KEVIN SHEEHAN has joined the board of directors for XOJet. Sheehan is president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. He has international business experience, helping found Telmundo, the second-largest Spanish-language television network. He also has served as chairman and CEO of Cendant Corp.’s Vehicle Services Division, where he was responsible for brands including Avis, Budget, PPH Vehicle Management, First Fleet and Wright Express.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s South Runway 9R/27L will close this week as part of the airport’s expansion plan. General aviation and commuter aircraft will be the most affected by the closure; most of this traffic from April 18 will be diverted to the North Runway and during heavy demand to the airport’s Crosswind Runway. The upgraded South Runway is expected to reopen in late 2014. The $791 million project will extend 9R/27L to 8,000 ft.
Daher-Socata handed over the first of 37 retrofitted TB 20 Trinidad single-engine aircraft to France’s Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC). The aircraft are fitted with an integrated Garmin G500 integrated avionics suite, two GNS 430W combined communication-navigation systems, a Garmin GAD 43 digital autopilot and a number of other optional features. The G500 avionics suite incorporates a 6.5-in. primary flight display and multifunction display, along with an attitude/heading reference system, Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology software, and Jeppesen Chartview.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA341G helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD] – proposes to require establishing a retirement life of 12,000 hr. time-in-service (TIS) for the rotating star. This proposed AD is prompted by an analysis and tests performed by the manufacturer that indicate that the life limit of the rotating star should be 12,000 hr. TIS. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the AD would affect 21 helicopters on the U.S.
EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0191; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-035-AD; Amendment 39-16980; AD 2012-05-08] – requires repetitive inspections for fuel leakage and cracks on the wing spar II, close to the rib 10 area, and repair, if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of fuel seepage at the left-hand wing, close to the rib 10 area in two airplanes. FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking on the wing spar II, which could result in a fuel leak, consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane, and possible fire.
Terrafugia is beginning the flight test program of its first production prototype of its Transition roadable aircraft. The aircraft made its 8-min. first flight from Plattsburgh, N.Y., on March 23, after completing initial drive testing. The prototype has also accomplished initial testing of the conversion between aircraft and automobile mode. Conversion is performed without exiting the vehicle, the wings folding up against the body and power switching from the pusher propeller to the road wheels.
An increase in Part 135 commuter/air taxi business jet accidents is driving a significant jump in business jet accidents through the first three months of the year. But an improving turboprop record has kept down the overall number of U.S.-registered business turbine accidents, according to the latest information released by safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates.
FlightSafety International is renewing its 2012 Proficiency Protection Program that is designed to help pilots and maintenance technicians who have lost their jobs to maintain proficiency. The program provides free recurrent training to qualified pilots and technicians who became unemployed this year.
ANDY RICHARDS was named vice president of completions and modifications for Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich., facility. Richards will oversee the Battle Creek avionics line, avionics installations and interior completions teams. He will also provide on-site support for OEM completions, materials and engineering in Battle Creek. Richards joined Duncan Aviation in 1997 as a cabinet builder in the Kal-Aero Interior shop. Kal-Aero was acquired by Duncan Aviation in 1998.
FAA is strengthening expectations for manufacturers and other type certificate holders to provide Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). The agency recently issued a policy statement that is designed to address what FAA views as efforts by some design approval holders (DAHs) to “inappropriately restrict the availability, distribution, or use” of ICA through restrictive language, use or access agreements.
Austrian plane-maker Diamond Aircraft is beginning flight tests on a new twin diesel-powered airplane that the will incorporate one of the largest cabins in the product line. A prototype DA52, powered by two Austro Engine 180-hp turbo-diesel engines, AE300E, completed its first flight with Diamond Chairman Christian Dries and head of flight test Ingmar Mayerbuch at the controls, the company said April 3.
