BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1418; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-187-AD; Amendment 39-17157; AD 2012-16-10]—requires installing spring clips and repositioning the lanyard attachment points at the forward end and the forward firefloor of the lower cowl. This AD was prompted by chafing on high pressure fuel lines due to improper installation of an expandable pin on the lower cowl assembly. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent chafing of the high pressure fuel lines, which if not corrected, could cause fuel leakage in a fire zone.
STEFAN BENZ was named vice president-MRO and fixed-base operation services for Jet Aviation’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Benz joined Jet Aviation in January 2011 as vice president-MRO sales EMEA and Asia. He oversees Jet Aviation’s MRO and FBO operations in Dubai, Dusseldorf, Jeddah, London Biggin Hill, Moscow Vnukovo, Riyadh and Zurich.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) named safety expert Robert E. Breiling as the recipient of the 2012 NBAA John P. “Jack” Doswell Award. The award, to be presented during NBAA’s 65th Annual Meeting & Convention Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Orlando, recognizes lifelong individual achievement on behalf of and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO Pete Bunce believes time is running short for FAA to make substantial changes to the certification process, which he says is resulting in up to 18-month delays in products reaching market and costing jobs. Given potential budget cuts that Congress may be facing, he says changes in the way FAA operates – including using the designee program the way it was designed – must be made soon.
Gogo was granted a subordinate license from Industry Canada for Canada’s air-to-ground radio frequency spectrum. The license enables Gogo to provide commercial and business aircraft inflight connectivity over Canada. Gogo will operate on the same frequency over Canada as it does in the U.S., providing a seamless transition across the borders. Gogo plans to begin cell site construction later this year and to be operational by the end of 2013. Gogo will initially focus on routes served by existing U.S. and Canadian commercial airline customers.
Cessna is promising to certify its new Citation Ten as the fastest business jet on the market with a speed of Mach 0.935, eclipsing the Gulfstream G650’s Mach 0.925. Formal announcement of the speed of the Ten comes shortly before Gulfstream is expected to receive full certification of the G650. Gulfstream recently updated progress on the program, saying all certification flights were complete.
A government-industry committee drafting recommendations to improve the consistency of the FAA’s certification and approval processes is asking for input from aviation groups to help meet its year-end deadline. The Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) will offer an online survey to stakeholders until Sept. 25.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series [Docket No. FAA-2012-0332; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-130-AD; Amendment 39-17155; AD 2012-16-08] – requires repetitive detailed inspections for bulging, surface anomalies, and cracking of the fuselage skin adjacent to the discharge valves, repair if necessary, and application of additional sealant in the affected area if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking and surface anomalies of the fuselage skin at the water trap/air dryer unit of the forward discharge valve due to corrosion.
NetJets is adding Aircell’s Gogo Biz Service to nearly 100 more aircraft, representing a nearly 40% expansion of its connected fleet. NetJets in 2010 signed an agreement to offer in-flight Internet service aboard more than 250 aircraft, which had been Aircell’s largest ever business aircraft inflight connectivity order. The service provides high-speed Internet access above 10,000 ft. in the continental U.S. and portions of Alaska through the use of Wi-Fi enabled laptops, tablets, smartphones, electronic flight bags and other mobile devices.
Executive AirShare, the Kansas City-based “regional” fractional provider, is expanding its business portfolio with two new programs that fill a gap between fractional programs and jet card businesses. Unlike fractional, under which owners buy a stake in an aircraft, Executive AirShare’s new programs are based on a leasing structure. The “Launch” program calls for a one-time payment ($99,895) that provides up to 25 days or 60 flights over up to a two yr. period. Like most fractional programs, the hourly rates are billed separately.
Eurocopter is the latest aircraft manufacturer to invest in a Chinese joint venture anticipating that the Peoples Liberation Army will lighten prohibitive airspace restrictions that has put a damper on general aviation development. Helicopter operations typically have been limited to below 300 meters with requirements to land and depart from the same airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is faulting deteriorated locknut inserts found in a “highly modified” World War II-era North American P-51D for the Sept. 16, 2011, crash during the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev. The crash, which killed the pilot and 10 other people on the ground and caused and injuries to 60 other people, captured national attention and has led to evaluations of the safety of experimental aircraft and air racing, along with alterations of the Reno course.
