Gulfstream Aerospace will soon support business aircraft operators in northern California, Colorado, and Nevada by using a specially outfitted Field and Airborne Support Team (FAST) mobile maintenance vehicle. From its base at San Jose International Airport, the vehicle will service aircraft located in San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento and Fresno in California, and as far east as Reno, Nev. Also, from December through early March, the vehicle will be based at Denver’s Centennial Airport to serve operators in Colorado during ski season.
Rockwell Collins has won a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop the synthetic-vision avionics backbone for next-generation helicopter operations under the Multi-Function Radio Frequency Program. Rockwell Collins is teamed with BAE Systems on the first two phases of the $5.1 million contract. An optional third phase would bring the award’s total value to $6 million. The contract calls for Rockwell Collins to develop a 3D synthetic vision-based imagery system that will be used with multifunction radar.
June 20—National Business Aviation Association, the United States Aircraft Insurance Group and the Connecticut Business Aviation Group Runway Excursion Safety Forum, Key Air, Waterbury-Oxford Airport, Conn., www.nbaa.org June 20-21—World Aviation Event Ltd. Aviation Expo 2012, Bitburg Airport, Germany, www.expo.aero June 21-22—Business Aircraft Transactions Conference, Le Parker Meridien Hotel, New York, www.nbaa.org/events/atc/2012/
ROY AUKAI has joined Aloha Air Cargo as director of cargo operations, overseeing cargo and ground handling activities at the company’s five Hawaii stations. He has more than 39 years of transportation and airline experience, most recently with the Department of Transportation, Harbors Division. He also has been with Hawaiian Airlines.
The bottom in used business jet pricing “remains elusive,” says JPMorgan analyst Joseph Nadol. Average asking price fell 0.9% last month, with heavy jets down 1.5% and light jets down 0.3%. This brought May to “a new low for the cycle,” Nadol says. But medium jet prices inched up 0.6%. And, despite soft prices, inventory continues to shrink, down 10 bps in May. Used inventory of in-production models is now 10.6%, down from 11.1% in February, Nadol says.
Satcom Direct is expanding with a new business office and satellite testing and integration lab in Savannah, Ga. The office will house an avionics and testing lab, a training facility and support services for pilots, flight operations and maintenance staff. Satcom Direct provides satellite voice and broadband data products for business, military, government, and heads of state aircraft. The company is an Inmarsat Distribution Partner, Iridium Service Partner, and ViaSat Yonder’s preferred reseller.
WACO Models 2T-1A, 2T-1A-1, and 2T-1A-2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0578; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-019-AD; Amendment 39-17071; AD 2012-11-08] – requires inspection of the front and rear horizontal stabilizer spar assemblies with replacement of parts as necessary. This AD was prompted by cracking of the horizontal stabilizer spars, which could lead to failure of the horizontal spars with consequent loss of control. FAA estimates the AD affects 134 aircraft on the U.S.
ALPHA AVIATION Model R2160 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0279; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-007-AD; Amendment 39-17073; AD 2012-11-10] – requires replacement of the oil lines with fire resistant lines. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. The MCAI cites reports of oil lines fitted to affected aircraft that are not fire resistant. FAA estimates the AD will affect 10 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $8,500 or $850 per aircraft. The AD takes effect July 12.
It is, without a doubt, a big win for an industry that has been waiting a long time for good news. In the largest business jet order ever tendered, NetJets agreed to buy up to 425 new business jets from Bombardier and Cessna as part of a 10-year plan to overhaul its fleet. The value of the deals would reach $9.6 billion, if the world’s largest fractional ownership operator exercises all of its options for Bombardier Challenger 300 series and 605s and Cessna Citation Latitudes.
Bombardier received a contract valued at $65 million from Canadian operator London Air Services (LAS) for five Learjet 75 aircraft. The contract for the aircraft, announced during last month’s EBACE in Geneva, is the follow on to the Learjet 45XR and slated for certification next year. Based in Richmond, B.C., LAS already operates five Learjet 45XR light jets, in addition to a Challenger 604 and two Challenger 605s. The company also has a Global 7000 business jet on order, due to arrive in 2017.
Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has begun bird strike and ingestion tests on the PW1500G for Bombardier’s CSeries, marking the final phase of major certification tests for its first production geared turbofan. The engine remains “on a trajectory for certification in the fourth quarter,” says Bob Saia, vice president of P&W’s next-generation product family. Bird strike tests began on June 8 with the firing of a single 2.5-lb. bird.