TIMOTHY PUGLIELLI was appointed chief financial officer for PAS Technologies. He will be responsible for all financial activities of reporting, budgeting, accounting and treasury management, including overseeing all financial aspects for the business, as well as investor relations. Puglielli has more than 32 years of financial/operational management experience, including a background in the aircraft engine industry. Before joining PAS Technologies, he was general manager, Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners.
MIKE SAPANARA has joined West Star Aviation to lead avionics technical sales. Sapanara previously spent 22 years with Rockwell Collins, holding positions including senior field service engineer and regional sales manager. He also has gained avionics experience during his career with the U.S. Coast Guard, and recently retired from the Air Force Reserve.
Business aviation advocates are becoming increasingly concerned over an apparent effort by the Internal Revenue Service to expand the applicability of the 7.5% passenger ticket tax.
Used business jet metrics continued to improve in February with the number of sales transactions increasing 7.6% and the average time on the market declining by 82 days to 346 days, according to business jet market analyst JetNet. Business jet asking price also inched up 3% (to $4.053 million) and the overall number of business jets for sale as a percentage of the fleet dropped 0.5% to 13.9%.
Business aviation veteran Dennis Keith, who currently is president and owner of Jet Solutions, was named chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF). Keith succeeds Jim Christiansen, whose term expires June 30. Keith has served on the ACSF board of directors since its inception, is a former chairman of the National Air Transportation Association and also has served on the National Business Aviation Association board of directors. Before his current role with Jet Solutions, he served as president of Flexjet.
BOMBARDIER Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1200; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-136-AD; Amendment 39-16647; AD 2011-07-10] — supersedes an existing AD and mandates a revision of the maintenance schedule, the (repetitive) cleaning of the safety valves, the removal of material from the area surrounding the safety valves and the modification of the safety valves with a gridless cabin pressure-sensing port plug. The required actions also include a detailed visual inspection of the safety valves and surrounding areas for discrepant material.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0259; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-196-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires the incorporation into the airplane flight manual a new abnormal procedure when radio 1 lockup occurs and also prohibits dispatch of the aircraft with any inoperative radio altimeter.
Aerion, the developer of the supersonic business jet, has kept a steady orderbook for “just under 50” of its $80 million aircraft, says Aerion Vice Chairman Brian Barents. “We’ve essentially maintained that $4 billion orderbook with which we entered the recession,” he says. “We’re delighted with that.” Buyers must put down refundable deposits of $250,000.
Dassault’s newest aircraft, the twin-engine Falcon 2000S, has completed its first year of flight testing. As of Thursday, the test aircraft had accumulated nearly 300 flight hours in more than 100 flights. The first part of the test campaign included numerous maneuvers to demonstrate handling qualities, stability, stalls, pitch, roll rates and failure mode tests, as well as takeoff with engine failure.
Embraer and the University of São Paulo (USP) last week opened a Comfort Engineering Center (CEC) at USP’s Polytechnic School. The center was built in a partnership with the Federal University of Santa Catarina and the Federal University of São Carlos, with financial support from the Research Assistance Fund of the State of São Paulo and the Study and Project Funding Office. The center will study ways to improve cabin comfort, both through esthetic and functional means.
Hawker Beechcraft has been working to climb out of a heavy debt load that led to an estimated $481.8 million loss in 2011, but the company warns that its future is in jeopardy without a comprehensive restructuring.
The National Air Transportation Association recently presented its top honors to Mary Miller, vice president, industry and government affairs for Signature Flight Support and BBA Aviation, and Kenneth Ricci, chairman of Flight Options and CEO of Nextant Aerospace. Ricci was awarded the William A. Ong Memorial Award for “extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry.” Ricci founded Flight Options in 1998 and helped grow it into an entity with annual sales of more than $600 million.
FAA is laying the groundwork for a proposed new requirement for installation of helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (HTAWS) on helicopters used in air ambulance operations. The agency released draft guidance – draft advisory circulars 27-1B and 29-2C – detailing the anticipated technical requirements for installation.
