June 7—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, N.J., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 11-13—National Air Transportation Association 2012 Air Charter Summit, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly/Dulles, Va., (703) 845-9000, www.nata.aero June 14–16—National Business Aviation Association 17th Annual Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, Chicago, Ill., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
AGUSTA Model A109S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0448; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-016-AD] – proposes to require modifying the electrical power distribution system to carry a higher electrical load.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) is developing a new process to expedite financing for business aircraft and helicopter exports, providing a critical avenue for financing to business jet makers at a time when financing worldwide is still scarce. Speaking during the 12th annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) on May 14, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg said Ex-Im Bank will work with industry experts on due diligence and credit analysis to speed up foreign-buyer financing.
In a bet on better times ahead, Bombardier is pressing on with its long-awaited replacement of the Learjet 40XR and 45XR with the launch of Learjet 70 and 75. Although this smaller end of the business aircraft market is still far from recovery, Learjet Vice President and General Manager Ralph Acs, notes: “The market will get better over time,” and the company is at a point where it should be “refreshing” its offering. “We want to come out of the down market with fresh, new products.”
Gama Aviation opened a new operation in Geneva to manage aircraft. The base is working toward obtaining a full Swiss air operator certificate by the end of the year. The office, located within Geneva Airport’s Executive Terminal, will be led by General Manager Hamish Ross. Ross previously was based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, as Gama Aviation FZE’s director of flight operations. Gama has more than 30 operational bases worldwide.
Industry organizations disagree on who should manage and operate unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites, but they all believe a UAS test program should be used to gather critical safety data, develop certification and training standards and ensure sense-and-avoid capabilities.
NetJets Europe is making plans to quickly expand its operations with a move into aircraft management. The parent NetJets already has a significant management base in the U.S. with Executive Jet Management and is laying the groundwork for a management operation in Asia.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association board of directors has approved Air Tractor as the association’s newest member, bringing the association’s membership to 77 manufacturers. Air Tractor got its start as the Snow Aeronautical Company in 1951. In 1958, Leland Snow moved the production facilities to Olney, Texas, where Air Tractor is headquartered today. With more than 2,700 aircraft flying, Air Tractor manufactures a line of agriculture aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney piston or turbine engines.
Eclipse Aerospace Inc. (EAI) is strengthening its alliance with United Technology Corp. (UTC), formalizing an agreement for UTC subsidiary PZL Mielec of Poland to produce the fuselage, empennage and wings for the Eclipse 550 business jet.
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-2011-1228; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-176-AD; Amendment 39-17022; AD 2012-08-05] – requires installing a new or serviceable air data driven generator (ADG) generator control unit (GCU).
FAA released a proposal last week detailing its permanent procedures for aircraft owners seeking to block their registration information from near-real-time flight tracking programs. FAA had restored the program – which had been called Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) – on an interim basis in December under the direction of Congress.
The continued sluggishness of the business jet market is still chipping away at Embraer’s backlog, which once approached nearly $21 billion but now is under $15 billion. Backlog fell $700 million in the past three months from $15.4 billion at the end of 2011 to $14.7 billion at the end of March. Backlog had peaked at $20.9 billion in 2008. Embraer CEO Frederico Curado attributes the most recent slide in part to a Middle East customer backing out on a large order.
Former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt is expected to continue an aviation consulting career following the May 10 dismissal of drunk driving charges that led to his resignation from the agency in December. A district court judge in Virginia dismissed the charges, ruling that the police had stopped him without sufficient reason.
Bombardier Aerospace is ramping up deliveries of its Global aircraft now that transition to the Vision flight deck is nearly complete, but the slowdown in the quarter, combined with continued sluggishness in the commercial sector, led to a $700 million drop in first-quarter revenues.
STACEY BECHDOLT has joined the Regional Airline Association as director-safety and technical affairs. Bechdolt most recently served as manager-training compliance and AQP coordinator for Comair. In addition to her background in the airline industry, she is an aviation attorney specializing in aviation regulation, operations and safety.
NetJets and FlightSafety International helped bolster revenues of Berkshire Hathaway’s services businesses in the first quarter, Berkshire Hathaway says. Both NetJets and FlightSafety posted higher revenues and NetJets earnings improved in the first quarter, Berkshire Hathaway says. NetJets earnings were hampered a year ago by fees the fractional ownership provider incurred by canceled aircraft purchases, along with lower foreign currency exchange losses, Berkshire Hathaway says.
The Experimental Aircraft Association is stressing that it did not decide to cancel the AirVenture Cup race, but that decision was made by the organizers of the annual event. Organizers late last week opted to scrap the race this year, but the reasons were unclear. The race is organized by a group of EAA volunteers, and EAA has provided volunteer benefits and exhibit space. Air racing has come under public scrutiny since last year’s crash at the Reno Air Races.
THOMAS REDDER has joined Spectrum Aeromed as account representative in the company’s office in Germany. Redder will be responsible for international sales, serving customers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Redder began his aviation career at Hapag Lloyd as a Boeing 737 co-pilot. He most recently was with Beechcraft Vertrieb under Service GmbH and has held roles of head of airworthiness, head of avionics, assistant technical manager and technical manager.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0422; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-177-AD] – proposes to require replacing the affected pushrod assembly. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that various pushrods had been manufactured with tubes having the incorrect heat treatment. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent loss of rudder control, reduced directional control of the airplane on the ground, or a jammed nose landing gear (NLG) door that could prevent the NLG from retracting or extending. FAA estimates the AD will affect 171 aircraft on the U.S.
JOSEPH WEISS was selected to become president and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). He succeeds Itzhak Nissan, who is retiring. Weiss has spent the past six years as corporate vice president and general manager of IAI’s Systems, Missiles & Space Group. He also has led the marketing of IAI system-of-systems in Israel and internationally. Before joining IAI, Weiss served in the Israel Navy for 27 years.
ROBERT (BOB) RUDZIK has joined Stevens Aviation as a technical sales consultant. Rudzik will represent both of the company’s Greenville, S.C. facilities. A Marine Corps veteran, he has more than 35 years of aviation experience with a background in avionics, maintenance sales and customer support. He has worked with companies, including Beech, Soltis, Signature, Landmark and Horizon.
Dassault has received approval from the FAA for steep approaches on all Falcon 900 EASy and Falcon 2000 EASy series models. Both model series had already received steep approach certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With the most recent approvals, the entire current production Falcon fleet is now certified for steep approaches, which permits aircraft to operate at restricted airports with approach angles of up to 6 deg.
SAAB Model 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1410; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-033-AD; Amendment 39-17038; AD 2012-09-03] – requires replacing certain hydraulic accumulators with stainless steel hydraulic accumulators, and structural modifications in the nose landing gear bay. This AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic accumulator failure. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of hydraulic accumulators, which may result in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants. FAA estimates the AD will affect eight aircraft on the U.S.
