The adoption of safety management systems (SMS) and a “just culture” is the next major step forward in risk reduction for the Part 135 industry, says aviation veteran Dennis Keith, president and owner of Jet Solutions, who is on the Air Charter Safety Foundation Board of Governors. “The concept of SMS, I think, is finally starting to bring the industry to a much more mature level, because it causes you to constantly look for risk and constantly mitigate that risk,” Keith says.
Bombardier has rolled its first NetJets-bound aircraft from its assembly line in Toronto. The aircraft – a Global 6000 – will be flown to Bombardier’s Global Completion Center in Dorval, Quebec for completion. The company last week held a ceremony to mark the assembly of the first Global 6000, part of a 50-aircraft deal (firm) that Bombardier announced with the fractional ownership provider in March 2011. NetJets ordered 30 Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft and 20 more of the new Global 7000 and 8000 jets that are still in development.
Bell Helicopter has delivered the 4,000th helicopter produced at its Mirabel, Canada, facility. Bell began production at the Canadian facility 25 years ago. Bell primarily builds commercial helicopters in Mirabel, leaving the defense business to its Amarillo, Texas base. The 4,000th helicopter, a Bell 206L4 was handed over to longtime customer Air Medical Group Holding (AMGH), which is the second largest air emergency medical services provider, with service in 25 U.S. states. AMGH operates 155 Bell helicopters.
The 2012 Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE2012) in Shanghai has sold out its exhibit space both on the main show floor and in a new pavilion area created to accommodate the demand. The exhibit floor filled nearly two months in advance of the March 27-29 event.
328 SUPPORT SERVICES Model 328-100 and 328-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0995; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-243-AD; Amendment 39-16920; AD 2012-01-08] – requires revising the airplane maintenance program by incorporating certain certification maintenance requirements (CMR) tasks. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer safety analyses review on flight controls that resulted in recommendations for reduced repetitive inspection intervals for the flight controls CMR of the tab-to-actuator linkage.
Quest Aircraft has received full certification from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority for the Kodiak single turboprop utility aircraft. The latest certification brings to seven the total number of countries that have certified the Kodiak. The aircraft has received significant interest from Brazil, along with other Latin America countries. The aircraft last fall completed a demonstration tour in Brazil, the Caribbean and other Latin American countries and will launch another tour of the region next month.
Constant Aviation has received FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the installation of Aircell’s Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP) in an Embraer EMB135LR aircraft. CWAP provides in-cabin Wi-Fi service for Gogo Biz Inflight Internet. Constant Aviation has completed the Gogo Biz Inflight Internet STC on the Gulfstream IV, Embraer 600 and EMB135 Corporate Shuttle.
CIRRUS Model SR22T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1212; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-034-AD; Amendment 39-16923; AD 2012-01-11] – requires inspection and modification of the air box flange welds and slots and installation of induction system air box seals as applicable. This AD was prompted by reports of partial loss of engine power due to a dislodged rubber gasket/seal being ingested into the turbocharger. FAA estimates the AD affects 67 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $23,550, or $352 per airplane. The AD takes effect Feb. 29.
BRP–POWERTRAIN & CO KG ROTAX 914 F2, F3 and F4 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-1022; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-16919; AD 2012-01-07] – requires replacing the fuel pressure regulator within 100 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product.
ERIC STUCK was named senior manager, new business development, for Gulfstream Aerospace’s Product Support organization. Stuck will oversee the development of aftermarket avionics and cabin electronics modification programs for Gulfstream aircraft. He has 28 years of experience in the aviation industry, including 15 in product support sales and program management. He formerly worked for Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Banyon Air Services and AMR Combs.
U.S. business jet flights are starting off a little slower in 2012, according to Avinode Business Intelligence. Avinode’s Magnus Henriksson posted a first look at U.S. business jet activity at the beginning of 2012, comparing U.S. business jet flights during the first 22 days of this year with the same period of the three previous years (2009-2011).
