While the number of fixed-wing aircraft in government use has remained stable, the number of helicopters used by federal, state and local governments has doubled over the past five years in a variety of safety, disaster relief, surveillance and other roles, according to a new study released by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). The study, “Government Use of Aircraft, A Taxpayer Value Perspective,” underscores the importance of using both fixed-wing and rotorcraft in government roles.
DWIGHT PULLEN was appointed aviation director of CH2M Hill, a global consulting, design, construction and operations firm. Pullen has experience in managing capital and expansion programs at Denver International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport and New Orleans International Airport.
Following the fall elections, the White House – whether with the return of the existing administration or the arrival of a new administration – must focus on filling key leadership slots at FAA and “make it permanent,” says Gerald Dillingham, director of U.S. civil aviation issues for the Government Accountability Office. He stresses that the leadership at FAA should be addressed early on so FAA can move on key NextGen and other initiatives.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and aviation industry advocates last week equally denounced the EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU-ETS), but the Obama administration stops short of backing congressional action to ban participation in the system.
June 14–16—National Business Aviation Association 17th Annual Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, Chicago, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 15-17—Large Hub Winter Operations and Deicing Conference, Dulles, Va., www.necaaae.org July 23-29—Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org Aug. 18-22—54th NEC/AAAE Annual Conference, Providence, Rhode Island, www.necconference.org
MICHAEL WARD was named senior general manager of the Hawker Beechcraft Services aircraft maintenance facility at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. Ward will be responsible for all customer services, including aircraft maintenance, avionics and modifications at the Houston facility. He has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, project management, modifications, sales and service.
Brazilian operator Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras is planning to operate an Embraer 195 with its General Electric CF34-10E engines burning a renewable fuel produced by biotechnology company Amyris that is based on sugarcane. Pending authorization from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the flight is planned for June 19, to coincide with the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. Amyris is working with petroleum producer Total to develop the jet fuel, which is produced via a “direct sugar to hydrocarbon” (DSHC) fermentation.
XN Air in Spokane, Wash., has joined the Avfuel network of branded fixed-base operations. The move follows its acquisition by Ross Aviation earlier this year, becoming the fifth Ross aviation FBO to join the Avfuel network.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and aviation industry advocates last week equally denounced the EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU-ETS), but the Obama administration stops short of backing congressional action to ban participation in the system.
Jet Edge International added a Florida-based Gulfstream 200 to its fleet. Jet Edge operates a fleet of super midsize and large cabin aircraft, including Gulfstream II, IV, IVSP, 450 and V aircraft. In addition, the Los Angeles-based carrier operates Hawker 800XP, Citation X and Challenger aircraft under its Platinum Partner arrangement with San Francisco-based charter operator Xojet.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702); CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705); CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900); and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2011-1416; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-156-AD; Amendment 39-17056; AD 2012-10-07] – requires an inspection to determine if certain oxygen pressure regulators are installed, and replacement of oxygen cylinder and regulator assemblies containing pressure regulators that do not meet required material properties.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Northern Ireland subsidiary Short Brothers has been selected by Pratt & Whitney and Irkut to supply the nacelle for the PW1400 engine on the Russian manufacturer’s planned MC-21 narrowbody airliner. The deal is a breakthrough for Shorts, which in recent years has seen its market share in nacelle work eroded by growing competition from the U.S. and France.
Japan intends to buy two ScanEagle UAVs for its army, a further sign that the government recognizes the growing importance of unmanned aircraft. The funds for the purchase are part of the country’s third supplemental budget for post-tsunami disaster relief, according to a Boeing spokeswoman in Japan. Boeing subsidiary Insitu makes ScanEagle, which is launched via catapult. This is the first time Japan has ordered ScanEagle, the spokeswoman says, adding that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is Insitu’s partner in the deal.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared aviation appreciation months in May, joining the growing alliance of states to officially recognize the importance of aviation. General aviation is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $723 million in Nebraska with 86 airports and more than 2,700 pilots. The air transportation industry as a whole supports more than 5,000 jobs in the state, officials estimate.
RYAN SANDERS has joined Aero Charter, a charter, fixed-base operation and support company based at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Mo. Sanders will be a captain in the company Baron and first officer on the Sabreliner and Cessna Citation CJ2 and Excel airplanes. He also will help steer the company’s safety program. He received a master’s degree in aviation safety from the University of Central Missouri, where he served on the Aviation Safety Committee and helped draft the airport emergency plan for Skyhaven Airport in Warrensburg, Mo.
Jose Antonio Filippo on June 4 will become Embraer’s CFO, filling a position vacated in April with the departure of Paulo Pinto Marques to a previous employer just months after taking the role. Filippo, who Embraer notes is an engineer by training, joins the manufacturer from Brazilian retailer Pao de Acucar, where he was CFO. “Filippo is a great addition to our team. His expertise and experience will be of real value to the process of growth and development of the company,” says Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.
Global business jet manufacturing is fiercely competitive, operates in a risky and uncertain economic environment and erects exceedingly high barriers to entry, a U.S. government report finds. But while the report allows that foreign makers are gaining ground, it offers no evidence of unfair competition.
FAA is forming an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to address its ongoing problems with standardization. The executive committee met Friday (June 1) for the first time, naming National Air Transportation Association Vice President Eric Byer to co-chair the committee with FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen. In the most recent FAA reauthorization bill, Congress directed the agency to establish an advisory panel to develop recommendations to improve consistency and communications in the Flight Standards and Aircraft Certification services.
Lawmakers are threatening to withhold $5 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of General Counsel until the agency releases the repair station security final rule. TSA officials plan to issue the rule by year’s end – after years of delay. But in the House version of the DHS fiscal 2013 appropriations bill, lawmakers express concern “about the lack of progress made” on the rule, which was originally mandated by Congress in 2003.
Hawker Beechcraft is facing a June 30 deadline to file its reorganization plan and disclosure statement, and is expected to confirm its reorganization by November to meet its planned exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by year’s end. The Wichita airframer is hoping to emerge from Chapter 11 under new ownership through a restructuring plan that would eliminate $2.5 billion of the company’s debt and $125 million in annual interest expenses.
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) officials are hoping to meet with the Internal Revenue Service to further discuss their concerns over the agency’s memorandum that opens the door for aircraft management programs to be treated as commercial operations and taxed accordingly. The March 9 memorandum would reverse past tax practices and substantially increase the costs of operators who have their aircraft managed. NBAA initially aired its concerns during a meeting in April and appealed to the IRS to continue working with industry on the issue.
Gulfstream Aerospace has submitted a city-pair speed record set by its Gulfstream G280 to the National Aeronautic Association for confirmation. The G280 flew from Paris to White Plains, N.Y. in 7 hr., 40 min. on May 17, averaging a speed of Mach 0.80 against an average 23-kt. headwind. After taking off from Paris Le Bourget Airport at maximum takeoff weight, the aircraft climbed to 43,000 ft. in 22 min. Gulfstream expects to obtain full certification for the aircraft in the third quarter.
BELL Model 427 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0084; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-089-AD; Amendment 39-17050; AD 2012-10-01] – requires replacing certain tailboom attachment hardware and at certain intervals thereafter, determining the torque of that tailboom attachment hardware. This AD was prompted by a review of the tailboom attachment installation, which revealed that the torque value of the bolts specified in the BHTC Model 427 Maintenance Manual and applied during manufacturing was incorrect and exceeded the torque range recommended for the bolts.
