Tanzanian regional operator Precision Air Services has ordered four ATR 42-600s and a single ATR 72-600 to add to its fleet of five ATR 72-500s, two ATR 42-500s and two ATR 42-300s. The 50-seat ATR 42s are scheduled for delivery from late 2012, while the larger turboprop will join the fleet in 2014.
ALBERT (JACK) Mill was appointed director and general manager of engineering services for Piper Aircraft. Mill, a 30-year aerospace veteran, has held product development and certification roles for Piper since 1985. Before that he held design positions for Cessna Aircraft, Martin Marietta and Northrop Grumman.
Embraer has received type validation from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for its Legacy 650. The approval allows customers to register and operate the Legacy 650 in China. The 650 also has received approvals from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the European Aviation Safety Agency and FAA. Embraer views CAAC validation as particularly important because orders from China have picked up considerably, including a sale to Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. for 13 of the aircraft.
QUEST Model Kodiak 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1328; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-037-AD; Amendment 39-16880; AD 2011-25-04] – requires inspection of the torque of the inertial particle separator (IPS) bolts; correction of the torque, if necessary; replacement of the IPS bolts with new IPS bolts within a certain time; and installation of safety wire around the new IPS bolts. This AD was prompted by five instances where a loose IPS bolt was found on the right-hand side of the engine bypass door attachment.
40 Years Ago Dec. 13, 1971 – Cessna introduces pressurized versions of the Super Skymaster and the 310, designated the 340. 30 Years Ago Dec. 28, 1981 – A federal judge delays a lawsuit over midnight to 7 a.m. curfew at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., while parties attempt to work out a voluntary noise reduction program. 20 Years Ago Dec. 2, 1991 – Investor group fears product liability is obstacle to a potential General Dynamics sale of Cessna Aircraft.
Congressional auditors in Washington have dismissed a bid protest by Hawker Beechcraft, which the company filed after being ruled out of consideration for a U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft program. The Government Accountability Office decision, released Dec. 23, indicates that Hawker’s protest was based on procedural issues regarding timeliness of notifications; arguments which GAO dismissed.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PT6A-15AG, -27, -28, -34, -34AG, -34B, and -36 series turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-1298; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-39-AD; Amendment 39-16888; AD 2011-25-12] – requires the removal of certain affected part manufacturer approval (PMA) replacement Timken Alcor Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (TAATI) first stage reduction sun gears and/or the interacting planetary gear sets from the propeller reduction gearbox assembly. This AD was prompted by a failure report of a certain TAATI PMA sun gear, installed since Dec. 22, 2008.
Magellan Jets has developed a Private Jet Search app for the iPhone. The app enables customers to search for and book charter flights using the iPhone or the iPad. The app facilitates instant quoting, links to live market information and provides access to information on aircraft at airports worldwide. The Private Jet Search app also includes a GPS-based search to help find the nearest airport. Customers can view the trip leg through Google Maps.
The National Transportation Safety Board will delve into safety issues surrounding aviation event operations during a one-day hearing set for Jan. 10 in Washington. The air race and air show safety hearing will include representatives from government agencies, event trade associations, show organizers and air show participants. NTSB will discuss safety issues, regulations, protocols and practices at air shows and air races.
ECLIPSE AEROSPACE Model EA500 airplanes equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada. PW610F-A engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0199; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-005-AD; Amendment 39-16890; AD 2011-06-06 R1] – revises an existing AD that requires incorporating an operating limitation of a maximum operating altitude of 30,000 ft. into Section 2, Limitations, of the airplane flight manual (AFM). Since FAA issued that AD, P&WC has developed a design change for the combustion chamber liner assembly.
Iceland’s air traffic management provider Isavia plans to install a satellite-based surveillance network that is expected to be operational in the summer traffic season. Isavia took a major step in its ADS-B program with the award of a contract to install the necessary ground equipment. Iceland’s ADS-B program is important given the location of the country’s airspace on the busy North Atlantic routes.
DREW MCEWAN was promoted to head of global sales and business development for Piper Aircraft. In that role, he is responsible for the company’s worldwide dealer network, regional sales directors and global fleet sales. Most recently director of sales, Americas, McEwan joined Piper in 2010 to help expand the company’s dealer network in the Americas. Before that, he was a longtime sales executive with Hawker Beechcraft. He formerly was director of sales, Americas for the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer.