Bombardier Business Aircraft’s strong order intake provides another positive indicator of a recovering business aircraft market. Bombardier reports that it took in 191 net orders during its fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011, which is a near doubling of the 107 taken in the previous fiscal year.
Five months since its formal launch and with growth slightly ahead of plan, Clive Jackson, founder and CEO of the business jet-sharing service Victor, is finalizing the startup’s financing and growth plans.
TAREK RAGHEB was named senior advisor for Gulfstream Aerospace’s international sales team for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA). Ragheb, who helped develop and headed the EMA sales team for the past 18 years, will provide strategic guidance and counsel to the team. Before joining Gulfstream in 1994, he was vice president General Electric Aerospace for the Middle East and Africa and then president of Martin Marietta International, Middle East.
GE CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0599; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-19-AD; Amendment 39-16922; AD 2012-01-10] – requires removing from service all CVD support assemblies and any fan drive shaft on the affected engines if wear is found on either the CVD support ring or the fan drive shaft. This AD was prompted by a report of heavy wear found on the seating surface of the center vent duct (CVD) (commonly referred to as center vent tube) support ring and on the inside diameter of the fan drive shaft at the mating location.
Hawker Beechcraft is stepping up its fight over the U.S. Air Force’s Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft, saying the decision to give the $355 million program to Sierra Nevada Corp. and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer directly conflicts with President Barack Obama’s goal of protecting American manufacturing jobs.
The gradually strengthening markets for midsized and light business jets and for commercial helicopters is positioning Textron’s Cessna Aircraft and Bell units for double-digit growth this year, Textron executives say. During the year-end call with analysts last week, Textron executives estimated that Cessna is poised for a 14% increase in sales, driven by a slowly improving market for the jet aircraft, along with strong aftermarket returns.
BOMBARDIER Model CL–600–2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA–2012–0034; Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–153–AD] – proposes to require replacing and changing the routing of the flexible oxygen hose of the third crew person oxygen line and modifying the entrance compartment assembly. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fire that started in the vicinity of an electrical panel that was fed by oxygen escaping from a damaged third crew person oxygen line that occurred while the airplane was on the ground.
The European Union has set aside up to €12 million ($15.2 million) in research and technology funding in the latest call for proposals under the Clean Sky research program. The allocation is part of a maximum of €36.5 million the research organization has set aside in its 11th round of Clean Sky funding. The largest number of proposals is likely in the Eco-Design for Airframe funding category and Systems for Green Operations — each with 14 different areas.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0923; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-20-AD; Amendment 39-16794; AD 2011-18-12] – supersedes an existing AD and requires inspections of the vertical fin support for cracks and corrective actions. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency that states that some cracks have been discovered in the spar of the upper fin on Model AS355N helicopters.
AGUSTA A109S and AW109SP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1454; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-054-AD; Amendment 39-16910; AD 2011-27-08] – requires, as an interim measure pending the development of a terminating action, repetitive inspections of the elevator upper skin in the area of the fourth rib, and if a crack is found, replacing the cracked elevator assembly with a serviceable unit or contacting Agusta for an approved repair.
JOE TULOWITZKI has joined Duncan Aviation’s turbine engine service sales team. Tulowitzki will develop business relationships on the East Coast, focusing on Honeywell TFE731 and Pratt & Whitney engine services. He formerly spent nearly 12 years with Dallas Airmotive, and also has served with MCI Flight Ops, Garrett Aviation and the U.S. Air Force.
Bombardier’s commitment to make its Flexjet unit more efficient and independent has helped the fractional ownership provider weather the recent downturn and position it for an eventual upturn, says Flexjet President Fred Reid. “It has always been the goal of Bombardier to have Flexjet stand alone as a viable entity on its own,” says Reid, who joined Flexjet in August 2008 – 17 days before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and the economy began to crash. “My honeymoon was pretty darn short,” he says.
