Cessna Aircraft has boosted the range of its new midsize Citation Latitude to a maximum of 2,300 nm. The range increase, up from the original announced range of 2,000 nm, was driven by customer requests, the company says. “The increased range will give the aircraft more flexibility to fly a wider variety of missions and meet our customer requirements for comfort and performance,” says Trevor Esling, vice president, sales – Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. The company also secured a launch customer in Europe for the aircraft – EFO Aviation GmbH & Co.
Pilatus Aircraft PC-6 aircraft [Docket No. FAA-2012-0018; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-042-AD] – corrects a proposed AD that applies to Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC- 6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2 and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. The Docket Number in the heading, in the Supplementary Information section, and in the Part 39 – Airworthiness Directive section is incorrect. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.
A long-term FAA reauthorization bill is poised for final passage this week after House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement Jan. 31 on a four-year package and the full House approved the legislation Feb. 3. Senate action on the bill, H.R. 658, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, could come as early as today. The agreement breaks a nearly five-year stalemate over long-term FAA reauthorization that has resulted in 23 temporary extensions of FAA’s operating authority.
Flight Options recently donated 10 hr. of fractional jet flight time to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using the empty seats on corporate jets. Founded 30 years ago, CAN has 5,380 participating corporations, which have flown nearly 40,000 cancer patients to and from treatment. The organization flies about 250 patients monthly.
RANDALL GROOM has renewed his aerospace consulting firm, Groom Aviation, and is representing Raisbeck Engineering. Groom previously served as executive vice president of Piper Aircraft, and before that, president of Beechcraft and president of global customer support for Raytheon Aircraft. He also worked with Piedmont Aviation. In his new role, he will represent Raisbeck to all of its dealers in the U.S., with an emphasis on Hawker Beechcraft Corp. and Hawker Beechcraft Services.
FAA is setting an Oct. 1 deadline for all pilots to use the agency’s MedXpress electronic system for filing applications for an airman medical or airman medical and student pilot certificate. Future plans also call for the transition of air traffic control specialists to MedXPress.
FAA last week issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD 2012-02-51) calling for replacement of certain Bell Model 206L (and -1, -3 and -4) main rotor blades that exceed a new shortened life limit. Originally 3,600 hr. time in service, the new life limit is 1,400 hr. The AD stems from a Transport Canada report of two accidents involving failure of the main rotor blade because of fatigue cracking. Transport Canada advises that there is no reliable inspection method to detect the cracks on these blades before such failure.
A bill in South Carolina to prohibit fixed-base operators (FBOs) from charging ramp fees would harm small businesses or cause other costs to increase, the National Air Transportation Association says. The association last week wrote state Sen. Phil Leventis (D), who is a pilot and aviation and management services consultant, urging him to shelve the bill, saying, “It is not in the best interest of any business to have government control their pricing policies and procedures.” The bill, introduced Jan.
GREY KINSELLA has joined Key Air as vice president of business development. Kinsella has more than 20 years of aviation experience, holding positions with airframe and engine manufacturers – including British Aerospace/BAE Systems, Saab and Rolls-Royce – along with financial institutions, charter providers and private and commercial business aircraft operators. Most recently, he was chief operating officer for an aircraft management company.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has incorporated the Softtech Flight & Duty TrackerT system into its operations at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, along with Las Vegas/Boulder City. Flight & Duty TrackerT provides Part 135 flight and duty tracking for small or large flight operations, including training events.
General aviation groups continue to build political support for their battle against the White House’s proposed $100-per-flight user charge, which is widely expected to be included in the Obama administration’s fiscal 2013 budget recommendations that will be released Feb. 13. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wrote President Barack Obama expressing opposition to the fee. “I know we’re facing difficult economic times in our country, but we’ve got to get our financial house in order without hindering high-growth industries such as general aviation,” Nelson says.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is taking the next step in its ongoing initiative to increase the pilot population with an awards program designed to encourage flight schools to adopt practices that have greater success in retaining students. The association in 2010 launched a study on flight training as part of an effort to grapple with the growing problem of a diminishing pilot population, and says the awards program is a result of that study’s findings.