FAA is laying the groundwork to implement the new “Pilot’s Bill of Rights,” beginning with a new website that will facilitate access to air traffic data. President Obama Aug. 3 signed Sen. Jim Inhofe’s ( R-Okla.) Pilot’s Bill of Rights (S.1335) into law, following House passage late last month and Senate passage in June. Nearly two-thirds of the Senate co-sponsored the bill, which strengthens protections of pilots’ rights in cases of FAA enforcement actions.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0422; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-177-AD; Amendment 39-17146; AD 2012-15-16]—requires replacing the affected pushrod assembly. This AD was prompted by reports that various pushrods had been manufactured with tubes having the incorrect heat treatment. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent loss of rudder control, reduced directional control of the airplane on the ground, or a jammed nose landing gear (NLG) door that could prevent the NLG from retracting or extending.
Nextant Aerospace has delivered its first European-registered 400XT remanufactured aircraft to a buyer in the Czech Republic. The aircraft, the 16th 400XT overall to be delivered, will be managed by Time Air, which specializes in charter, aircraft acquisition and management. Time Air, along with the owner, will work with Nextant to provide demonstration flights for prospective buyers in Europe. Beechcraft Sales and Service GmbH (Beechcraft Augsburg) will support the aircraft. Nextant begin delivery of the aircraft in October 2011, following FAA certification.
The Transportation Department‘s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is calling on FAA to improve management of a program that requires airports to assess potential wildlife aircraft strikes.
MIKE FLINT has joined CIT Business Aircraft as vice president, U.S. sales. Flint will oversee new transactions and manage CIT business aviation relationships in the U.S. He formerly spent more than 20 yr. with GE Capital, most recently as vice president and sales director, corporate aircraft finance. He is based in Atlanta.
KIM CHAN was appointed vice president and head of Jet Aviation’s newly established Asia division, comprising Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing. Chan will be responsible for regional growth, strategy and strengthening relationships. Chan has held senior management positions with HNI International, Honeywell, Bombardier, Lucas Aerospace and most recently, China Alstom.
Hawker Beechcraft was granted an additional 120 days to file its plan to emerge from bankruptcy, pushing the deadline to Dec. 29. The court also provided until Feb. 27 for Hawker Beechcraft to solicit votes on the proposal. The Wichita airframer entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 3 and had outlined a plan to receive confirmation of a reorganization plan by Nov. 15 and have that plan take effect by Dec. 15.
Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company handed over the first four Beechcraft T-6C+ military trainers to the Mexican Air Force (FAM). The trainers, the first of six on order, were delivered during a ceremony at Santa Lucia Air Force Base in Reyes Acozac, Mexico. The remaining two aircraft are slated to be delivered by Sept. 16. FAM is the first customer for the T-6C+ enhanced variant of the T-6 military trainer aircraft. The T-6C+ can carry external stores and deliver practice weapons for training purposes.
SAMI TEITTINEN was appointed CFO for Signature Flight Support. Teittinin joined BBA Aviation’s ASIG (Aircraft Service International) in 2002, spending the last five years as the division’s CFO. There he led the company through several acquisitions, finance department restructuring and infrastructure reinvestments.
A coalition of about 85 industry organizations and businesses is urging FAA to preserve the use of non-citizen trusts (NCT) for aircraft registration. The coalition, which includes a dozen aviation associations and more than six dozen airframers, financial firms, attorneys and others, instead believes FAA should rely on operator information to better track aircraft use. The coalition’s comments were submitted in response to a proposed policy clarification the agency issued earlier this year as it grapples with the use of NCTs to obtain n-numbers.
Airport representatives are asking the FAA to hold off on any effort to develop guidelines on competition for ground services, saying it is unnecessary and congressional requests for such measures are misguided. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and 10 other lawmakers earlier this month wrote acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, saying the agency needs to further define requirements so airport sponsors can fully understand the rules they must follow if they compete with privately owned businesses such as fixed-base operations (FBO).
FAA’s long-standing opposition to the use of cell phones in-flight continues with the devices excluded from a new study on portable electronic devices (PEDs). The six-month study is expected to investigate policies and procedures that aircraft operators currently follow and eventually present its recommendations to the FAA. The agency currently requires aircraft operators to determine that radio-frequency interference from PEDs does not pose inflight hazards, before authorizing their use.
