BELL Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, [Docket No. FAA-2012-0415; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-065-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires conducting various inspections associated with the main rotor grip. If a crack is found, that AD requires replacing the grip before further flight. If delamination of the buffer pad on the grip tang inner surface is found, that AD requires inspecting the grip surface for corrosion or other damage and repairing or replacing the grip if corrosion or other damage is found.
May 7-9—Airports Council International-NA Airport Economics, Finance and Human Capital Conference, Nashville, Tenn., www.aci-na.org/conferences/ May 14—16 Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2012), www.ebace.aero May 14—24th Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open, Lansdowne Golf Resort near Leesburg, Va., email [email protected], www.gwao.org June 7—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, N.J., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
Bombardier’s official groundbreaking of its Learjet facility in Wichita on April 30 is expected to help bring more than 1,000 jobs to the facility over the next decade, the company says. The expansion, the largest in Learjet’s history, is welcome news for Wichita, which already has seen the loss of 13,000 aerospace jobs in recent years and is bracing for 2,000 more with the decision by Boeing to pull out of the community. Just last month, Hawker Beechcraft issued layoff notices to 350 more workers.
Click here to view the pdf Accidents, Fatalities, and Rates, 1992 through 2011,U.S. General Aviation Accidents, Fatalities, and Rates, 1992 through 2011, U.S.
Click here to view the pdf Accidents, Fatalities, and Rates, 1992 through 2011,for U.S. Air Carriers Operating Under 14 CFR 135,On-Demand Operations Accidents, Fatalities, and Rates, 1992 through 2011,for U.S.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is rolling out an aviation safety action program (ASAP) demonstration project with two charter operators in the Great Lakes Region that will lay the groundwork for a program that could be implemented nationwide. ACSF has partnered with FAA on the program, and the agency’s Great Lakes Region has begun educating operators on the benefits of ASAP, notes ACSF President Bryan Burns.
Aviation advocates continue to build support for a fuel-fraud repeal amendment to the highway transportation bill. House and Senate lawmakers are set to begin negotiations on a compromise highway bill in May after the House passed an extension of federal transportation authority. The House bill includes a Keystone XL provision that has drawn a veto threat, while the Senate is pushing for a two-year authorization. Thirty-two House lawmakers in April sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership urging support for a fuel-fraud repeal amendment.
40 Years Ago April 10, 1972 – Cessna dealer files suit against Cessna Aircraft and nine independent wholesale distributors, alleging dual pricing and conspiracy to compete directly with Cessna retail distributors. 30 Years Ago April 5, 1982 – General aviation (GA) groups oppose a Civil Aeronautics Board proposal to take operating slots away from general aviation and transfer them to new entrant airlines, saying the General Aviation Reservation system already has reduced GA flying.
Fuel distributor Epic Aviation’s recent parting with Air BP set in motion a transition that the company believes is positioning it for global expansion. Epic Aviation ended a branding agreement with Air BP in February, one year after the major oil company sold its interest in Epic to privately-held Downstream Aviation.
RONALD WILLIAMS was appointed customer and administrative specialist for Yingling Aviation. Williams is a longtime aviation attorney and currently services as chairman of the Kansas Aviation Museum. He spent 27 years with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP in Wichita and has taught both aviation and business law for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0420; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-284-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires revising certain sections of a certain airplane flight manual, deactivating certain hydraulic accumulators, removing certain hydraulic accumulators, ultrasonic inspections for cracks on accumulators and screw caps and replacement if necessary, and replacing certain accumulators.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0328; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-259-AD] – proposes to require modifying the left-hand engine upper core-cowl. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane. FAA estimates the AD would affect about 601 aircraft on the U.S.
MICHAEL DEAN has joined Caliber Jet as southeast charter manager. Dean will oversee quoting, booking, dispatch and flight following for the southeast region. He has nearly 15 years of experience in general aviation scheduling and charter sales, previously as a flight scheduler at NetJets. He also has served with Flight Options and Delphi Harrison Thermal.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) has confirmed its long-expected PW210 as the initial powerplant for Eurocopter’s next-generation X4 helicopter. The X4 is aimed at the AS365 Dauphin/EC155 replacement market in the medium twin, 9,000 lb. to 11,000 lb. category and is due to enter service in 2017. Eurocopter says this version, powered by the PW210, will be followed by a more advanced variant in 2020 that will be offered with the choice of Turbomeca’s upcoming TM800 turboshaft.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation added three new members to its board of governors: Dennis Fox, senior vice president, operations of Executive Jet Management (EJM); Skip Moshner, director, flight operations of Galvin Flying Services; and Joe Salata, vice president, flight operations of Flight Options. Fox has 24 years of aviation leadership experience, including 12 years with EJM, where he is responsible for regulatory compliance, safety, training and welfare for more 540 crewmembers.
CAE has equipped its full-flight simulators (FFS) for Dassault Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX/EASy and Falcon 2000EX/EASy aircraft with smoke generation capability to train for cockpit smoke emergencies. The smoke generation simulation is used during initial training and involves use of crew oxygen masks and smoke goggles. In addition, CAE provides training for the Dassault Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS).
Business jet activity is steadily increasing this year, but dipped in March, according to the initial traffic figures released by FAA. Traffic was down 2.64% to 348,692 operations in March, compared with 358,156 in March 2011, according to FAA. But sequentially, March traffic was up over both January and February operations. Gulfstream operations increased both year over year and sequentially, but Bombardier and Cessna operations (year over year) fell, reports Morgan Stanley.
BRS Aerospace has joined the Lindbergh Foundation’s Aviation Green Alliance as a founding member. The Lindbergh Foundation launched the alliance to provide a forum for participants to address aviation environmental challenges. The foundation says such an effort is particularly important because in recent years the aviation industry has come under intense pressure to address aviation emissions, noise efficiency and other environmental concerns.
KERI JENKINS was named aircraft records control and document administrator for Yingling Aviation. Jenkins previously served with CAMP Systems, and before that, worked in parts distribution for Cessna Aircraft, where she was a senior analyst on the company’s Cescom system.
The White House is showing no signs of backing off its aircraft user fee stance in the face of substantial congressional opposition, saying its proposed $100 per-aircraft air traffic control fee is necessary to ensure everyone pays their fair share into the system.
Mitsubishi Aircraft has delayed the first delivery of the MRJ regional jet by up to two years, but adds that it is trying to accelerate development. The first flight previously scheduled for this quarter, is now expected to take place in the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2013, “in order to confirm respective fabrication processes [and] provide sufficient time for technical studies.”
The Italian parliament is taking steps to permit foreign-registered aircraft to remain in Italy for a longer period without being subject to a new private aircraft levy. The Italian Senate last week ratified a measure that would exempt foreign-registered aircraft that spend no more than 45 consecutive days in Italy from the private aircraft tax – also called a “luxury” tax.
Eclipse Aerospace Inc. (EAI) is moving closer to production of the Eclipse 550 with receipt of a production certificate from FAA, the company says, adding that it is turning its full attention to bringing the very light jet to market. The company stresses that its plans are on track. Citing recent comments made by United Technologies Corp. that there would be no more investment in EAI, EAI CEO Mason Holland says, “I do not see any inconsistency in UTC’s position or our efforts in moving toward production.”
EDDIE OCHOA has joined Caliber Jet as vice president. Ochoa will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the company’s Scottsdale, Ariz., base. An airline transport pilot with nearly 30 years of experience, Ochoa most recently was an FAA principal operations inspector at the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). He also has held positions at the DuPage FSDO outside Chicago and the National Transportation Safety Board’s Chicago field office.
