The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on July 31 approved a bill to oppose the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), but only after panelists amended the legislation to limit the transportation secretary’s authority to prohibit U.S. carriers from participating.
BOB SEIDEL has joined JFI Jets as CEO, succeeding Bill Cripe, who is taking a leave of absence. Seidel previously was general manager and senior vice president of Jet Aviation’s U.S. aircraft management and charter division. Before joining Jet Aviation in 2004, he was Midwest sales director for Gulfstream Aerospace
Astronics Corporation is broadening its business aviation and rotorcraft base with the acquisition of Portland, Ore.-based enhanced vision specialist Max-Viz. Astronics is paying $10 million for the privately held business, but will pay up to $8 million more if Max-Viz achieves certain revenue targets over the next three years.
FAA is following through on a congressionally-mandated policy to permit pilot access to airport runways and taxiways from adjacent homes. The agency proposes a “residential-through-the-fence” policy July 30 that reverses recent efforts by the agency to discourage direct aircraft access from private property to airports with grant obligations.
NetJets already is beginning to see possible returns from its new fleets, says Patrick Gallagher, senior vice president and head of sales for the fractional ownership provider. After announcing orders in June for midsized cabins – including the Cessna Citation Latitude and Bombardier Challenger 300 series – the number of inquires on the web and calls tripled, he says, adding that “customers are excited to see us reinvest in our business.”
Gulfstream Aerospace’s service center in Appleton, Wis., received approved maintenance organization (AMO) designations from China and Nigeria. The approvals clear the facility to provide maintenance, repairs, alterations and inspections on certain aircraft registered with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The Appleton center joins Gulfstream’s bases in Savannah and Long Beach, Calif., as CAAC-approved facilities.
HONEYWELL Model KGS200 Mercury wide area augmentation system (WAAS) global navigation satellite sensor units (GNSSU) [Docket No. FAA-2012-0758; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-027-AD; Amendment 39-17129; AD 2012-14-15] – requires the operator to cease localizer performance (LP), localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV), and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) lateral navigation/vertical navigation (LNAV/VNAV) approaches until a software problem is corrected.
Textron’s Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft units opened a new regional service center in Singapore at Seletar Aerospace Park. The facility provides a range of maintenance, repair, completion and other services. Bell President and CEO John Garrison says the facility is the result of years of planning for an increased presence in Asia Pacific for both Bell and Cessna. Bell signed a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board in J.une 2010 and broke ground jointly with Cessna a year later. The facility has 160,500 sq.
National Business Aviation Association President Ed Bolen calls the slow progress on improving temporary flight restrictions (TFR) “a tremendous frustration. … The instruments put into place after 9/11 were dull, blunt-force instruments.” By now, Bolen told a panel during last month’s Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2012 Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., he had hoped that those instruments would have become “precision instruments.” While the process is improving, it’s slow and comes at a cost to operators.
The Alaska congressional delegation is pushing the IRS to reverse the position taken by some auditors calling on operators of small aircraft in Alaska to pay the commercial air transportation tax. On-demand operators of small aircraft (weighing 6,000 lb. or less) operating on “non-established lines” are exempt from the 7.5% tax on commercial air transportation. The Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA) says 85% of aircraft in the state qualify, and its members are now facing new tax bills that reject the exemption.
CAV Ice Protection in Salina, Kan., launched an engineering consulting unit to provide ice protection expertise to manufacturers and operators of remotely piloted vehicles. The CAV Ice Protection Consulting Engineers organization (CAVICE) will focus on Medium Altitude Long Endurance and High Altitude Long Endurance unmanned systems. “Too many times, unmanned vehicles have to forgo a crucial mission when they have to fly through icing conditions to complete their tasks,” says Kevin Hawley, CAV Ice Protection’s vice president of business development.
The nomination of Michael Huerta to a five-year term as FAA administrator took another step forward July 31 with unanimous approval by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), the committee’s top Republican, says some senators have not received answers to written questions to Huerta, who is currently the acting administrator, but the nomination proceeded regardless.
