Cessna Aircraft is developing a diesel version of its Model 182 Skylane that, when available in the second quarter of 2013, will replace the Lycoming-powered Model 182 Skylane that burns leaded aviation gasoline.
Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) is hoping for a quick resolution of a lawsuit it filed last spring seeking reinstatement of its $355 million U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract, according to Taco Gilbert, the company’s vice president of ISR business development. SNC filed the lawsuit after the Air Force set aside the original award for 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft after the losing bidder, Hawker Beechcraft, filed its own lawsuit in protest.
Sabreliner Corporation recently finished major engine and airframe inspection work on a Sabreliner 60 operated by the Bolivian government. The government uses the aircraft for VIP transport, including the Bolivian president, vice president and ministers. Sabreliner completed the inspections at its Perryville, Mo. maintenance facility. During the hot section inspection, Sabreliner found extensive foreign object damage on the aircraft stators and blades from an engine ingestion event, requiring the use of exchange engines.
Eclipse Aerospace secured Brazilian type validation for its Total Eclipse upgraded EA500. The approval culminates 15 months of work with the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) for approval of the EA500 and the Eclipse Avio integrated flight management system. In addition to the Avio system, the aircraft is certified for flight into known icing.
ROBERT PLATTEN was appointed as an outside sales executive for Meridian. Platten will focus on air charter sales, along with sales of the company’s services. He has 23 year of accounting and aviation experience, most recently as director of business development for TWC/ACM Aviation. He also has served as vice president-Northeast sales for New World Aviation, vice president of charter management for Atlantic Aviation and director of client relations for Jet Aviation.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services recently acquired a controlling interest of the recently reopened New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW)-based fixed-base operation Aeropremier. The FBO, a former National Guard facility, underwent substantial renovations following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and opened for business in February. The facilities include more than 50,000 sq. ft. of hangar space, which can accommodate an aircraft the size of a Gulfstream G550. The facility will take on the Hawthorne brand.
Engine maker Continental Motors Inc. (CMI) is expanding its foray into the flight training market with the establishment of Zulu Flight Training – a flight school designed to attract a new potential customer base away from airports. Under Zulu, the training will be brought to accessible locations within population centers, such as malls, but use a structured curriculum that relies on full motion aviation trainers. The training will be supported by aircraft at nearby airports.
Both government and industry leaders attending last week’s EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., strongly backed the effort to rewrite Part 23 rules governing the design of general aviation piston and light jet aircraft. A government/industry aviation rulemaking committee is expected to present recommendations next summer for the rewrite, and Peggy Gilligan, FAA associate administrator for aviation safety, says those recommendations will influence the timing of the rule. Gilligan holds the rulemaking as one means to make certification more efficient.
TERRY WATKINS joined Sabreliner Corp. as paint operations manager for the recently opened $7 million aircraft painting hangar at Perryville Municipal Airport (KO2) in Missouri. Watkins formerly spent 13 years with Midcoast/Jet Aviation.
Helicopter Association International President Matt Zuccaro is vowing to fight FAA’s recent rule mandating helicopter traffic routes along Long Island, saying the action is part of a “very disturbing trend” of political attempts to curb airspace access. Zuccaro notes the rule, released earlier this month, underwent just a two-day Office of Management and Budget review after Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) appealed to the White House to expedite it.
GE Aviation is launching two derivative of its recently certified H80 turboprop engine, the H75 and H85 turboprops. The H75 engine will be rated at 750 (shp) for both takeoff and maximum continuous operation, and the H85 engine will be rated at 850 shp. Like the H80, the H75 and H85 engines will be manufactured at GE Aviation’s facility in the Czech Republic and aimed at the agricultural, commuter, utility and business turboprop aircraft segments. Type certifications from EASA and FAA are anticipated early next year, GE says.
Continental Motors Inc. (CMI), working with its Chinese parent AVIC International, is planning to invest in a line of diesel engines ranging from 160 hp to 350 hp or more. At the same time, CMI is pursuing the supplemental type certificate market, recently obtaining the first for a diesel option on the Cirrus S22 and turning its attention next to the Cessna 182.
Cessna, which last fall unveiled two new jets, is turning its attention to turboprops, gathering market feedback on a potential 6-7 place single turboprop and developing a new version of its venerable Grand Caravan. Separately, the company is looking to certify its light-sport aircraft, the Skycatcher, in Europe.
