TORBJORN (TOBY) KARLSSON was appointed vice president, sales, Asia Pacific for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Karlsson has more than 25 years of aviation experience and has been based in the Asia-Pacific region for the majority of the time. He formerly was regional managing partner with Heidrick & Struggles Industrial Practice, where he worked closely with airlines and aviation suppliers in the Asia-Pacific region. He also has served with Honeywell Aerospace as vice president, commercial aerospace.
Hawker Beechcraft’s facility in Chester, U.K., recently secured European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for Beechcraft Premier series maintenance and other services. The approval follows similar ratings for the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft. The ratings for the Premier I/IA aircraft clears the way for the facility to offer inspections, maintenance modifications, aircraft-on-ground support and upgrades on European-registered aircraft. The facility expects to receive FAA approval in January.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is putting off release of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) long-awaited and congressionally mandated repair station security rules by another year, frustrated aviation groups say. The agency notified the groups this week that the rule likely would not be out until the fourth quarter of 2012, dashing hopes of industry advocates that it could come by the end of this year.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is pushing for the elimination of funding for contract control towers serving general aviation airports in the fiscal 2013 budget request, association officials say.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is advising operators traveling to Europe to continue to cooperate with flight monitoring requirements in light of last week’s European court ruling upholding the application of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) to international operations. But the battle over the emissions tax policy is expected to continue as the scheme takes effect Jan. 1.
Phoenix-based Cutter Aviation last week was awarded a supplemental type certificate for installation of the Aircell Gogo Biz inflight broadband connectivity aboard Beechjet 400A and Hawker 400XP aircraft. The STC, developed in partnership with Aircell, uses the Aircell ATG 4000 and ATG 5000 systems for the installations.
Jan. 10—SM4 Advanced Forum in Emergency Response Planning Featuring Don Chupp, President-Fireside Partners and Sponsored by Global and the NorCal Business Aviation Association, Red Lion Inn, Oakland, Calif., (510) 635-5300 Jan. 11-13, 2012—Airports Council International-NA Insurance & Risk Management Conference, New Orleans, www.aci-na.org/conferences/
Honda Aircraft added another FAA design-conforming HondaJet (F2) to the year-old certification flight-test program. Two additional flight-test aircraft are to join the test series in 2012. The first test aircraft (F1) has achieved a maximum speed of 425 KTAS at 30,000 ft., achieved a climb rate of 4,000 ft. per minute and a maximum operating altitude of 43,000 ft. Delayed twice, certification is now expected in mid-2013.
India appointed Ajit Singh its new civil aviation minister as the country’s troubled aviation sector prepares to enter 2012 under the weight of mounting debt and losses. The 72-year-old from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh will be the third person to hold the portfolio in less than a year. He succeeds Vayalar Ravi, who had taken over the Civil Aviation Ministry from Praful Patel, who had held the post for six years.
The Aerospace Industries Association Board of Governors has elected Pratt & Whitney President David Hess as chairman for 2012. Hess will succeed Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Wes Bush, chairman, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation, was elected vice chairman for AIA.
London Oxford Airport became the fifth busiest airport in the U.K. this year for business aviation activity as traffic grew 12.2% this year. The airport supports about 6,000 business aircraft movements a year, representing about 15% of Oxford’s overall aviation activity. Along with growth in traffic, the airport installed a Thales primary and secondary surveillance radar system (Mode S and MSSR), which is currently undergoing testing and will be operational in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1040; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-029-AD; Amendment 39-16889; AD 2011-26-01] – requires an inspection of the locking mechanism of the baggage door and adjustment, if necessary. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Agency. The MCAI cites an issue with the baggage door lockpins not engaging properly and the baggage door open light illuminating when the baggage door is not open, which could lead to the pilot disregarding a valid warning.
Bell Helicopter recently handed over the first Bell 429 with a multi-mission configuration to Fairfax County in Virginia. The helicopter, the first of two on order with the county, was configured to handle airborne law enforcement, emergency medical services and search and rescue. Paradigm Aerospace Corp., a Bell customer service facility in Mount Pleasant, Pa., completed the configuration. The second Bell 429 is expected to be delivered by mid-2012.
A multi-agency spending bill passed this month by the U.S. Congress includes provisions that would reform the process of obtaining a U.S. visa, changes the U.S. travel industry long has pursued. The spending bill calls for more consular officers to speed visa processing at consulates, particularly in China, Brazil and India.
The pilot of a Socata TBM-700 aircraft had indicated that the single turboprop was picking up icing before it crashed around 10 a.m. Dec. 20 on Interstate I-287 near Morristown, N.J., safety investigators confirm. All five people aboard the aircraft—two adult males, one female and two children, (and a dog)—were killed in the crash.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1226; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-006-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify the crossfeed valve control and power supply, the crossfeed indication logic and power supply, and the fuel-fire shutoff valve indication logic. Also, operators would need to modify the overhead panel to introduce provisions for a modified crossfeed indication. In addition, they would need to modify the transfer logic of the center wing fuel tank on certain airplanes.
ANDREW LADOUCEUR was promoted to vice president of charter sales and client services for Meridian Air Charter. Ladouceur, who has more than 20 years of corporate aviation experience, joined Meridian in 2003 as director of charter sales. In his new role, he will continue to manage the domestic air charter business, as well as expand internationally.
SIKORSKY S-76A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0517; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-73-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify the electric rotor brake (ERB) and insert changes to the “Normal Procedures” and “Emergency Procedures” sections of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual regarding the ERB. This proposal is intended to prevent overheating of the ERB assembly, ignition of the ERB hydraulic fluid, a fire in the main gearbox area and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 180 helicopters on the U.S.
RAPHAEL HADDAD was promoted to vice president, sales, Middle East and Africa, for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Haddad has spent more than 15 years with Bombardier, most recently as senior director, sales, Middle East and North Africa.
FAA is reinstituting a scaled-down holiday air traffic management program at airports in the Rocky Mountains, requiring nonscheduled IFR operators to request arrival slots. The program has been narrowed from the typical two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s to only those days immediately around Christmas Day (Dec. 24-27) and New Year’s Day (Dec. 31-Jan. 3), the National Business Aviation Association says. Under the program, nonscheduled flights will be required to seek slots no more than 72 hr.
Despite lawmakers’ efforts to pass an FAA reauthorization bill by the end of this month, leadership talks that would have resolved the final issues have ground to a halt. Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) says he presented a plan to congressional leadership that would wrap up work on the bill before the FAA’s operating authority expires on Jan. 31. However, with only a handful of workdays in January, the bill could be in line for its 23rd extension.
General Electric’s H80 turboprop last week received European Aviation Safety Agency clearance, bringing the engine—a challenger to the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6—closer to entry into service. Certification follows just a month after the engine flew for the first time on the L410 commuter aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security on the analysis of its revised Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposed rulemaking, says Doug Hofsass, TSA’s deputy assistant administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management. But the new proposal has yet to make its way to the Office of Management and Budget, pushing its release well into 2012.
Comlux Aviation Services of Indianapolis is now a fully authorized service facility for the Bombardier Global aircraft family. The center has been a designated service facility for Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Challenger 300 and Challenger 850 aircraft since May 2009.
