PAUL RAYHILL was appointed president of Keystone Med-Flight, a subsidiary of Hawke Aerospace. Rayhill previously served as president of Keystone affiliate company Aviation Services Unlimited, a company he owned until it merged with Hawke last year. He began his career as an aviator with the U.S. Navy, flying various helicopter platforms.
CESSNA Model 525 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0880; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-004-AD] – proposes to require, for affected aircraft equipped with certain part number (P/N) air conditioning (A/C) compressor motors, require inspection of the number of hours on the A/C compressor hour meter, inspection of the logbook, and replacement of the brushes on certain P/N A/C compressor motors or deactivation of the A/C system until replacement of the brushes. This proposed AD also requires reporting of aircraft information related to the replacement of the brushes.
BRP-POWERTRAIN Rotax 912 F2; 912 F3; 912 F4; 912 S2; 912 S3; and 912 S4 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0603; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-17-AD; Amendment 39-17160; AD 2012-16-13] – requires replacing the pressure side fuel hose on certain fuel pumps and inspecting the carburetors connected to those fuel pumps for contamination within five flight hours after the effective date of this AD. This AD was prompted by reports of fuel pumps having pressure side fuel hoses not meeting the design specification.
Max-Viz, which was recently acquired by Astronics Corp., has received supplement type certification from the Brazilian Agencia Nacional Aviação Civil for installation of its Model 1500 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) aboard Pro Line 21-equipped Beechcraft King Airs, including models 200, 200GT, 200CGT, 300, 300C, C90GT and C90GTi. The supplemental type certificate was obtained through working with Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Services.
Constant Aviation is expanding into a national provider of its services, opening its third base in Las Vegas. The facility, a 30,000-sq.-ft. center leased through Atlantic Aviation at McCarren International Airport, joins Constant’s headquarters in Cleveland and base in Birmingham, Ala., providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services on business jets. The selection of Las Vegas came after a search of about two years, enabling the provider to reach a broader base on the West Coast, says Marketing Manager Aimee Dalton.
The European Helicopter Safety Implementation Team (EHSIT) has developed a leaflet on rotorcraft decision making. EHSIT is part of the European Helicopter Safety Team, which conducted research into the human factors related to aircraft accidents and incidents. Research has revealed that the majority of fatal crashes are attributable to decision errors rather than to perception or execution errors. The leaflet looks at human factors affecting decision making, decision-error factors, and decision-making models.
National Air Transportation Association President and CEO Tom Hendricks, who officially stepped into his new role last week after serving as senior vice president, safety, security and operations for Airlines for America, stresses the importance of the aviation associations of all industry segments working together to educate the public and Washington about “how critically dependent we all are on aviation. We need to make sure they don’t take aviation for granted.
FAA is urging the general aviation community to participate in its 34th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Survey for 2011. The survey, available online at www.aviationsurvey.org, provides information to track GA fleet activity, including number of hours flown and reasons for flight. The agency notes the data helps determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, and assesses the impact of regulatory changes and measures safety. The survey also is used to calculate accident rates.
West Star Aviation’s Grand Junction, Colo., facility has implemented energy upgrades that the aviation services business says is producing 75% in savings on energy costs. The initiatives included replacing more than 50 parking/street lights with new smart LED light bulbs, and also replacing old fluorescent-tube lighting throughout five buildings at the Grand Junction location. West Star estimates the annual energy cost will decrease by nearly $5,300 with the use of the LED lights, and more than $20,000 for the lights that are upgraded throughout the five buildings.
HONEYWELL TFE731-20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0945; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-18-AD; Amendment 39-17161; AD 2012-16-14] – requires removing and inspecting certain LPT2 rotor blades. This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape of about 8,000 2nd stage low-pressure turbine (LPT2) rotor blades, manufactured by Honeywell Chihuahua Manufacturing Operation since 2009. FAA estimates the AD will affect 3,000 engines installed on U.S.-registered aircraft at a cost of $1.43 million for the fleet.
