French airplane developer Lisa Airplanes is entering receivership while it attempts to raise funds to bring its two-seat amphibious Akoya to market. Lisa, founded in 2004 to build the light-sport Akoya, says it had been financed up to 80% by private funds. But a recent round of negotiations on long-term financing fell through in July, forcing the company to enter receivership. The Commercial Court of Chambery in France granted a six-month observation period as the company continues to search for the necessary funding.
A new study estimates that potential across-the-board budget cuts to the FAA could amount to an $18.4 billion blow to the economy, including the loss of up to 73 million passenger enplanements and 2 billion lb. of airfreight. Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta called the study, released Aug. 13 by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), “very significant” and urged Congress to take action. “Let’s not let the FAA be victimized by budget politics,” he said.
GREG MCGOWAN was promoted to senior vice president, operations for FlightSafety International. McGowan joined FlightSafety in 1979 as an instructor in the Bell Helicopter Learning Center and became director of training in 1982. He also has served as manager of the West Palm Beach Center, director of operations for all FlightSafety Learning Centers and most recently, vice president, operations.
KEN MOTSCHWILLER was appointed senior vice president and CFO for FlightSafety International. He has served in the company’s finance department for 29 years, beginning as comptroller. He also has served as vice president, treasurer; vice president, finance; and most recently vice president and CFO.
Cessna continues to tweak the performance parameters of its new midsize business jet, the Citation Latitude, announcing its second boost in range since the aircraft was unveiled last fall. The new range, revealed during the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition Aug. 15 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is now 2,500 nm, a 25% increase from the original target.
The U.S. Bankruptcy is considering a claim by Pilatus Aircraft that Hawker Beechcraft is using its intellectual property for the production of the Pilatus-designed airframe used for the T-6/AT-6 military trainer and should be required to pay continued royalties. The court last week held a hearing on the initial claim and has scheduled a follow-up hearing on the issue Aug. 30.
GULFSTREAM Model Astra SPX, 1125, Westwind Astra and Gulfstream 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1164; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-057-AD; Amendment 39-17135; AD 2012-15-06] – requires inspecting for the presence of sponge rubber padding and for proper separation of the fuel lines and electrical harnesses in the wheel well area, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that sponge rubber padding was found between wheel well fuel lines and electrical harnesses.
StandardAero is expanding its Singapore helicopters with a larger facility at the Seltar Aerospace Park. Raghunath “Raghu” Reddy was appointed general manager of the new facility. He joins StandardAero Singapore from Singapore Aerospace Manufacturing, where he was director of operations. The new Singapore facility, which services Rolls-Royce Model 250 engines, has completed or is in the process of completing certifications from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, UAE and the U.S.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has formally launched its aviation safety action program (ASAP) for on-demand charter operators. The program initially involves a demonstration with two charter operators working with the FAA Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). ACSF expects it to eventually expand to other charter operators in the FAA Great Lakes Region and long term to other regions.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, and MBB-BK C-1 helicopters equipped with a certain external-hoist system [Docket No. FAA-2012-0356; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-067-AD; Amendment 39-17128; AD 2012-14-14] – requires deactivating the entire hoist system or deactivating the hoist system cable cutter function on the hoist system operator control handle. This AD was prompted by an uncommanded activation of the hoist cable cutter function on an MBB-BK117 C-1 helicopter.
Embraer-CAE Training Services (ECTS) has begun Phenom 100 and 300 pilot and maintenance technician training at CAE’s training center near Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The facility is the third location for ECTS, which also provides training in Dallas and Burgess Hill, near London. ECTS has stationed a Phenom full-flight simulator at the Brazilian center – the fourth for the Phenom in the ECTS network.
Bombardier is expecting to kick off final assembly of the first Learjet 85 “shortly” as components begin to arrive at the company’s expanding plant in Wichita. But the company still is not publicly revealing a target date for the aircraft’s rollout or first flight. In a recent financial release, Bombardier executives maintain that the aircraft, which launched in 2007, remains on track for certification next year.
