Hawker Beechcraft named Harrods Aviation and Gama Support Services as support centers. Harrods Aviation at London Luton Airport, U.K., was named a limited service center to support Hawker 750, 800, 800XP, 850XP and 900XP business jets. Harrods provides fixed-base operation, maintenance and engineering services at both Luton and Stansted airports. Gama’s Farnborough facility will be a limited service center for Beechcraft King Air 200, 250, 300 and 350 aircraft and Premier business jets.
TRACY GANDY was appointed manager of Dallas Airmotive’s First Support operation, which coordinates aircraft-on-ground support through a network of field service technicians, mobile response vehicles, tooling and rental engines. Gandy will manage the First Support command center in Grapevine, Texas, and field service technicians throughout the U.S. He has a 30-year aviation background, most recently serving as program manager at Consolidated Turbine Service.
Swiss plane-maker Pilatus won a contract from the India air force for a fleet of 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 MK II turboprop trainers, beating out competition from Hawker Beechcraft, Grob and Embraer, among others.
FAA expects to publish within 30 days its new cost-benefit findings for applying recently adopted Part 121 crew rest rules to cargo carriers, FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta says. In response to a court challenge to the cargo carrier exemption filed by the Independent Pilots Association, FAA recently admitted that it erred in assessing the cost portion of its previous analysis.
VERNA FITZSIMMONS was named CEO and dean of Kansas State University Salina. She previously was an interim dean at Kent State University and an associate professor at Kent State’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology. While there she led efforts to select and install a $1.5 million air traffic control simulation lab.
FAA’s latest effort to modernize repair station regulations could create as many challenges as it solves, several industry experts say. The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published May 21 is the latest step in a 23-year odyssey to update FAR Part 145, the rules that govern repair station certification. FAA began looking at the issue in 1989, and in 2001 released final rules updating parts of Part 145 regulation.
BAE SYSTEMS Model 4101 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0489; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-229-AD] – proposes to require an inspection to determine if a certain fire extinguisher is installed and the repositioning of the fire extinguisher bottle from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the fire extinguisher in the toilet vanity unit needs to be mounted vertically rather than horizontally.
Daher-Socata has received type approval for its TBM 850 single-turboprop aircraft from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The aircraft met certification requirements for extreme weather conditions and other CIS requirements.
Aircell’s Aviator 200 communications system was approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency for installation aboard the Falcon 2000LX. Jet Aviation Basel secured the supplemental type certificate for the system, which enables near global email, light Internet and voice capabilities via Inmarsat’s satellite-based SwiftBroadband service.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending strengthened training and testing standards for experimental aircraft after a study revealed that a disproportionate number of crashes occur either on the first flight of an amateur-built aircraft or on a new owner’s first flight of a used amateur aircraft.
FAA is re-evaluating a policy established in the mid-1990s designed to preserve aviation history and keep historic airplanes operational. The Living History Flight Experience (LHFE) policy enables owners/operators of historically significant aircraft to operate under exemptions to current standards. The exemptions permit limited passenger-carrying flights for compensation to generate funds to maintain and preserve the aircraft.
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A recent spate of commercial carrier accidents and incidents in the U.S. involving hail and lightning strikes is prompting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to seek improvements in weather information furnished to both air traffic controllers and pilots. NTSB recommends that FAA study the potential of providing real-time total lightning information on air traffic controller displays, both at air route traffic control centers and terminal radar approach control facilities.
Garmin International was granted supplemental type certification approval for installation of the G1000 avionics suite on Hawker Beechcraft King Air 300 and 350 twin turboprops. Garmin previously had secured similar approval for the G1000 aboard King Air C90, 200 and B200 aircraft. The G1000 avionics suite for the King Air 300 and 350 integrates primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a large 15-in. multifunction display and two 10.4-in. primary flight displays.
Galmena, a joint venture between GAL Aviation and MENA Aerospace Enterprises, has teamed with ExecuJet Middle East to provide cabin interiors services.
A general aviation jobs rally on May 18 drew more than 400 workers, state and local officials – including Senate GA Caucus Co-chairman Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) – to Duncan Aviation’s new paint hangar at Lincoln, Neb. During the event, Both Johanns and Nelson discussed the critical role that general aviation plays in the economy. Also speaking were Duncan Aviation Chairman Todd Duncan, Justin Keppy, vice president of manufacturing for Hamilton Sundstrand, and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce.
CAE has received a long-term agreement to be the exclusive training provider of Masterjet Cessna Citation CJ3 and Dassault Falcon 7X, 900 and 900EX EASy pilots. CAE will train the pilots at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training center in Dubai, as well as at CAE training centers near London, New York and Dallas. Paris-based Masterjet provides charter, aircraft trading, aircraft management, auditing and consulting services.
Truman Arnold Companies reached agreement to buy a controlling stake in the Keystone Aviation fixed-base operations (FBO) in Utah. The Keystone FBOs in Salt Lake City and Provo will be rebranded TAC Air. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Keystone Aviation’s charter and management, sales and maintenance subsidiaries will remain under the Keystone brand. The addition expands TAC Air west of the Rockies and increases the number of its bases to 14.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD] – proposes to require replacement of certain generator control units (GCUs). This proposed AD is prompted by reports of internal short circuits in certain GCUs. The proposed actions are intended to replace any affected GCUs to prevent a short circuit, which could result in a loss of electrical generating power, loss of systems required for continued safe flight and landing and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Rockwell Collins is making its Airshow 3D moving map available for the Apple iPad. Dassault will offer Airshow for iPads in cabins equipped with FalconCabin HD+. The Airshow app will be available later this year. Existing Rockwell Collins Airshow 4000 or Venue HD cabin management system users will be able to use the new app through a system upgrade. The app provides a panorama view that enables passengers to see a moving map of the outside world from any direction the iPad is pointed.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0184; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-118-AD; Amendment 39-17055; AD 2012-10-06] – requires performing, in certain locations, a detailed inspection for corrosion of the electrical and electronics installation, and if corrosion is found, repairing each affected harness braid or replacing each affected component and/or wiring harness. This AD was prompted by reports that environmentally friendly deicing agents used on certain electrical connectors and braids could cause corrosion damage.
GippsAero’s GA10 10-seat STOL turboprop is in flight test after completing its first flight on May 1. The GA10 is based on the Australian aircraft manufacturer’s GA8 Airvan and is the first single-engine turboprop designed and produced in Australia. GippsAero is a subsidiary of India’s Mahindra Group. The 20-min. first flight at GippsAero’s home base at Latrobe Regional Airport in eastern Victoria was flown by test pilot Tony Morris and GippsAero flight test engineer Gerhard Jordaan.
KEVIN BANG joined Dallas Airmotive as manager of its Phoenix regional turbine center (RTC). Bang will be responsible for day-to-day operations at the RTC, which provides Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell engine repair services. Bang previously served with Consolidated Turbine Support in Mesa, Ariz., where he was quality control manager for Part 145 programs.
