The LEAP Electric Flight Program (LEAP), which includes the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize, has merged into the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, effective last week. The boards of directors of the Lindbergh Foundation and Creative Solutions Alliance (the nonprofit organization that runs LEAP) agreed to the merger since the missions of both organizations were so closely aligned, the Lindbergh Foundation says.
Flying Colours, a Canadian business jet cabin completions specialist, is preparing to deliver three more newly outfitted Challenger 850 aircraft to Asia-Pacific customers, bringing the total number of 850s it has delivered in the region to seven. The three aircraft will be handed over to private clients in mainland China and Hong Kong. The aircraft were completed at Flying Colours’ facilities in Canada and U.S., each taking eight months to finish. Flying Colours has another five in the pipeline, all destined for customers in China.
While final attendance figures weren’t available yet late last week, the National Business Aviation Association says the return of the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) this year met all of the association’s expectations for the event. NBAA, working in partnership with the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA), the Asian Business Aviation Association and Shanghai Exhibition Centre, last week held the three-day event after a five-year hiatus from the 2007 ABACE held in Hong Kong.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0454; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-54-AD; Amendment 39-16973; AD 2012-05-01] – requires inspections and modification of the frequency adapters and bushes to improve the ventilation in the area on the star arm end of certain helicopters. This AD was prompted by some reports of deterioration and two reports of failure of Starflex star arm ends.
Capitol Hill’s passage of a 90-day extension of highway programs last week provides aviation groups more time to build support on Capitol Hill for a repeal of the so-called “fuel fraud” tax. The extension gives Congress time to come up with an agreement on a long-term highway bill. Aviation groups are hoping that Congress will include a repeal of the fuel fraud tax in the long-term bill. The tax requires noncommercial jet fuel to be taxed at the highway diesel fuel rate until the fuel is proven to be used for aviation purposes.
Metrojet is planning to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region with an additional base planned for Clark International Airport in the Philippines. The Philippines location would be Metrojet’s first maintenance base outside Hong Kong. The company is planning to offer a range of services that will be equivalent to its Hong Kong capabilities, hoping to attract additional business from China. The company is investing “multimillions of dollars” in a facility that includes a 13,000-sq.-ft. hangar. Metrojet will call the operation Metro Jet Engineering Clark.
Dallas Airmotive’s Singapore Regional Turbine Center (RTC) received an operating certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), clearing the way for the company’s newest RTC to perform maintenance on both domestic and regional aircraft. “CAAS certification is a prerequisite for obtaining individual country certifications such as from China, Australia, India and other countries in the region as well as EASA and FAA authorities,” says BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Group President Hugh McElroy.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0269; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-105-AD] – proposes to require modifying the routing of and, if necessary, replacing, the oxygen pipe. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a passenger oxygen pipe at frame 10 was chafing against the forward lavatory rear structure, raising the risk of the oxygen pipe developing a crack. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent rupture of the oxygen pipe which, in case of a cabin depressurization, would impair operation of the passenger oxygen distribution system.
Piper Aircraft has landed a contract valued at $90,000 to provide complex multi-axis machined parts for Triton Submarines, which like Piper, is based in Vero Beach, Fla. Piper Aircraft’s Services Business unit, which was formed in part to build up engineering expertise originally developed for the now-shelved Altaire single jet, is providing the work for Triton.
Business Aviation Asia (BAA) is planning a dedicated maintenance center for business jets in Tianjin, about 70 mi. southeast of Beijing. BAA is investing about $53.3 million (U.S.) to build maintenance hangars, a paint facility, workshop and offices. Plans also call for 1,100 meters of taxiway on a 67,000-sq.-meter site within the airport’s bonded free-trade zone. Construction is set to start next month and is expected to be completed by October 2013. BAA also plans to eventually establish training there.
