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.
FAA exponentially beefed up its control tower staff to prepare for the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., bringing in 60 controllers – out of 150 applicants – 18 supervisors and three operations managers. FAA calls its tower “the Busiest Air Traffic Control Tower in the World.” That slogan hangs on the tower, just below the controller cab. The reason is that during Oshksosh, the tower handled as many as 3,400 flights in 10 hr.
The North American market is returning to dominate Gulfstream’s orderbook, but overall market softness has “elongated” order cycles, says Jay Johnson, chairman, CEO and president of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics (GD). “Gulfstream continues to enjoy a sizeable, multiyear, large-cabin backlog and a robust order pipeline,” Johnson maintains, noting that the second quarter turned in the lowest number of defaults since the economic downturn began in 2008.
The machinists union is attempting to block an effort by Hawker Beechcraft to award up to $5.3 million in bonuses to company executives under the Key Employee Incentive Plan (KEIP).
Daher-Socata will not have a new twin-engine aircraft in its portfolio in the near future, according to company executives. They say the company has decided against moving forward with the Grob G180 SPn aircraft for the time being, and that announcements on a new platform may still be 18 months away.
PATS Aircraft Systems has secured a contract to complete a “VVIP” variant of the 737-800 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ2). PATS will complete the work at its Georgetown, Del., facility on behalf of an Asia Pacific-based head of state.
JEFF BAUM , president and CEO of Wisconsin Aviation, was selected as vice chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), succeeding Keystone Aviation President Bill Haberstock. Baum is a founding member of the ACSF, and has served on the Executive Committee and Board of Governors since the foundation’s inception. He also serves on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association, Wisconsin Business Aircraft Association, and the Transportation Development Association.
TWC Aviation in San Jose, Calif., rolled out two guaranteed revenue services as it moves to increase its charter and managed fleet. The programs, TWC RevenueFlex and TWC RevvenueMax, are designed to ensure predictable revenue for clients every month, the company says. Under RevenueFlex, TWC works with owners to set a maximum number of hours for the owner, and makes up the difference between the amount the owner flies and that maximum. TWC works around the owner’s schedule for use of the airplane when planning charter flights.
GULFSTREAM Model G-IV, GIV-X, GV, and GV-SP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0677; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-105-AD; Amendment 39-17114; AD 2012-13-12] – requires measuring to determine paint thickness on the flight control surfaces and corrective actions if necessary, and revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). This AD was prompted by reports of failure to inspect or document the paint thickness on flight controls (ailerons, rudder, elevator), potentially having a negative impact on the flutter characteristics of the airplane.
Cessna continues to refine its Citation M2 light twin-engine business jet as the program progresses toward Part 23 certification and delivery in 2013. The Wichita airframer, which announced the M2 program nine months ago, has incorporated upgrades based on customer feedback. These include a shortened throttle quadrant pedestal and extended crew seat tracks to increase legroom. Cessna also is integrating more switches into the Garmin G3000 touch screens for a cleaner, more intuitive interface, the company says.
Rockwell Collins obtained certification for its Ascend Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) aboard Dassault Falcon 2000, Hawker Beechcraft B300 series King Airs and Piaggio Avanti II P-180 aircraft. AIM previously had been certified for Bombardier Challenger 300/604/605, Hawker 750/800XP/850XP/900XP aircraft and Falcon 50/50EX aircraft last year. Further certifications are anticipated for Cessna Citation CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 and Raytheon Premier I/IA aircraft by the end of the year.
Chinese firms are showing interest in even the lightest end of the industry, with a delegation holding a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at a pavilion along the flightline at EAA’s Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis. Beyond the ceremony, their interest was shown in a more concrete manner with the acquisition of a kit builder and an investment to bring flight training into China (see articles inside). The reaction to a potential Chinese investment in Hawker Beechcraft remains mixed. Some analysts have been skeptical about the prospects for the sale.
PZL SWIDNIK Model PZL W-3A helicopter with a certain generator air outlet collector installed [Docket No. FAA-2012-0703; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-019-AD; Amendment 39-17112; AD 2012-13-10] – requires modifying the generator air outlet collector attachments. This AD is prompted by an incident where cyclic control stick movement was restricted due to rotation of a loose collector, resulting in locking of the longitudinal control system hydraulic actuator fork end.
Facing uncertain budgets and possible steep cuts from sequestration, FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta says the agency is considering a number of scenarios and is trying to be “nimble and creative.” Huerta, speaking to Aviation Week, could not detail what the impact of sequestration may be, but says a lot of speculation is circulating about the future budget environment. His job, he says job is to remain focused on the mission and management of the agency.
Piper Aircraft is renewing its focus on the training market – a niche the company had once decided to walk away from – as the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer decides to concentrate on its existing product line while the economy remains soft.
CESSNA Model 750 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0644; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-011-AD] – proposes to require replacing the auxiliary power unit (APU) generator control unit (GCU). This proposed AD was prompted by reports of direct current (DC) generator overvoltage events. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent DC generator overvoltage events, which could result in subsequent smoke in the cockpit and loss of avionics and electrical systems. FAA estimates that the AD would affect 58 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $149,060, or $2,570 per aircraft.
The U.S. government on July 31 is hosting a meeting in Washington, D.C. of about a dozen countries opposed to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). The meeting follows up on a gathering in February in Moscow, where more than 20 countries agreed to a number of potential retaliatory measures against the EU for pressing ahead with EU-ETS, Helicopter Association International says.