Thrush Aircraft received FAA type inspection authorization (TIA) for its new Thrush 510G aircraft, clearing the way for final FAA flight testing to begin. TIA typically is a final primary step before full aircraft certification. The FAA flight tests are expected to occur this month. The 510G is the first production aircraft to use the new GE H80 turbine engine, which Thrush says will increase cruise speeds, improve hot and high performance and provide better fuel efficiency.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is moving operations of its newly acquired facility at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW) into temporary quarters while the fixed-base operation begins another cleanup and renovation from damage caused by last month’s Hurricane Isaac. But the facility is remaining operational during this period.
CESSNA Models 172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0846; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-021-AD] – proposes to inspect the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replace the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; inspect the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure; and adjustment as necessary.
Flyht Aerospace received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to activate its Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) 228 on Hawker Beechcraft “987 series” aircraft (750/800XP/850XP/900XP variants). The supplemental type certificate, the company’s first from EASA for the AFIRS 228, was developed for a contract the company received from NetJets Europe in March. Flyht has installed AFIRS 228 provisions – including the tray, wiring and antenna – on 10 of the Hawker fleet and delivered 13 of 30 kits on contract.
The used aircraft market is continuing to strengthen as the numbers of available aircraft shrink across the board, according to JetNet’s latest report. The percentage of the business jet fleet for sale dropped to 13.5% in July, a near low since the market plummeted in 2008. This is welcome news for business aircraft makers who have been waiting for the oversupply of used aircraft to dry up and spur demand for new aircraft.
Embraer is adding the second Phenom model – the 300 – to the assembly line at its Melbourne, Fla., plant, while the Brazilian manufacturer continues to expand its footprint at the U.S. site. Phenom 300 assembly is set to launch with many of the major components, including the fuselage and wing, already on site in Melbourne, Embraer executives tell Aviation Week. The first aircraft is expected to be completed and delivered in early 2013.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) aircraft [Docket No. FAA-2012-0328; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-259-AD; Amendment 39-17162; AD 2012-16-15] – requires modifying the left-hand engine upper core-cowl. This AD was prompted by reports of jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane. FAA estimates the AD will affect 601 aircraft on the U.S.
Bombardier is progressing toward a 2013 entry into service of its Learjet 45 XR replacement with the recent powering on of the electrical systems of the first production Learjet 75. The manufacturer tested power, including the new Bombardier Vision flight deck, on the aircraft, which will join the flight testing program.
Aviation job postings have jumped 61% for the online job network JSfirm.com, the company reports. The increase, reported for April-June, marked the busiest second quarter in JSfirm.com’s 13-year history, says Business Development Manager Jeff Richards.
CESSNA Model 402C and 414A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1084; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-056-AD] – revises an earlier proposal for Model 402C airplanes modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA927NW and Model 414A airplanes modified by STC SA892NW. That proposal would require a complete inspection of the flap system and modification of the flap control system.
Aviation user fees will come under scrutiny this week at a Small Business Committee hearing. Participants in the Sept. 12 hearing, “User Fees in the Aviation Industry: Turbulence Ahead,” will discuss the financial and regulatory ramifications of user fees such as the White House’s proposal for a $100-per-flight air traffic control charge. The hearing also will look at the potential effect on private sector job creation.
Sept. 9-12—22nd Airports Council International World-North America Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Sept. 10-11—National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Events: Fall Committee Meetings, Wyndham Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Tex.(703) 845-8176, [email protected], www.nata.aero/Event.aspx?page=2075§ionid=1449 Sept. 11-13—Airline Engineering & Maintenance: Asia Pacific Conference, Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysa, www.airlineengineering-asiapacific.com/
ADAM SMITH was named senior vice president for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) new Center to Advance the Pilot Community. The center will focus on stopping the steady decline in the number of U.S. pilots. He previously was vice president of membership for the Experimental Aircraft Association and oversaw the AirVenture air show. He also served as vice president of outreach for the EAA Aviation Foundation.
Boeing delivered the first Boeing Business Jet 747-8 with an Aeroloft installed. Installed by Boeing Global Transport & Executive Systems and designed and built by Greenpoint Technologies of Kirkland, Wash., the Aeroloft provides 393 sq. ft. of additional cabin space, bringing the total cabin space of the VIP-configured 747-8 to 5,179 sq. ft. Developed specifically for the BBJ 747-8, the Aeroloft is located above the main cabin between the upper deck and airplane tail, providing eight private sleeping berths and a changing room.