DAN HENCHAL has become director of maintenance for Signature TECHNICAir’s maintenance facilities located at Charles B. Wheeler Airport (MKC) and at New Century Air Center Airport (IXD). He previously had served as director of maintenance at the company’s facility at St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) and at MSP Jet Center-Minneapolis. He also has served with Gulfstream/General Dynamics and Dallas Airmotive.
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2012 Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., drew 508,000 attendees, including 2,078 international visitors from 71 nations. The weeklong event last month also attracted more than 10,000 aircraft to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. The showplanes totaled 2,489, including homebuilt aircraft, vintage airplanes, warbirds, ultralights, seaplanes, aerobatic aircraft and rotorcraft.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes Docket No. FAA-2012-0721; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-076-AD] – proposes to require replacing the existing cargo compartment liners with liners that comply. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that airplanes with a Class C cargo (baggage) compartment have liners that do not meet flammability requirements. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent inadequate fire protection in the cargo compartment and consequent uncontrolled fire.
NetJets is working to attract a new customer base with a “Supplemental Lift Assurance” program offered to aircraft owners and flight departments that need additional aircraft time, but not necessarily a fraction. NetJets will use its fractional fleet for the program – relying on Executive Jet Management when necessary – which will provided “assured access” with as little as four hr. notice.
Jeppesen is expanding its availability, along with subscription services, for its digital JeppView navigation data, as the company prepares to release Jeppesen Mobile FlightDeck version 2.0. The new version will be available within two months, providing additional functionality. The Mobile FlightDeck has been approved for the Apple iPad, and Jeppesen is adding availability for Samsung Galaxy tablets using the Android operating system.
Bombardier is planning an expanded Safety Standdown Latin America in conjunction with the ninth annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition Aug. 13-14 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The third year in Latin America, the Safety Standdown will include a half day of workshops in addition to the single-day general session.
PILATUS Models PC 12, PC 12/45, PC 12/47, and PC 12/47E [Docket No. FAA-2012-0732; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-022-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Safety Agency that calls for new revisions into the limitations section approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). The limitations were revised to include an inspection of the wing main spar fastener holes at rib 6 for cracks.
The Chinese continue on their acquisitive path to rapidly expand their aerospace base with their latest buy – kit aircraft maker Glasair Aviation. Fang Tieji, chairman of Jilin Hanxing Group, acquired the kit maker, promising to invest substantially in the company to grow its product base and expand offerings in China.
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0715; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-039-AD; Amendment 39-17122; AD 2012-14-08] – requires inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) for a crack. This AD is prompted by a crack discovered in the cored passage of the MGB housing, which may be indicated by oil on the housing. These actions are intended to detect a crack in the MGB housing, which could result in loss of oil, failure of the MGB, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the AD will affect 16 helicopters on the U.S.
Aug. 13-16—Airports Council International-North America, 2012 Public Safety & Security Fall Conference, Arlington, Va., www.aci-na.org/event/1753 Aug. 16—4th Annual BALA Summit, Business Aviation in Latin America, LABACE, Sao Paulo, Brazil, www.aeropodium.com/cp/bala.html Aug. 18-22—54th NEC/AAAE Annual Conference, Providence, Rhode Island, www.necconference.org Sept. 9-12—22nd Airports Council International World-North America Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, www.aci-na.org/conferences/
Embraer is prepping the first of its Legacy 500 jets for first flight in upcoming weeks – not quite a year after originally hoped – as the Brazilian manufacturer continues to target 2013 certification for the midsize business jet. Embraer rolled out the initial Legacy jet late last year and began ground tests in January.
Valair Aviation at Wiley Post Airport (KPWA) in Oklahoma City has joined the Phillips 66 Aviation network. Formerly called The ServiCenter, the fixed-base operation provides a range of services including maintenance and modifications and offers off-site service. A 24-hr. facility, Valair participates in the Phillips 66 WingPoints Reward Card program. Valair began as a service division for Aero Commander aircraft.
