BOMBARDIER CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0639; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-005-AD] – proposes requiring operators to inspect the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator trunnions and upper and lower pins for gouges, scratches and corrosion, replacing those components, if necessary. This action is designed to prevent failure of the pins and trunnions, consequent disconnection of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.
Industry advocates reiterated their opposition to recent Internal Revenue Service guidance expanding the applicability of the passenger ticket tax and are urging the agency’s chief counsel to ensure the tax is not retroactively imposed.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N and AS355NP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0631; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-021-AD] – proposes requiring recurring inspections for cracks of the Aerazur emergency-flotation-gear attachment brackets. If any cracks were found, operators would need to replace a cracked bracket with an airworthy one so as to prevent failure of the emergency flotation system and loss of float stability in the event of a water landing.
ACI Jet Centers this month began assessing a nickel fuel surcharge to offset costs of ongoing Proposition 65 litigation by the Center For Environmental Health (CEH) over the sale and distribution of leaded aviation gasoline in California. ACI joins other fuel providers, including Signature Flight Support facilities, which have assessed the fuel surcharge. In addition, the National Air Transportation Association also has appealed to members to fight the lawsuit filed against avgas providers last fall.
Airbus recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of its first U.S. engineering center in Wichita. The company’s first engineering and design facility outside of Europe, the Airbus Engineering Center in the Old Town section of the city formally opened on June 10, 2002, staffed by approximately 30 engineers dedicated to wing design for the Airbus A380. Today, the company has expanded into a second facility in Wichita, and more than 350 engineers are performing design and stress work for wings and fuselages on all new and existing models of Airbus aircraft.
BELL 205A, 205A-1, and 205B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0601; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-033-AD] – proposes to require replacing the starter/generator power cable assemblies and their associated parts and performing continuity readings on certain helicopters. This proposal was prompted by the determination that the power cable assembly connector can deteriorate, causing a short in the connector that could lead to a fire in the starter/generator, smoke in the cockpit and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
June 15, 1992 — Page Avjet Airport Services plans July closing of its acquisition of Butler Aviation’s chain of fixed-base operations with Page Avjet CEO Paul Meunier to lead the combined entity and Butler CEO Bill Boisture to leave the company after the deal concludes.
Fractional aircraft flying trended down, but charter activity and private flights increased last month, according to the latest data released by business aviation analyst Argus. According to Argus TRAQPak data, which track U.S. and Canada IFR flights by serial number, Part 135 flights in May were up 5.3% from the previous month and Part 91 flights increased 3.9%. Likewise, Part 135 flights increased 0.9% and Part 91 by 4.3% over the activity in May 2011. But fractional flying was down from April (by 1%) and from May 2011 (by 6.9%).
Kenn Ricci, the principal of Directional Aviation, which recently acquired Sentient Jet, is taking over as chairman of the jet card and charter brokerage firm. Sentient also promoted Andrew Collins to president of jet cards. Collins formerly served as vice president of sales and revenue management. Damon Lusk, who is vice president of finance, joins Ricci and Collins in forming a new management team at Sentient with the departures of CEO Marty Guinoo and CFO Matt Sevick.
Bombardier has firmed up a deal to build facilities near Casablanca, Morocco, expanding the Canadian company’s global manufacturing reach with a foothold in North Africa. Bombardier signed an agreement with Moroccan property holding and management company Midparc Investment S.A. to purchase land for a new plant in the Midparc Casablanca Free Zone, in Nouaceur. The deal follows a memorandum of understanding that Bombardier reached with the government of Morocco last fall to build manufacturing facilities there.
BELL 205A, 205A-1, and 205B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0601; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-033-AD] – proposes to require replacing the starter/generator power cable assemblies and their associated parts and performing continuity readings on certain helicopters. This proposal was prompted by the determination that the power cable assembly connector can deteriorate, causing a short in the connector that could lead to a fire in the starter/generator, smoke in the cockpit and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest reports that used airplanes continue to change hands at “a slow to steady pace, while values for the most part show continued depreciation. The exceptions are late-model, long-range business jets.” The summer 2012 edition of Aircraft Bluebook’s Marketline newsletter says aircraft values have not rallied because of the continuing large supply of used airplanes.