Gulfstream Aerospace detailed three more orders that will expand its growing fleet in Asia: Nanshan Jet, which is taking delivery of its second G450 long-range jet, with an additional G450 and G550 on order; AllPoints Jet, which signed an order at last week’s Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition for a G450 and G550; and Asia Jet, which is expanding its Shanghai charter fleet with a G200. “Asia, and particularly China, remains our leading export market,” says President Larry Flynn. “Twenty-seven percent of our current backlog is in Asia-Pacific.
CAMO4jets in Basel, Switzerland, has received European Aviation Safety Agency authorization to perform airworthiness review and management services for all Cessna Citation and Embraer aircraft. The authorization expands CAMO4jet’s line of CAMO services, which include airworthiness review and management on a range of Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault, and Gulfstream models.
Jeppesen has completed a successful rapid decompression test of a third-generation iPad, verifying its integrity in the event of sudden cabin pressure loss. The test, completed to an altitude of 51,000 ft., is part of the program used by operators to obtain FAA authorization for inflight use of Jeppesen’s mobile apps, including for navigational charts, on the iPad. Jeppesen completed similar tests of a representative iPad and iPad 2. No anomalies were detected during testing of any of the three iPad models.
Cessna Aircraft has begun the production line for its upgraded Corvalis single-piston – the TTX. Announced during the 2011 Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla., the TTX will replace the Corvalis TT and incorporate new capabilities such as optional Flight Into Known Icing and upgraded Cessna Intrinzic avionics suite that is based off the Garmin 2000 system and incorporates Garmin GTC touch screens. The first aircraft are in early production with bonding processes beginning on the fuselage, as well as work on the wing skins and internal components.
NetJets is planning to begin charter and management service in China through a joint venture with a consortium of Chinese investors led by Hony Jinsi Investment Management (Beijing) Ltd and Fung Investments. The fractional ownership provider is planning to begin service once it receives regulatory clearance from Chinese authorities, but could not specify when that might happen. NetJets executives, however, have been hopeful that it would take place sometime this year.
The overturning of the “fuel fraud” measure has been slowly gaining support with lawmakers, who are reluctant to touch any tax measure during an election year. National Air Transportation Association members, who convened last week for the association’s “Capital Week,” visited more than 120 House and Senate members to discuss the fuel fraud tax and other issues. NATA Vice President Eric Byer notes that nearly a dozen lawmakers have committed to write letters and/or submit language on the fuel fraud issue.
Wall Street remains wary and rumors are heightening about a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the wake of Hawker Beechcraft’s announced agreement with lenders that provides a short-term reprieve from upcoming interest payments.
Hawker Beechcraft’s Global Customer Support (GCS) group is making final preparations for first engine run of the Williams FJ44-4A-32 turbofans aboard the Hawker 400XPR upgrade program. The company recently mounted the first engines to the Hawker 400XPR, replacing existing Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5R engines, and first run was expected within days, the company says. The new engines, which are slated for certification aboard the Hawker 400XPR in June, produce 3,600 lbst, flat rated at 3,200 lb. each – an 8% improvement over their predecessors.
With proposed reductions to the contract air traffic control tower program, Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) had a question for the FAA’s top official: “Is there a move to discourage general aviation?” The White House has asked for a $2 million cut to the public-private cost-sharing program to provide operations for air traffic control towers to 249 airports in 46 states.
MATT MINNICK was promoted to national account representative for Phillips 66 Aviation. Minnick has 22 years of fuel industry experience. He has been involved in branded and unbranded fuels marketing with ConocoPhillips and also has worked with Mobil Oil.
NetJets has reached Level III of FAA’s safety management system (SMS) pilot program, becoming the first fractional operator to do so. The pilot program is structured in four levels, based on the development of a company’s program in relation to FAA’s expectation and international SMS standards.
Wyvern Consulting is expanding its on-site audit program into the Asian market. Over the next several months, Wyvern will conduct on-site audits for carriers in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and New Zealand. Wyvern’s Wingman onsite audit program is a two-three day process, which includes assessments of an operator’s maintenance, operations and safety management systems. The Wyvern audit also includes background checks. Operators must keep up with certain reporting requirements following the audit. Wyvern notes its international audit business has begun to increase.
