HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0014; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-044-AD; Amendment 39-16915; AD 2011-27-51] – publishes an AD previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes (BA, Jan. 9/10). This AD requires inspecting the elevator bob-weight and attaching linkage for correct installation and for damage or deformation to the weight and/or weight bracket with corrective action as necessary.
Jet Services, based at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, is increasing its operations with the takeover of control of the Darta group. Jet Services says the move will enhance its business aviation activities at Le Bourget, but also will strengthen Darta’s long-term position. Jet Services provides terminal handling, maintenance, aerial photography and other business aviation services. Darta operates a fleet of Beechcraft and Falcon jets, provides ground handling and client reception, travel agency and charter services.
Signature Flight Support rolled out two new customer products – a Signature TailWins customer loyalty program and the Signature Flight Support aviation card issued in partnership with U.S. Bank and Multi Service Aviation. Signature TailWins is a loyalty program for pilots, crew, schedulers and dispatchers and corporate flight and travel departments that rewards customers with products, services and experiences. Rewards range from watches, destination travel, apparel and technology to an American motorcycle brand.
Eurocopter delivered an AS350 B3e Ecureuil helicopter to the Kenya Police Air-Wing in Nairobi for the airborne law enforcement and crime prevention unit. The order was placed through the Eurocopter Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. The AS350 B3e, an enhanced version of the AS350 model, will be used for law enforcement and crime prevention missions, including anti-poaching and anti-terrorism operations. It also will be used for search and rescue, casualty evacuation, personnel transport and various other civic protection roles.
Cessna is moving forward with its planned mid-2013 certification for the next-generation Citation Ten, successfully completing the first flight Jan. 17. The new aircraft, which will supplant the original Citation X, flew for more than two hr. and was tested for stability and control, handling qualities, functional operation, engine operability and avionics. The prototype aircraft flew from the company’s main manufacturing facility at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT).
Jet-Share Canada, a Toronto-based fractional aircraft ownership provider, added a Cessna Citation Model 560 to the fleet, joining two other Citations and single King Air aircraft. Before joining the fleet, the aircraft was refurbished with an updated interior and full exterior repaint. In addition to its fractional use, the Citation 560 will be available for charter.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services last week bought ExcelAire, an aircraft management and charter firm with an FBO at MacArthur Airport on Long Island, near New York City. The purchase price was not disclosed. Steven Levesque, Hawthorne CEO, says the ExcelAire management would remain in place and that the operation has “the capacity and the capability to do a lot more.” ExcelAire currently manages 20 aircraft.
XOJet is placing into service this month the first seven of 12 Hawker 800XPR aircraft the company ordered last fall. The introduction of the aircraft comes as the San Francisco-based operator’s flight hours jumped 30% in 2011 – exceeding the industry average of 5%. “XOJet’s continued growth has been limited by fleet size as demand has consistently exceeded capacity,” the company says, adding it is “aggressively investing in the expansion of its fleet.”
The Southern California Aviation Association has scheduled a Safety Seminar on March 5 the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys, Calif. National Transportation Safety Board Member Mark Rosekind is a featured speaker at the event.
Rockwell Collins added a “Briefcase” feature to its Ascend Flight Manager Mobile application for the iPad. The Briefcase module makes trip documents accessible to business jet operators electronically. The company also improved its Flight Operating System (FOS) Mobile application, which provides access to scheduling and dispatch information.
None of four foreign manufacturers has yet dropped out of talks with Chinese fighter builder Avic Aviation Techniques (AAT) aimed at joint development and manufacturing of business jets. It is unclear, however, whether all of the bidders are keen to participate in the whole program proposed by AAT — transfer of a current business jet production line to the company’s Chengdu works and joint development of a large new aircraft, with considerable technological transfer.
DASSAULT AVIATION Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1061; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-053-AD; Amendment 39-16908; AD 2011-27-06] – requires for Falcon 7X airplanes replacement of certain ram air turbine (RAT) transformer rectifier units (TRUs) with modified units. This AD, which stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by a report of incorrect design of the TRU part of the RAT system.
ImperialJet took delivery of a new Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet. The aircraft joins the company’s charter fleet. The company says it has seen strong demand for its Bombardier Challengers, particularly in Russia and Saudi Arabia. The company operates Challenger 850, 605 and 604 aircraft in addition to Learjet 60/60 XR and Gulfstream III jets. The company further has five Learjet 85s on order that are slated to enter service in 2014.
