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.
Light-sport aircraft developer Icon Aircraft has signed an agreement for Cirrus Aircraft to supply a significant portion of the composite airframe for the A5 amphibious plane. Cirrus will produce the components at its Grand Forks, N.D. plant, where they are manufactured for the SR20 and SR22 single-piston aircraft. Icon will integrate the components at its facility in Tehachapi, Calif., where all design, final assembly, finishing and testing will occur.
Tupelo Aviation in Mississippi has joined the Avfuel network of branded dealers. The fixed-base operation is participating in the Avfuel Contract Fuel and Avtrip rewards programs. In addition to joining the network, Tupelo is refurbishing its facilities to include a large conference room, kitchenette, crew lounge, passenger lounge, snooze rooms, updated flight planning room and showers. The facility also includes hangar space and a ramp that can accommodate aircraft the size of a Boeing 757.
Hawker Beechcraft’s request to award millions in bonuses to company executives remains a focus before the U.S. bankruptcy court as the machinists’ union reiterates its opposition and the company continues to maintain that the bonuses are necessary given the difficulties of the executives’ current tasks.
TONY DESMOND was named team leader of Duncan Aviation’s business aircraft AOG Engine Rapid Response Team based at the Republic Airport on Long Island in New York. Desmond has 22 years of aviation experience, most recently managing maintenance for five business aircraft as the owner of NexGen Aircraft Management and chief inspector for seven years with Executive Jet Management.
Flexjet is kicking off an 11-city tour of the new Learjet 85 aircraft with a Learjet cabin mock-up. The coast-to-coast tour is scheduled to visit Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Monterrey, Calif., New York, Orlando, Fla., Seattle and Washington. The Learjet 85 was launched in 2007, and Flexjet anticipates taking delivery of its first of the model next year. Flexjet is partnering with Rolls-Royce, Chocolatier Emanuel Andren, Full Swing Golf and the Napa Valley Vintners during the tour.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), one of the operators that helped shape and launch the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Registry, is renewing its registration status a little more than a year after the charter and management firm decided against participation.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1E2, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0681; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-13-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires a one-time inspection and torque check of a certain three-way union plug installed on all fuel control units (FCUs). Since FAA issued that AD, the applicability has been reduced to certain FCUs and the referenced service bulletin has been updated with additional detailed information to identify the noncompliant “red disk’’ plug.
JEREMY PROST was named sales manager for Asia for Piper Aircraft. Prost will be responsible for developing sales of Piper’s aircraft lines in China. He has a background of sales in China, formerly heading Diamond Aircraft’s Beijing office. He also held sales and customer support positions with BinAo Aircraft in China. He further has served with World Trading and Gold Sea International Trading Company.
FAA has temporarily suspended opposite direction operations at all commercial airports in the wake of a recent incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that brought three airplanes within close flying range. The suspension on such operations is in effect “until detailed procedures can be developed, trained and implemented,” Chief Operating Officer David Grizzle says in a memo to acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1A, 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E, 1E2, 1K, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0520; Directorate Identifier 2002-NE-43-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive visual inspections for erosion caused by dust ingestion and, if necessary, cleaning of the gas generator (module M03). Since FAA issued that AD, in-service experience has shown that dust inside the gas generator hollow shaft may be found when the axial compressor wheel has less erosion than initially assessed.
The National Business Aviation Association recently surpassed the 9,000-member mark thanks to a 25% growth rate in recent years. The association was founded in 1947 with 19 members.
Bombardier Aerospace expects to continue to ramp up deliveries of its Global aircraft in the second half of the year as the company sticks to estimates that it will deliver 180 business jets this year. At the same time, however, regional aircraft programs will continue to remain sluggish – with an anticipated 55 deliveries – as the Canadian conglomerate begins testing its new CSeries line in preparation for a first flight this year.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) Republican leaders are asking FAA to reconsider its recent rule to mandate what had been voluntary helicopter routes over Long Island, N.Y.
Debate over a potential $1 trillion government-wide budget reduction next year has largely focused on the defense industry. But during congressional testimony recently, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget opened what might be a new lobbying front in the fight over the penalty known as sequestration, saying the FAA’s operations account could be in line for “significant” reductions.
