Bombardier, detailing its latest round of incentives from Kansas, is further expanding its Wichita Learjet site in a project that is expected to create 450 new jobs over the next seven-10 years, the company says. Bombardier announced its plans Jan. 10 during a press conference with Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R), a move in part to bolster a community sent reeling this month after Boeing revealed plans to pull out of Wichita after 83 years and either transfer or eliminate up to 2,100 jobs.
GREG DIOGNARDI was appointed to the newly created position of Falcon 900 technical sales manager for StandardAero Business Aviation. Diognardi has more than 23 years of aviation experience, most recently as regional sales manager for Landmark Aviation. Before that he was vice president of sales and operations at Flightdocs and also has served as a maintenance analyst at Camp Systems International.
BILL MCLEOD was appointed vice president, North American sales, Central Division, for Gulfstream Aerospace. McLeod is responsible for leading the sales team covering Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, as well as Ontario, Canada. He joined Gulfstream in 1982 as an industrial engineering co-op student, and most recently was sales director for the Mid-Atlantic region where, in 2010, he was named Gulfstream’s top worldwide sales executive.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Models 95-C55, D55, E55, 58, and 58A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1420; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-035-AD; Amendment 39-16905; AD 2011-27-04] – requires, for airplanes with certain supplemental type certificate, assuring the airspeed indicator(s) and/or airspeed limitations placard(s) have the correct minimum control speed (VMC) markings for the STCs installed. The STCs involved are SA1762SO (installation of vortex generators) and STC SA4016NM (Foxstar Baron modification that included installation of winglets and different engines and propellers).
EADS North America CEO Sean O’Keefe was appointed chairman of the company’s board of directors. O’Keefe succeeds Ralph Crosby, who retired. Before joined EADS in November 2009, O’Keefe was vice president for GE’s Technology Infrastructure sector, leading the Washington operations of the GE Aviation business. He also has served as chancellor of Louisiana State University and was the 10th NASA administrator.
CARLOS GRAZIANI has joined Landmark Aviation as general manager of its Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB) location in Florida. Graziani served as operations manager for Atlantic Aviation’s Tucson, Ariz. location. He also has held management roles at Atlantic Aviation’s El Paso, Texas facility, as well as at Jet Direct Aviation.
The aviation industry continues to expand its presence in Mexico as CAE opened the first business jet and civil helicopter training center in the nation. The center is equipped with flight simulators for Bombardier Learjet 4045 aircraft and the Bell 412 helicopter. Both simulators recently received the equivalent of Level D qualification from Mexico’s Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC).
ENSTROM Model F-28C, F-28C-2, F-28F, 280C, 280F, 280FX TH-28, 480, and 480B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1382; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-053-AD; Amendment 39-16900; AD 2011-26-10] – requires, for helicopters with certain trim relays, modifying and testing the lateral and longitudinal cyclic trim actuator assemblies. This AD was prompted by four failures in the cyclic trim system on certain Enstrom model helicopters that resulted in reduced controllability of the helicopter.
Three teams of companies are bidding to provide an air-to-ground data communications network for the FAA that will be a vital element of the NextGen modernization effort, with a contract award expected in June. FAA’s Data Comm program will enable controllers to relay takeoff clearance and other instructions to pilots via text, rather than voice. This will make it quicker to send and revise clearances, while reducing errors. It also will enable the transmission of complex flight profiles required by NextGen and reduce radio frequency congestion.
Bell is boosting the gross weight of its 429 helicopter to 7,500 lb., a move driven by emergency medical services (EMS) and other customers who want the range or additional payload capabilities, the company says. The company received Transport Canada approval for the 500-lb.-weight increase and is now seeking validation from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Bell worked on the change for more than a year and spent the last several months validating data for the weight increase with Transport Canada.
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1139; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-021-AD; Amendment 39-16911; AD 2011-27-09] – requires an inspection to verify the correct installation of the aileron control cables and, in case of discrepancies, proper reinstallation of the cables in accordance with the approved design configuration. The AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites a report of an installation of the wrong (switched) aileron control cables in the wing.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT ENGINES Models TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-01 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0948; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-30-AD; Amendment 39-16906; AD 2010-06-12R1] – revises an existing AD that currently requires replacing the existing rail pressure control valve with an improved rail pressure control valve. This new AD requires the same actions but relaxes the initial compliance time from within 100 flight hours to within 600 flight hours for TAE 125-01 reciprocating engines.