Correction: The pilot of a Sundance Helicopters air tour helicopter had climbed to 4,100 ft. before turning and descending in the final minute of the fatal flight. The Dec. 19 edition of BA had stated the incorrect altitude.
Because of the holiday schedule, The Weekly of Business Aviation will not publish a Jan. 2 edition. The next issue will be dated Jan. 9. Please refer to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (subscribers only) or AviationWeek.com for additional coverage. And, please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
AUBRY MAYSE was appointed director of planning and distribution for product support materials for Gulfstream Aerospace. A 23-year company veteran, Mayse is responsible for enterprise planning, distribution, asset control and warehousing for Gulfstream product support parts and inventory, encompassing more than $1.2 billion worth of parts and materials available through 16 distribution centers. He has served with Gulfstream since 1988, most recently as senior manager, planning and distribution for product support materials.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) has scheduled its regulatory affairs training course on Feb. 14-15 at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center in Fort Worth. Designed for certificated organizations and individuals, the course will be led by former career FAA managers, principal inspectors and legal counsel. The course will discuss the FAA Flight Standards organization, including the duties and authorities of the Flight Standards District Office and Certificate Management Office.
Signature Flight Support last week opened a new location at Frankfurt Main International Airport (FRA/EDDF). The new base operates out of the general aviation terminal and offers a range of flight support services. The facility is Signature’s second fixed-base operation (FBO) in Germany. Signature also has an FBO in Munich. Signature named Ykalo Goitom station manager, overseeing the new Frankfurt site. He previously was global accounts manager for Gate Group, and also has served with Acconia Ground Handling and Eritrean Airlines.
Inflight connectivity and entertainment provider Gogo, which until recently was known as Aircell, is seeking new funds through an initial public offering (IPO). Gogo has spent a lot of money to dominate the inflight connectivity sector within the U.S., particularly the commercial sector, and this has in turn has produced losses since 2006, when the company was awarded rights to offer its air-to-ground (ATG) service to commercial and business aircraft.
P. HORST BROCKMUELLER has joined Oriens Advisors as an investment and business aviation expert. Brockmueller will support clients seeking funds, looking to restructure existing businesses or needing advice on their businesses. Brockmueller has experience in startup aviation operating businesses, as well as private equity and funding companies. He will continue as chairman and managing partner of London-based private equity firm Catalyst Equity Partners.
Strom Aviation, a Dallas-based aerospace staffing firm, has launched a new unit, Strom Direct Aviation Staffing, which will focus on permanent placement in the corporate aviation and helicopter markets. The unit will handle executive search, crew and other position placements. In addition, it will offer a payroll and insurance service for crew and operations personnel. Strom Aviation provides aircraft mechanics and technical and engineering contract staffing services to the aviation and aerospace communities.
After a 14-year production run, the 250th and last Gulfstream G200 super-midsize business jet rolled out of the Gulfstream Mid-Cabin Completions Center in Dallas on Dec. 20 for customer delivery later this month.
Executive AirShare on Dec. 20 formally took delivery of the first Phenom 100 to be produced at Embraer’s new Melbourne, Fla., assembly facility. The Embraer plant rolled out the aircraft earlier this month. Based in Kansas City, Mo., Executive Airshare operates 13 Phenom 100s and five Phenom 300s in its managed and fractional aircraft ownership fleet. The fleet addition comes as the regional fractional ownership provider has grown to more than 120 shareowners in 2011, up from 95 in 2010 and 75 in 2009. The company believes the Embraer jets are helping to drive the growth.
While FAA has finished its work on Part 121 flight and duty time regulations, agency officials say they have plans but still no schedule for a similar rulemaking for Part 135. During a briefing on last week’s long-anticipated release of the Part 121 flight duty time regulations, FAA officials say they will “look to put” a Part 135 rulemaking on the regulatory agenda, and noted the original proposal had alerted the Part 135 community to “take note” of what FAA is doing with Part 121 carriers.
Garmin has released a new GTN 750 trainer app for the iPad 2. The trainer, which can be downloaded from the iTunes Store, simulates the behavior of the GTN 750 system interface, enabling pilots to learn the basic operation of the system while on the ground. “The iPad’s touchscreen interface lends itself well to realistically simulating the full GTN experience,” says Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing.