Chesapeake Sport Pilot, one of the largest light-sport flight schools in the country, received a letter of deviation authority (LODA) from the FAA to provide transition training for the Searey amphibious kit aircraft. The LODA was the first in the U.S. that is specific to the Searey. Chesapeake partnered with Searey manufacturer Progressive Aerodyne to provide the training. The light-sport, two-place aircraft can land on water with the landing gear retracted and using the man aircraft hull essentially as a boat hull.
ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C20, -C20B, and -C20R/2 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0961; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-22-AD; Amendment 39-17120; AD 2012-14-06] – requires a one-time visual inspection and fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) on certain 3rd and 4th stage turbine wheels for cracks in the turbine blades. This AD was prompted by seven cases reported of released turbine blades and shrouds, which led to loss of power and engine inflight shutdowns.
JOHN HINTON has joined Aircell’s aftermarket sales team as regional sales manager. Hinton will work with business aircraft operators and aftermarket installation facilities in the Northeast. He formerly was principal sales manager with Rockwell Collins. He also has held positions with Airshow and served as a guidance and control technician in the U.S. Air Force.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has launched a new aviation mentor program based on Young Eagles, but this time is targeting adults. The organization inaugurated the new Eagle Flights program during last week’s 2012 Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., providing a flight to Diane Thornton, a longtime Texas educator and school administrator who is now national director of the “Learning for Life” program that oversees the Aviation Exploring program. She flew in EAA President Rod Hightower’s personal T-6 military trainer.
The National Air Transportation Association is reaching into the airline industry for a successor to longtime President James Coyne, announcing last week (July 24) that Thomas Hendricks will take the helm beginning Sept. 1. Hendricks most recently was senior vice president, safety security and operations of Airlines for America, responsible for technical and operational functions, as well as advocacy and policy positions on flight operations, safety, engineering, air traffic management and security.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) recently held a grand opening ceremony for its newest factory-owned aircraft maintenance facility at New Castle County Airport (ILG) in Wilmington, Del. The Wilmington center will provide services for customers in the Northeast, including maintenance, repair and overhaul for airframe, engines, avionics and mobile service support for the company’s entire product line. The facility is expected to generate 100 new jobs over the next five years. The nearly 60,000-sq.-ft. facility includes 40,000 sq. ft.
Eclipse Aerospace is returning to Pratt & Whitney Canada’s (P&WC) PW610F engine to power the next-generation Eclipse 550 twin-engine business jet. The PW610F powers the 261 Eclipse 500 aircraft currently in service. The decision was largely expected, further cementing the company’s partnerships with United Technologies companies. UT’s Sikorsky has invested in the VLJ maker and is providing support, while UT’s PZL Mielec is providing major components, including the fuselage, empennage and wing.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) has incorporated its technical publications and customer support directory in applications available through the Apple App Store. The Technical Publications app is available for use with an Apple iPad, while the GCS Directory application is compatible with the iPhone. The Technical Publications app includes downloadable flight manuals and maintenance manuals for current production and supported aircraft.
Sen. Jim Inhofe’s (R-Okla.) Pilot’s Bill of Rights (S.1335) was sent to the White House July 26 for President Obama’s signature after the House earlier this week cleared the bill by voice vote. House passage followed Senate approval in June of the bill, which was co-sponsored by nearly two-thirds of the Senate.
Cirrus pioneer Alan Klapmeier continues to take a methodical approach to building the six-eight passenger Kestrel single turboprop, saying he is not providing exact specifications or a firm timeline until the project is closer to fruition.
CESSNA Model 750 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0720; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-059-AD] – proposes to require inspecting certain logic modules to determine if certain cabin altitude/pitot static heater module assemblies are installed and replacing those assemblies with a new assembly; and revising the Non-Normal Procedures Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures for resetting the pitot switch in the event of pitot heater failure and for total loss of airspeed indication.
Pilatus Aircraft was awarded a contract from the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) for a PC-21 training system, including a fleet of 24 PC-21 trainer aircraft, ground-based training systems, logistics support and a maintenance package. The QEAF Air Academy will receive the first aircraft in mid-2014 and training will begin a year later.