Safe Flight Instrument Corp. recently donated another $50,000 to Corporate Angel Network (CAN) in support of the charity, which arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using empty seats in business aircraft. A longtime supporter of the program, the White Plains, N.Y.-based company is headed by Randall Greene, who also serves as CAN’s chairman.
Gulfstream Aerospace has incorporated a number of improvements at its Brunswick, Ga., facility, including the addition of a mobile support vehicle and a renovated customer lobby. The facility, which employs 200, provides maintenance, repair and refurbishment services for customers. The mobile support truck includes an air compressor, generator, toolbox and a laptop computer to support a variety of maintenance services and enable sign-off work in real time. The vehicle also can transport a wide range of replacement parts.
FAA has issued a technical correction returning 61.57(d), which explains when a complete instrument proficiency check (IPC) is required for individuals serving as pilot in command (PIC), to its original form that states that a PIC is instrument-current for six months following the completion of the recent experience requirements in 61.57(c). Following that period, the PIC has an additional six months to regain currency without completing a full IPC. If currency is not established in this period, a full IPC is required to re-establish instrument currency.
Embraer is starting 2012 with a slight year-over-year decline in the value of its backlog, after a year in which commercial aircraft deliveries increased slightly but business aviation saw another drop in aircraft going to customers. The Brazilian aircraft maker delivered 99 executive aircraft in 2011, down more than 30% from the 144 units delivered in 2010. Both Phenom and large aircraft deliveries (the Legacy and Lineage product line) recorded declines last year.
ROTAX various aircraft equipped with Rotax Aircraft engines 912A series engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0001; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-041-AD; Amendment 39-16912; AD 2012-01-01] – requires the identification and inspection for cracks of all affected crankshafts, and depending on findings, corrective action. The AD also expands the number of crankshafts affected.
The Mexican air force early this year will begin replacing its aging PC-7 training fleet with the first of six Hawker Beechcraft T-6C+ trainers. The initial contract, announced Jan. 9, comes as welcome news for the Wichita aircraft maker, which recently lost its bid for the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract.
CHRISTOPHER ELLENDER was named senior regional sales manager for product support sales for Gulfstream Aerospace. Ellender is based at the Gulfstream facility in Luton, England, and is responsible for maintenance sales to Gulfstream operators in Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. He formerly led the Global Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions division for FirstFlight, an aircraft charter, management and aviation services company, and also has been a sales engineer for Gulfstream in Savannah, Ga.
Jan. 11-13—Airports Council International-NA Insurance & Risk Management Conference, New Orleans, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Jan. 15-16—American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 15th Annual FAA Space Transportation Conference, Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C., www.aiaa.org Jan. 15-18—National Business Aviation Association’s Annual Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, San Diego Convention Center, www.nbaa.org/events/sdc/2012
JEFF CHALUPA was named general manager of domestic operations for Nordam’s Transparency division. Chalupa oversees engineering, production, operations, supply chain and purchasing, maintenance, quality and customer program management. He joined Nordam in 2007 and most recently was senior director of global engineering and quality for the company’s Repair division in Tulsa, Okla. He has been a Six Sigma Black Belt leader for Honeywell and a principle engineer with Pratt & Whitney.
Blue Sky Network received supplemental type certification for use of its D1000 flight-tracking unit and ACH1000 communications control aboard Sikorsky S-92 helicopters. The D1000A uses built-in GPS position reporting combined with an Iridium satellite transceiver and telemetry data link to provide flight-tracking capability. The ACH1000 communications control head adds voice communication and two-way messaging connectivity between operators and the control center.
FAA is moving to establish a voluntary accreditation program for commercial air tour operators. The agency recently charged the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) with developing a comprehensive program for commercial air tour operators that are not required to maintain aircraft under a continuous airworthiness maintenance program. Part 135 requires operators of aircraft with 10 or more seats to establish a continuing analysis and surveillance system, but operators with smaller aircraft are exempt.