Recognizing the growing use of electronic devices in the cockpit, FAA has issued a revised Advisory Circular, AC 120-76B, that provides guidelines on the certification, airworthiness and operational approval of electronic flight bags (EFB). While the information contained in the revised AC is consistent with previous FAA information on this subject, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) points out some new terms and concepts introduced in the revision.
JEFF KREIDE was promoted to vice president of business solutions for Gulfstream Aerospace. Kreide, who reports to Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, will be responsible for developing and managing integrated business solutions to support all facets of Gulfstream, including product life cycle management (PLM) and enterprise resource planning. A 30-year Gulfstream veteran, he most recently was director of PLM and, before that, director of Savannah final phase and standards engineering.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0588; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-017-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the wire harness along the leading edge for chafing damage, and repair if necessary; and relocating and installing new anchor nuts. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of chafing between the wire harness along the wing leading edge and the inboard end rib of the wing leading edge due to insufficient clearance.
As Eclipse Aerospace loads the jig for its first new-production very light jet, the company’s ambitions are not those of its predecessor, which failed spectacularly in its bid to blacken the sky with low-cost air taxis. The new company instead aims to make a solid profit on modest production.
Key Air is hosting a Runway Excursion Safety Forum June 20 at its Waterbury-Oxford Airport location. The forum is co-sponsored by the National Business Aviation Association, the United States Aircraft Insurance Group and the Connecticut Business Aviation Group. The event, which qualifies for Certified Aviation Manager credit, will focus on mitigating the risks and reducing the occurrence of runway excursions. To register, contact Key Air’s Chris Little at [email protected] or NBAA’s Dean Saucier at [email protected].
Add Flexjet to the fractional operations suing the Internal Revenue Service over assessments of federal excise taxes. Flight Options and NetJets/Executive Jet Management already are enmeshed in lawsuits over refunds and imposition of the passenger ticket tax over certain activities. Flexjet filed its suit a couple of weeks ago, says Tony Gasaway, principal of Gasaway Tax Law. The lawsuits come as management companies face their own escalating tax assessments based on recent IRS guidance that management fees could constitute commercial air carrier activity.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK 117 C-1 and C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0101; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-042-AD; Amendment 39-17046; AD 2012-09-11] – requires installing a placard that corresponds to the maximum permissible flight altitude, amending the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to revise the maximum permissible operating altitude, and inserting revised performance charts into the RFM. This AD also requires a repetitive maintenance “MAX N1 CHECK” to determine the appropriate maximum altitudes.
Directional Aviation Capital, a business aviation investment firm that holds a stake in Flight Options, is expanding its foothold in the charter market and moving into the fuel management business with the recent acquisitions of Sentient Jet and its affiliate Everest Fuel Management from Macquarie Global Opportunities Partners.
FAA’s Flight Standard Service is hoping to have guidance in place by October that would change the approach that inspectors take toward addressing minor compliance issues. Flight Standards Director John Allen said earlier this year that the agency’s officials were “trying to change a culture within the Flight Standards Service” to encourage inspectors to first work out minor issues with operators before immediately jumping to enforcement action.
ROBERT DUFFER was named to the newly created position of director of information services for Aloha Air Cargo. Duffer will develop the company’s information technology strategy and operations, including systems analysis, infrastructure, programming, computer systems, and auxiliary operations. He formerly served with Central States Industrial in Springfield, Mo.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened the public docket on its investigation of the Dec. 7 crash of a Eurocopter AS350-B2 in Henderson, Nev. The helicopter, operated by Sundance Helicopters, was on a sightseeing tour from Las Vegas McCarran International when it crashed into a narrow ravine in mountains between Henderson and Lake Mead, killing the pilot and four passengers. The docket material is available at http://go.usa.gov/vrW.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on a case to ensure that FAA enforces its own rules that require manufacturers make maintenance instructions available.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-1A10 and CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T variant) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0109; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-244-AD; Amendment 39-17067; AD 2012-11-04] – supersedes an AD that requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the lower cap of the wing front and rear spars at wing station (WS) 51.00, and the wing lower skin. Additional actions, if cracking is found, include reworking the lower cap of the front or rear spar, inspecting for cracking, and repairing any cracking. The existing AD also requires reporting inspection results.