Zodiac Aerospace will manufacture interior parts for the Embraer 170 and 190 as part of a joint venture with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. The manufacturing facility, which will be located in Mexico, reinforces a longstanding partnership between the two companies and is another step in Embraer’s effort to expand its international manufacturing operations. Embraer already has industrial facilities in China, Portugal and the U.S., where it assembles the Phenom 100.
Helicopter Association International (HAI) is intensifying its efforts to generate opposition to an air tour measure in comprehensive highway reauthorization legislation as negotiations on the bill reach a critical juncture. The House and Senate have until the end of the month to either reach an agreement on a long-term highway reauthorization bill or opt for another short-term extension of highway funding.
June 27-28—Irish Business Aviation (Shannon) Convention, Shannon Airport, Shannon, Ireland, www.miuevents.com July 9-15—Farnborough International Airshow 2012, www.farnborough.com July 15-17—Large Hub Winter Operations & Deicing Conference, Dulles, Va., www.necaaae.org July 16-17—Airports Council International-North America 2012 Small Airports Conference, JW Marriott Hotel, Grand Rapids, Mich., www.aci-na.org/event/562 July 23-29—Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org
Pentastar Aviation maintenance services are now available at Key Air, a fixed-base operation at Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC) in Connecticut. The new location marks Pentastar’s inaugural East Coast operation, complementing its FBOs at the company’s Waterford, Mich. headquarters at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) and California’s Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Aircraft based at OXC are being offered at preferred rates for services performed at both the new location and at Pentastar’s metropolitan Detroit facilities.
Hawker Beechcraft remains on track to file its reorganization plan under Chapter 11 by June 30, but that plan could pave the way for possible bidders for the sale of all or some of the company. The company is not providing details of bids, which will be tightly held and not public through the Chapter 11 filings, a company spokeswoman says.
Pratt & Whitney Canada plans to sell its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Brisbane, Australia to Vector Aerospace Corp. The sale includes the assets associated with Pratt’s PT6A engine repair and overhaul facility located in the area. As part of the transaction, Vector’s newly purchased service center will be appointed as a designated overhaul facility for PT6A engines by the engine manufacturer. Vector is an independent provider of helicopter and fixed-wing engine repair and overhaul and also offers helicopter airframe MRO.
ATR’s 42-600 has won certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The 50-seat, Pratt & Whitney-powered twin turboprop is slated to enter service later this summer. Since the launch of the -600 program in October 2007, ATR has received orders for a total of 250 ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircraft. The ATR 72-600 has been in service since August 2011 and is being operated by seven airlines worldwide.
Recent FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency approvals clear Gulfstream Aerospace to retrofit Gulfstream GV, GIV, GIV-SP, G400 and G300 business jets with its PlaneDeck cockpit upgrade, which converts the primary flight display from cathode ray tube to liquid crystal. The six-panel display configuration remains the same. Gulfstream, noting more than 700 of the covered models are operating, already has begun installations of the new PlaneDeck upgrade. The manufacturer estimates the installation takes 10-12 business days.
BELL 205A, 205A-1, and 205B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0601; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-033-AD] – proposes to require replacing the starter/generator power cable assemblies and their associated parts and performing continuity readings on certain helicopters. This proposal was prompted by the determination that the power cable assembly connector can deteriorate, causing a short in the connector that could lead to a fire in the starter/generator, smoke in the cockpit and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Eurocopter’s X3 hybrid aircraft began a month-long tour of the U.S. last week, during which it is demonstrating its unique operational capabilities for both civil and military operators.
A new ice-repellent technology has been invented by a team of Harvard University researchers. Surfaces treated with this new coating, called Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS), have easily shed water drops, condensation, frost and even ice.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on June 22 began its 90-day review of FAA’s final rule to mandate what are now voluntary helicopter routes over the North Shore of Long Island. OMB review is usually the last step before a rule is issued. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has pushed FAA to expedite release of the rule and introduced measures earlier this year to mandate the rule’s release. While those measures have not been enacted into law, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this year vowed to move forward on the rule.
