Business aviation advocates are warning that a new levy on private aircraft in Italy is discouraging operators from flying in the European country, and they have appealed to Italian authorities to repeal the tax. Italy, facing dire economic straits, late last year adopted a new levy on aircraft that spend more than 48 hr. in the country. The levy is a sliding scale, ranging from 1.50 euros per kg for aircraft up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.) up to 7.55 euros per kg for aircraft above 10,000 kg (22,000 lb.), which could add up to 300,000 euros in annual taxes.
Clarification: The April 9 edition of BA reprinted an outdated airworthiness directive (AD) and proposed AD – one covering the Bombardier Challenger 300 (final rule) and another on the Dassault Falcon 7X (proposed).
Hawker Beechcraft’s 2011 annual report and 10-K, filed late Friday afternoon, makes several mentions of the possibility of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing “if we are not able to refinance our indebtedness or reach a restructuring agreement with our lenders.” The company has been upbeat about ongoing negotiations, but a Chapter 11 filing is widely expected among analysts, considering the company’s heavy debt load. The annual report notes backlog has further slid from $1.4 billion at the end of 2010 to $1.13 billion as of Dec. 31.
Now in sole control of the civil tiltrotor program it began with Bell Helicopter, AgustaWestland plans to begin certification flights of its renamed AW609 next year with the goals of obtaining FAA certification and beginning deliveries by mid-2016. The company reports cash-backed orders in hand for 70 units from 40 customers in 15 countries. Two prototypes have been involved in initial flight tests. A third aircraft is being assembled in Italy and will fly next year. A fourth is expected to follow in 2014.
A new pan-Africa association of business aviation interests is taking form and may be formally announced at the upcoming European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. Jack Olcott, former president of the National Business Aviation Association, said Friday that the groundwork has been laid for an African Business Aviation Association and that nearly $250,000 has been raised to help launch the group.
THOMAS HUFF was named to the newly created position of aviation safety officer for Gulfstream Aerospace. Huff, a retired U.S. Navy test pilot with more than 25 years of experience, oversees a comprehensive aviation safety program for all Gulfstream flight operations, including experimental test, production test, demonstration and corporate flights. He provides independent safety oversight and promotes aviation safety and awareness throughout the company. He formerly was with Naval Test Wing, Atlantic, in Patuxent River, Md., where he served as the commander.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0342; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-028-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires a visual inspection, and if necessary, an eddy current inspection of the main rotor lower hub assembly for a crack. If a crack exists, the AD requires replacing the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub before further flight. Because that AD was immediately effective, FAA did not include in its requirements certain long-term actions that did not necessitate adoption prior to public comment.
Airbus received its first order from a customer in Japan for an Airbus Corporate Jet. The customer ordered an ACJ318. Airbus says the sale is particularly significant because the number of corporate aircraft is still proportionately small in Japan. But the manufacturer believes the opening of the first dedicated business terminal in Tokyo, Premier Gate Narita, will help to pave the way for more business jets.
West Star Aviation recently received FAA supplemental type certification to enable Wi-Fi on Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 equipped Falcon 2000 and 2000EX aircraft. West Star’s facility in East Alton, Ill. completed the work, which included certifications for interface to Iridium and Inmarsat satcom systems. The True North Chorus was used for Iridium data via Wi-Fi, while the Inmarsat interface was provided via the EMS CNX-200 and Honeywell HD-710 swift broadband pipe.
Spurred by reports that LightSquared is considering bankruptcy, two lawmakers are hoping the government can recover the cost of testing the company’s proposed 4G communications network for interference with GPS. LightSquared CEO Michael Falcone has said the company is “seriously considering” bankruptcy. “If LightSquared does indeed declare bankruptcy, our concern is the federal government will be unable to recoup the taxpayer dollars it has expended on ... testing LightSquared’s network,” write Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio).
Piper Aircraft continues to expand its international network with the appointment of Duran Aviation as a distributor for new airplane sales in Central America. Based at Airport Marcos A. Gelabert in Panama City, Duran Aviation is part of Company Consultenos, S.A., which is a family-owned company that is involved in several areas, including automotive, golfing and real estate. Duran Aviation will market and sell the Piper aircraft throughout Central America in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Belize.
RODGER RENAUD was appointed general manager of West Star Aviation’s facility at St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) in East Alton, Ill. Rodger is responsible for all of West Star’s operations at ALN. He previously has served as vice president of completions at Midcoast Aviation.
While its investigation into the accident at the Reno National Championship Air Races last September still isn’t complete, the National Transportation Safety Board is urging expanded g-tolerance training and evaluation of racing aircraft modifications to help guard against similar crashes. The safety board April 10 issued a series of recommendations to FAA, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) and the National Air Racing Group (NARG) Unlimited Division to improve safety at the races.
Pilatus Aircraft named Air Charter Services PVT Ltd (ACSPL) in India as a PC-12 sales and service center. ACSPL will be responsible for PC-12 sales in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand. In addition to sales, the New Delhi-based facility will provide PC-12 maintenance and warranty work. ACSPL Director Semoun Jolly currently owns three PC-12s.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and SA 318C-Alouette Astazou helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD] – proposes to require, within 110 hr.
Bombardier has opened a new office in Shanghai. Albert Li, general manager and head of Bombardier Aerospace China, and Andy Solem, vice president, sales, China and North Asia, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, will primarily be based in the new office, which will house Commercial Aircraft teams. But Bombardier expects to base additional support personnel for Learjet, Challenger and Global business jet operators in the location. The Business Aircraft sales team is stationed in Beijing.
TED HAUGNER was appointed director of sales for ATP. Haugner will be responsible for ATP’s sales and customer service efforts. He formerly spent 13 years with Ikon Office Solutions, where he was vice president.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0298; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-072-AD] – proposes to require an external inspection, and if necessary an internal inspection, to determine if certain fuel access panels are installed, and replacement if necessary; optional repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuel access panels, and replacement if necessary, would defer the internal inspection; and eventual replacement of affected fuel access panels with new panels.
Mid-Continent Instruments has changed its name to Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics to better describes the company’s capabilities, the company says. In recent months, Mid-Continent has steadily increased its capacity and involvement in the repair and overhaul of avionics products, including weather radars, navigational and communications systems, and similar products manufactured by Honeywell/Bendix-King and Rockwell Collins.
The governor of Idaho, C.L. (Butch) Otter, has joined the growing number of state and local legislators to recognize the importance of general aviation to their region, this time with a letter to President Barack Obama urging caution on imposing new fees that could burden the industry. “Raising taxes on critical sectors of our economy will do us more harm than good by putting more jobs at risk,” Otter says in his letter.
The U.S. is partnering with Brazilian officials to help expand airport, airspace and security infrastructure in Brazil, while opening up new trade opportunities for U.S. companies.
