Eclipse Aerospace is finding interest picking up for its new Eclipse 550 with a busy demonstration tour, but still is cautious about pinpointing exactly when it will launch production. Eclipse began taking orders for the Eclipse 550, the follow-on to the original Eclipse 500, last fall and said it would start production sometime in 2013. “We’re doing pretty well,” says Eclipse Chairman and CEO Mason Holland. “It’s an organic process.”
Certification of the long-awaited Sikorsky S-76D is on track for midyear with first deliveries in the third quarter, company President Jeff Pino confirms. Delayed by up to four years based on its original program targets, the S-76D effort has overcome several development issues including rotor lag, avionics problems and an engine redesign. “We are not going to deliver a helicopter without dealing with these,” Pino said during this month’s 2012 Heli-Expo.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK 117 C-1 and C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0101; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-042-AD] — proposes to require installing a placard that corresponds to the maximum permissible flight altitude, amending the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to revise the maximum permissible operating altitude, and inserting revised performance charts into the RFM. The proposed AD also would require a repetitive maintenance “MAX N1 CHECK” to determine the appropriate maximum altitudes.
ATP’s new compliance and safety information service, ATP Aviation Hub, has captured 2,800 registered users since its introduction in late January. A cloud-based service, ATP Aviation Hub builds on the 2011 launch of ATP Navigator, the company says.
CLIVE RICHARDSON was appointed regional sales director for AJ Walter Aviation’s Engine Division. Richardson most recently was with ADAT in Abu Dhabi, where he was responsible for global engine management and technical sales. He also has experience with GE and Goodrich.
The deadline of Sept. 30, 2015, for integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. civil airspace, set in the new FAA reauthorization bill, is expected to be met using ground-based sense-and-avoid (GBSAA), a Pentagon official says. Using ground radars, GBSAA will allow “routine access” to airspace for unmanned aircraft transiting between their bases and restricted areas used for training, says Steven Pennington, U.S. Air Force director of bases, ranges and airspace.
While most tax changes were stripped out of the final FAA reauthorization bill, one significant change remains – the tax treatment of aircraft operations under fractional aircraft ownership programs. Fractional aircraft operations have been taxed as commercial flights, and subject to the 7.5% transportation tax, fuel surcharge and segment fee. The reauthorization bill changes that to treat the operation as a private flight, subject to aviation fuel tax with an additional fuel surtax of 14.1 cents per gallon. The tax change is effective March 31 and runs through Sept.
ANDREW STOREY was named Canada area manager for Landmark Aviation. Storey will continue as general manager for the Toronto location, but have oversight of the company’s three Canadian sites. He has 25 years of industry experience, beginning as a line service technician at Toronto while worked on his private pilot’s license.
While it awaits a final ruling from the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the Airbus versus Boeing subsidies battle, the U.S. is preparing to use the results as a platform from which to launch a case against Canada alleging illegal launch aid for the Bombardier CSeries. “The case against Boeing is still under appeal, but the case against Airbus is complete, and the WTO found that every Airbus model included subsidies that violated WTO rules,” says Maureen Smith, assistant deputy undersecretary for manufacturing and services at the U.S. Commerce Department.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta recently attended a ceremony to award a platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to a new 9,000-sq.-ft. corporate flight center at Chattanooga Airport. Operated by Wilson Air Center, the facility is the first such FBO terminal to receive LEED platinum certification.
STEVEN MENG was promoted to regional sales manager for Gulfstream Aerospace’s product support sales in Southern California. Meng, based in Long Beach, will oversee sales of maintenance, paint, interior upgrades and avionics modifications to operators in the Los Angeles, San Diego and surrounding areas. Meng, who has 17 years of corporate aviation experience, has spent 14 years with Gulfstream, most recently as senior internal sales manager.
TURBOMECA. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0889; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-35-AD; AD 2012-03-11] – supersedes an AD that currently requires checking the transmissible torque between the low-pressure (LP) pump impeller and the high-pressure (HP) pump shaft on high-pressure/low-pressure (HP/LP) pump hydro-mechanical metering units (HMUs) that do not incorporate Modification TU 147. This new AD requires inspection and possible replacement of the HMU.