Claims by Hawker Beechcraft that the U.S. Air Force’s choice of Embraer’s AT-29 Super Tucano over its AT-6 for the Light Air Support (LAS) contract is “fundamentally flawed” and will cost U.S. jobs are being dismissed as misinformation by winning bidder Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC). The normally closed-mouthed SNC has issued a public rebuttal of the claims as Hawker Beechcraft’s (HBC) lawsuit challenging the Air Force’s decision works its way through federal court, accusing its rival of using delaying tactics.
Cessna Aircraft rolled out its 400th Citation Mustang at its Independence, Kan., facility. Cessna reached the 400th marker a little more than five years since the Mustang’s first delivery in November 2006. Primarily targeted for corporate or personal travel, the Mustang has been increasingly used for special missions such as medical air transport and training. The fleet averages 480 hr., but 45 Mustangs have accumulated more than 1,000 hr. each. High time Mustangs are 1,600 hr. (typical operation) and 2,200 hr. (fleet operation).
The Central European Private Aviation (CEPA) organization tapped Brendan Lodge from JetBrokers Europe to be the new chairman. Lodge, business development director at JetBrokers, will serve a 12-month term as CEPA chairman. In addition, the three-year-old association is establishing an advisory board to assist and provide advice to the CEPA administration team. The board will include four aviation professionals – one from a law firm; one from insurance; a representative from an aircraft brokerage and a lobbyist.
Bombardier DHC-8-400, -401 and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0037; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-003-AD; Amendment 39-16935; AD 2012-02-12] – requires an inspection of a certain alternating current (AC) power wire bundle for damage, and repair if necessary. Additionally, this AD requires segregating the wire bundle into two wire bundles and installing Teflon tubing. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of the loss of certain AC systems caused by a burnt AC power wire bundle.
BEN COLEMAN was appointed safety advisor to the president for Sun ’n Fun. Coleman has more than 38 years of aviation experience, mostly as an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board and safety inspector for FAA. He has investigated more than 400 aviation accidents. In his new role, he will serve as safety advisor for all phases of Sun ’n Fun and Florida Air Museum operations.
Key Air, an aircraft management and charter operation based in Oxford, Conn., has received FAA authorization for use of the Apple iPad to access electronic charts in place of paper charts. Key Air previously had FAA authorization to use an electronic flight bag, and underwent a series of testing and authorizations to use the iPad. Key Air pilots will use the iPads during its commercial flight operations.
RYAN HUSS was named airframe service sales representative for Duncan Aviation’s facility in Lincoln, Neb. Huss joined Duncan in 2011, and has spent the last five years as Bombardier Challenger team leader at the Lincoln facility. In his new role, he will serve as the Bombardier service sales representative in Lincoln. In addition to his experience with Duncan, Huss has served as a technician in the U.S. Air Force.
Piper Aircraft tapped Piper Netherlands at Teuge International Airport as the company’s sales representative in the Netherlands. Piper Netherlands affiliate Stella Aviation Maintenance is responsible for parts and service. The appointment comes as part of an effort to expand the Vero Beach, Fla.-based manufacturer’s presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the company says. Piper Netherlands will coordinate with Enrico Evers, Piper’s director of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
BRAD HOMEYER was appointed airframe service sales representative for Duncan Aviation’s facility in Provo, Utah. Homeyer has served with Duncan Aviation since 1996, most recently as a member of the airframe service sales team for Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft. In his new role, he will coordinate with operators based in the west. Before joining Duncan, Homeyer served with Mesaba Airlines and Regent Aviation.
Jet Solutions, which operates the Part 135 flights for Flexjet’s jet-card business as well as its own jet-card offering, is laying the groundwork to expand back into to the aircraft management business that it had largely exited over the past decade.
EADS is pulling out of a joint venture with Embraer formed in 2005 to take control of OGMA – Industria Aeronautica de Portugal S.A., an aerostructures, airframe and component maintenance, repair and overhaul organization once owned by the Portuguese government. The venture, Airholdings, was created in 2005 by the two manufacturers to take a 65% holding in OGMA, with the Portuguese state retaining a 35% stake. Initially, Embraer owned a 99% share in the Airholdings joint venture, although EADS later exercised an option to increase its holding to 30%.
