most widely attended European M&O events to date, drawing more than 250 business aircraft operators and suppliers – twice as many as last year’s event in Frankfurt, Germany. The M&O, which also included commercial operators, hosted customers from Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East and Africa. In addition, Bombardier hosted a Regional Review in Moscow for operators of commercial aircraft based in Russia and the CIS.
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a formal meeting of the five-member board on Oct. 10 to determine the probable cause of the crash of an experimental Gulfstream Aerospace G650 business jet during flight testing. The April 2, 2011, accident in Roswell, N.M., killed the two Gulfstream flight-test pilots and two flight engineers on board.
Gama Engineering secured its 50th supplemental type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency. Formed a year ago by the combination of Lees Avionics and the Mann Aviation Group (Engineering) engineering teams, the company obtained its 50th STC for design work for the installation of a Garmin G600 electronic flight instrument system on a BN Islander aircraft used by the Belgian Coast Guard. Gama provided engineering expertise for ASP Avionics in Belgium.
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EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA341G helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD; Amendment 39-17172; AD 2012-17-09] – requires replacing any rotating star with more than 12,000 hr. time-in-service (TIS). This AD was prompted by an analysis and tests performed by the manufacturer that indicate that the life limit of the rotating star should be 12,000 hr. TIS. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of the rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the AD will affect 21 helicopters on the U.S.
Gama Group added two more management contracts to its Russia-based portfolio. The new aircraft under management include a Bombardier Challenger 850 and a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ 2). The additions increase Gama’s worldwide portfolio to more than 80 aircraft, including a number of Boeing, Bombardier, Falcon and Gulfstream aircraft based in Moscow. Gama has supported Russian business aviation customers since the 1990s – being among the first providers to do so – and says the market is “key to Gama’s continued development.”
While the Transportation Security Administration’s repair station security rule is still buried within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Paul Feldman, vice president of government affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, says there is “a lot of activity around the rule,” raising hope that it could be released in upcoming months. TSA has come under fire for its inaction on the rule, first mandated by Congress in 2003, most recently in a report issued by the House transportation security subcommittee.