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) is teaming with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to cooperate on a range of safety initiatives. IHST and CIS are formalizing an agreement that will include an exchange of information and best practices, collaboration on joint helicopter safety projects, participation in joint meetings and activities and coordination on other international events.
General aviation groups are concerned that a recently issued National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulation oversteps the agency’s authority by appearing to regulate airspace and could result in $100,000 fines to pilots unaware of potential airspace restrictions that currently aren’t on FAA charts.
With FAA’s reauthorization bill recently signed into law, business aviation groups are pinning their hopes on the highway reauthorization bill to overturn a fuel fraud measure that causes certain jet fuel to be taxed at the highway diesel fuel rate. The highway reauthorization legislation, H.R. 7, is expected to come up for debate this week, but is facing some controversy as lawmakers wade through numerous amendments and attempt to drum up the necessary votes for its passage.
Avfuel is expanding its international network with the addition of Ocean Sky Jet Center at London Luton Airport. Ocean Sky will provide Avfuel fuel and participate in Avfuel incentive programs. The fixed-base operation is part of the Ocean Sky Private Jet Group chain of five FBOs in Europe. The Luton facility includes a VIP lounge with crew areas, conference suites and a 46,000-sq.-ft. hangar.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0453; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-16-AD; Amendment 39-16942; AD 2012-03-01] — requires changes to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to follow certain procedures while in flight. This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of the Federal Republic of Germany; The MCAI states that in the past, the FADEC FAIL caution light illuminated on a few EC135 T1 helicopters.
Gulfstream Aerospace is putting the final upgrades into the first production G280 in preparation for delivery later this year. The super midsized G280 aircraft, which achieved provisional type certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel on Dec. 29, is expected to achieve FAA certification and enter service by midyear. Three Gulfstream G280 aircraft in the flight-test program have flown more than 1,800 hr. during more than 685 flights. The fatigue test article has completed more than 12,500 of 40,000 cycles.
Hawker Beechcraft, along with its distributor Hawker Pacific, recently handed over a fleet of five King Air turboprops – two 350Cs (cargo door variants) and three B200Cs – to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Eastern Division in Australia. The aircraft will be operated by New South Wales Department of Health for air ambulance purposes.
HONEYWELL TPE331-10 and TPE331-11 series turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0789; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-04-AD; Amendment 39-16929; AD 2012-0206] — This AD requires inspecting certain serial number first stage turbine disks (Part Numbers 3101520-1 and 3107079-1). This AD was prompted by a report of an uncontained failure of a first stage turbine disk that had a metallurgical defect. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the first stage turbine disk and damage to the airplane.
Increases in Piper Meridian deliveries are helping drive stronger revenues for Piper Aircraft. The Vero Beach, Fla.-based airframer reported a 9% increase in sales in 2011 to $131.2 million. The increase comes as Piper’s deliveries of its single turboprop Meridian jumped from 25 in 2010 to 32 last year. Unit shipments overall, however, dropped from 160 to 136 last year. Piper says this reflects a shift of its production focus from its light pistons to its top-end M-Class pistons (including the Mirage and Matrix), as well as the turbine M-Class Meridian.
PAUL WITT was appointed general manager of Stevens Donaldson Center (GYH) facility in Greenville, S.C. Witt, who holds an airframe and powerplant license, formerly spent 17 years with Cessna Aircraft, where he managed a Citation Service Center. He will lead Stevens’ jet maintenance operations.
Eclipse Aerospace has developed an Eclipse Quick Reference Application (Eclipse QRA) for the Apple iPad. Eclipse QRA provides flight-planning capabilities and inflight reference, weight and balance calculations, interactive flight checklists and performance planning. In addition, the Eclipse QRA provides digital copies of the Aircraft Flight Manual and the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, including updated downloads of temporary revisions and other customer communications.
CPAC Models 112, 112B, 112TC, 112TCA, 114, 114A, 114B, and 114TC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1128; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-031-AD; Amendment 39-16933; AD 2012-02-10] – supersedes an existing AD that requires a one-time inspection of the elevator spar for cracks and, if any crack is found, either replace with a serviceable elevator spar that is found free of cracks or repair/modify the elevator spar with an FAA-approved method. That AD also requires reporting to the FAA the results of the inspection.
