40 Years Ago Feb. 7, 1972 – Union and management negotiators reach an agreement in the 95-day-old International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers strike against Piper Aircraft in Lock Haven, Pa. 30 Years Ago Feb. 1, 1982 – FAA Administrator J. Lynn Helms unveils a 20-year plan to overhaul the nation’s air traffic and air navigation system that relies on automation and higher taxes. 20 Years Ago
Rockwell Collins has secured an unidentified launch customer for a lower-cost version of its Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system, aimed at light and medium-sized business aircraft. The deal to supply the Fusion Embedded Display System (EDS) cockpit was won in “head-to-head” competition against Garmin, says Kent Statler, executive vice president and chief operating officer for commercial systems.
FAA will increasingly rely upon collaboration with the helicopter community to improve safety as its regulatory efforts are concentrated on the dozens of congressional mandates issued in the most recent FAA reauthorization bill and a pilot safety bill adopted 18 months ago, FAA Flight Standards Deputy Director John McGraw says.
Investment firm Reuben Brothers is taking over the London Heliport in Battersea, the U.K. Reuben Brothers acquired the heliport from Andrew Davis, who also owns PremiAir Aviation. Reuben Brothers calls PremiAir Aviation one of the most significant customers of the heliport and expects to collaborate with PremiAir on issues affecting the heliport. The facility is the only Civil Aviation Authority-licensed heliport in London and provides services to business, emergency medical and police operators.
Gulfstream is expanding its support and training network in Asia, with the first factory-owned OEM maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) factory in China and the first dedicated business jet flight simulator in the region. The Gulfstream fleet is rapidly expanding in the Asia-Pacific region, which now accounts for 27% of the Savannah, Ga., manufacturer’s $17.9 billion backlog, Gulfstream President Larry Flynn says. Gulfstream has worked to increase its presence in the region, opening a sales office in Beijing late last year.
Garuda International is adding 18 Bombardier CRJ1000s to its fleet under two separate deals that sees the Indonesian airline purchase six of the twinjets and lease an additional 12 from Nordic Aviation Capital. The widely expected Garuda announcement includes options for 18 more CRJ1000s. The first five aircraft, a mix of owned and leased, are scheduled for delivery this year. A further 12 CRJ100s are expected to be delivered in 2013 and the remaining one aircraft follows in 2014. A decision on the options will come before 2015, says Pak Emirsyah Satar, president and CEO.
Hawker Beechcraft received an order for two Hawker 900XPs and options for two more from Jakarta-based Lion Air. Lion Air, which will operate its new Hawkers for charter services, held a contract signing ceremony with Hawker Beechcraft and its dealer Hawker Pacific during last week’s Singapore Air Show. The aircraft will be delivered in the second and third quarters. The deal was one of two that Hawker Beechcraft announced for the 900XP last week.
BLAIR DESCOUROUEZ was named regional sales manager for Jet Works Air Center. Descourouez has 17 years of experience, holding sales and marketing roles with Signature Flight Support, Fairchild Dornier and Business Jet Center. In his new role, he will develop programs, including interior refurbishments, paint and avionics upgrades for Falcon 900, Falcon 2000 and Legacy 600 business jets and maintenance inspections for the Cessna Citation product line.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC130B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0086; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-045-AD; Amendment 39-16936; AD 2012-02-13] – requires, for models that have not incorporated Eurocopter Modification 073880, repetitive inspections for cracks in the tailboom/Fenestron junction frame, and corrective actions, if necessary.
ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services China, based at Binhai International Airport in Tianjin, was named an authorized avionics dealer for Honeywell International in mainland China. Under the agreement, ExecuJet will sell and support the range of Honeywell’s avionics products, warranties and protection plans for Chinese business jets and build on the relationship that has existed between Honeywell and ExecuJet Aviation for more than two decades.
Dassault Falcon has developed a supplemental type certificate (STC) kit for the installation of ADS-B Out (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out) on Falcon 50EX aircraft equipped with Pro Line 4 avionics. The STC data package involves replacement of existing transponders with upgraded units that support the new ADS-B protocol, along with wiring and other related components. The kit can be installed at the Dassault service center, along with authorized service centers.