West Star Aviation’s facility in East Alton, Ill., was named an authorized service center for the GE CF34 engine. The authorization can provide service and support of the engine and supply related parts and products. West Star’s facility in Grand Junction, Colo., has been an authorized GE service provider for more than six years.
Fokker Services, a Dutch firm that supports out-of-production Fokker aircraft, has seen demand pick up from a mining resources boom—particularly in Australia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia—and new rules in Indonesia. A total of 60 Fokker aircraft changed hands in 2011, and many of the acquirers were airlines in the Asia Pacific region, says Peter van Oostrum, director of aircraft remarketing at Fokker Services. Transactions included Indonesian carriers Sky Aviation and Transnusa each acquiring two Fokker 50s in the second half of 2011.
Saab Sensis Corp. will install its airport surface surveillance technology at nine or more U.S. airports under a contract awarded by the FAA that could be worth up to $119 million. Sensis, a U.S. subsidiary of Saab, will install systems that fuse surveillance data from multiple sources, including multilateration and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). This gives controllers a highly accurate picture of runway and taxiway movements, and the ability to detect conflicts and provide alerts.
SAAB Model 340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1062; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-038-AD; Amendment 39-16907; AD 2011-27-05] – supersedes an existing AD that requires an inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) separation bolt harness for broken wires and corroded connectors, and corrective actions if necessary; and for certain airplanes, a modification of the MLG separation bolt’s electrical harness. This new AD requires replacement of the separation bolt harness.
The National Air Transportation Association’s Safety 1st organization is establishing a new Ground Audit Program standard for the fixed-base operation (FBO) and ground-handling community. The first of its kind for FBOs, the standard was developed at the behest of NATA members who face multiple audits each year.
Eurocopter sees residual concerns from the Chinese military over efforts to ease airspace restrictions, but still expects liberalization to take hold and drive growth in the country’s demand for rotorcraft.
Avfuel added TMA Group at Cambridge Municipal Airport in Nebraska to its network of branded fixed-base operation dealers. TMA, which assumed management of the FBO at Cambridge in 2009, has since undertaken a number of improvements, refurbishing the pilot’s lounge, adding A&P services, and outfitting the facility with free Wi-Fi throughout. Ramp and taxiway upgrades also are under way and future plans include the addition of Jet A fuel, the acquisition of a new fuel truck and a ground power unit and the addition of an automated weather observing system.
ANTOINE AJARRISTA was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Dassault Falcon’s Little Rock Completion Center in Arkansas. Ajarrista oversees day-to-day operations of Dassault’s largest facility, which is responsible for the completion of nearly all Falcon aircraft. For the past three and a half years, he was senior vice president of operational control in Little Rock. He also has served as production director in the Dassault Bordeaux-Merignac facility.
The world’s largest business association would like to see House Republicans keep up a controversial labor fight that is preventing passage of the FAA reauthorization bill. In a State of American Business speech that called on Washington to confront its tough issues with “real leadership,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue said Congress needs to pass the FAA bill, which has been stalled for more than four years.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), meanwhile, is launching a separate petition asking President Obama to embrace the general aviation industry. “Whether through airport fees, aircraft depreciation policies or by repeatedly using the aviation industry as a tool to create class warfare for your political gain—you are hurting American jobs and families,” the petition states. The petition is on a new “America Flies” Web site established by the Pompeo for Congress campaign to promote general aviation.
ExecuJet Aviation Group is capitalizing on the prolonged recovery to expand its network exponentially, the company says. Founded in 2001 at Zurich, the services provider grew its network by nearly 200% last year with the additions of 10 fixed-base operations. The additions increased ExecuJet’s chain to 16 bases worldwide.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has scheduled its AOPA Aviation Summit for Oct. 11-13 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in California, and has committed to returning to Palm Spring on Oct. 9-11, 2014. AOPA has not held its annual summit in Palm Springs since 2006, and nearly $200 million has been spent since on new hotels and upgrades to existing facilities. “Our goal is to create a convention with a national draw, which is why we’re returning to Palm Springs in 2012 and 2014,” says AOPA President and CEO Craig Fuller.