India has released a global tender for roughly 60 utility helicopters to replace the Indian navy’s vintage Chetak helos. “A request for proposals [RFP] has been issued for buying mainly twin-engine helos. The deal is approximately worth $900 million,” a defense ministry official says. The official says Sikorsky, Eurocopter, Kamov and AgustaWestland are among the likely respondents. The RFP comes four years after India issued a global tender for 197 utility helicopters — 133 for the Indian army and 64 for the Indian air force — to replace aging Chetak and Cheetah aircraft.
Cessna is renaming its jet-fuel burning, turbocharged piston aircraft announced at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. The Turbo Skylane NXT is now the Turbo Skylane JT-A. Shortly after unveiling the aircraft July 23, Cessna learned that the “NXT” name was already in use. German light-sport aircraft maker Remos uses NXT, as does kit-builder Nemesis Air Racing Corp.
ALLAN ORSI was named regional manager for Duncan Aviation in Brazil. Orsi will expand the company’s business base and work with aircraft operators, management organizations and other service providers in South America. He has served with Duncan Aviation since 2008, and before that worked with Honeywell do Brasil, Embraer, Bosch and Aerostation.
Business jet makers, coming off a strong second quarter during which business jet deliveries jumped 30% year over year, are poised to deliver 745 jets this year with billings reaching their highest levels since 2008 at just under $19 billion, predicts analyst Jeffries Americas/Aerospace & Defense Electronics.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0772; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-053-AD] – proposes to require, for helicopters with a cabin vibration damper, installing a cabin vibration damper containment device. This proposed AD is prompted by a crack and failure of a cabin vibration damper blade. The proposed actions are intended to modify the cabin vibration damper assembly to prevent contact with the flight controls in the event of a cabin vibration blade failure, jamming of a flight control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
TOM EFF was promoted to senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for FlightSafety International. Eff joined FlightSafety in 1995 as general counsel and became vice president, general counsel and secretary in 1998. He also has served as vice president and associate general counsel of The Continental Corp.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) has appointed Premium Jet Aircraft Maintenance at Afonso Pena International Airport (SBCT) in Curitiba, Brazil, as an authorized service center. Premium Jet, based in southern Brazil, will support Hawker 125 and 400 series products. Premium Jet is a Brazilian 145-rated repair station that has more than 30 aircraft on its operation certificate.
Gulfstream appears to be closing in on full certification this quarter of the G650 and G280 business jets. The company last week updated progress on both programs, saying FAA certification flights for the G650 are complete. The program has logged 3,800 hr. and 1,160 flights. The G280, meanwhile, has completed 740 flights and more than 2,000 hr.
RAYMOND LEDUC joined Bell Helicopter as vice president of value streams at its facility in Mirabel, Canada. Leduc is responsible for the manufacturing activities of the Mirabel plant and for leading operational excellence efforts of the value stream organization. He formerly spent nine years as site leader for IBM Bromont. He has a background in engineering, manufacturing, finance and management.
Bell Helicopter recently received approval from the Department of Civil Aviation in Thailand for its maximum gross weigh increase for the 429 helicopter. Thailand becomes the 13th country to approve the increase. Transport Canada granted initial approval in January, clearing the way for increased load capabilities. Separately, Bell delivered the first 407GX helicopter to be operated in Africa. The single-engine helicopter was delivered to National Airways Corporation and will be operated by a private customer for corporate transport.
Business jet traffic continues to remain flat with gains of one month offset by declines in the next, according to recent business jet traffic reports from FAA and industry analyst Argus. In the first six months of the year, business jet operations – domestically and internationally – have ranged from the low- to mid-300,000s, still well below peak traffic levels in 2004-2007, when monthly averages hovered near 400,000. But they are still up from the trough in the first six months of 2009, when monthly business jet traffic remained below 300,000 operations.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0722; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-188-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the AC generator to determine the part number, and replacing the AC generator if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of alternating current (AC) generator failures in-service due to incomplete fusion in the weld joint of the rotor band assembly.