EADS CASA Model CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2011-1091; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-037-AD; Amendment 39-16916; AD 2012-01-04] – requires an inspection to determine the part number of the engine condition control cable, repetitive inspections for excessive wear of the affected engine condition control cable, and replacement of the affected part. This AD was prompted by reports of failures of the engine condition control cable, which led to an engine shutdown.
WILLIAM GREENWALT has joined the Aerospace Industries Association as vice president of acquisition policy. Greenwalt brings to the position a background of procurement policy experience in both the legislative and executive branches. He formerly was deputy director for the Surveys and Investigations staff of the House Appropriations Committee. He also was director of federal acquisition policy for Lockheed Martin and served as deputy undersecretary of defense industrial policy.
CESSNA Models 172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1245; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-033-AD; Amendment 39-16925; AD 2012-02-02] – supersedes an existing AD that requires inspection of the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replace the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; and inspect the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure, adjusting as necessary.
The FCC is indefinitely suspending LightSquared’s conditional waiver to operate its proposed 4G voice and data network in bands adjacent to those used by GPS, citing concerns that potential interference with GPS units could pose aviation safety risks. “The commission clearly stated from the outset that harmful interference to GPS would not be permitted,” the FCC says. “Consequently, the commission will not lift the prohibition on LightSquared.”
The Obama administration’s fiscal 2013 budget proposal would cut airports funding by nearly $1 billion, but includes an 11% increase in funding for the NextGen air traffic control system. The White House, which released its budget proposal Feb. 13, is asking for a $15.172 billion budget for FAA in fiscal 2013, down by more than $700 million over the estimated fiscal 2012 appropriation and the actual fiscal 2011 budget. The airports program is set to take the biggest hit, with a proposed cut of $926 million, to $2.4 billion.
Feb. 22-23—Business Jet Interiors World Expo, Cannes, France, www.fly-corporate.com Feb. 22-23—MIU Events/Exhibitions India Group’s Indian Business Aviation Expo 2012, Manekshaw Center, New Delhi, +44 (124) 351-3606, www.miuevents.com/ibae2012 Feb. 23-24—Fifth Society of Experimental Test Pilots’ Annual Southeast Symposium, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., www.setp.org/table/southeast Feb. 28 - 29—2012 Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Dulles, Va, www.acsf.aero/symposium
Gulfstream is checking off a number of outstanding tests necessary to receive full certification of its G650 by midyear. The company received provisional type certification last fall and delivered the first 12 green aircraft. Gulfstream since has confirmed stall speeds and minimum control airspeeds with FAA, and has completed certification testing of the hydraulics, fly-by-wire flight controls and fuel system. The aircraft also has undergone testing for flight into known icing approvals.
FAA has issued special conditions for the new Learjet 85 (LJ-200-1A10) to cover the use of hydrophobic windshield coatings in place of windshield wipers. FAA says current regulations don’t provide adequate or appropriate standards for the windshield coatings, and the conditions are needed to provide the necessary level of safety. The hydrophobic windshield coating is designed to provide an unobstructed view from the cockpit during precipitation.
Icon Aircraft successfully completed spin-resistance test flights of its A5 amphibious light-sport aircraft. The aircraft demonstrated compliance with FAA’s Part 23 spin-resistance standards. Icon says spin resistance can significantly reduce the number of loss-of-control accidents involving light aircraft. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute found that 41% of pilot-related fatal accidents were due to stall/spin loss-of-control scenarios.
SASKIA DE JONG joined Avinode as a sales manager for the middle and southern parts of the U.S. She will be based in Miami. Before joining Avinode, she was director of sales and product development for American Adventure Tours, a global wholesale tour operator.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0005; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-091-AD; Amendment 39-16914; AD 2012-01-03] – supersedes an existing AD to include additional corrective action to prevent failure of the main gearbox (MGB) due to the degradation of the epicyclic module of the MGB and expands the applicability to include the ECF Model AS332L2 helicopter.
It may have been the worst-kept secret in the helicopter industry, but the unveiling of Bell’s new super-medium, long-range 525 Relentless at this year’s Heli-Expo nevertheless marks a watershed moment for the rotorcraft market. The largest civil helicopter ever developed by Bell, the emergence of the 525 sees the biggest strategic shift for the manufacturer since establishing its military market dominance during the Vietnam War era.
