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.
Business jet demand is weakening as the global economy continues to falter, says J.P. Morgan in its December Business Jet Monthly report. The analyst sees little sign of improvement, citing recent increases in used aircraft inventory and a second consecutive monthly decline in flight operations. Also, the analyst notes Hawker’s slowing of the Hawker 200 and Bombardier’s falling book-to-bill ratio in the most recent quarter as signs of a stalling market.
GINO JOOYAN was named southwest coast fractional sales director for Flexjet. Jooyan will work with fractional jet ownership customers in the Southern California, Arizona and Nevada region. He has nearly a decade of aviation sales experience, most recently as vice president of business development for Flexjet. He also has held a sales position with the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program.
Cambridge Aero Club will begin handling most light general aviation and helicopter activity at Cambridge Airport in the U.K. on Jan. 2. The change comes as ExecuJet Europe takes over the Marshall Business Aviation fixed-base operation and will handle business jet arrivals and departures starting Jan. 1.
PAUL FLORECK was named senior vice president, U.S. and Canadian sales for Dassault Falcon. He succeeds Jeff Habib, who is leaving to become a partner in a new New York City- based investment firm focused on aviation. Floreck joined Dassault Falcon in 1996 as a sales engineer and later was promoted to inside sales manager, Western U.S. and regional sales manager in New York. Most recently he was vice president of sales for the Eastern U.S. and Canada.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1227; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-100-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise their maintenance programs to incorporate a task involving discard of the outboard wing aileron pulleys. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to eliminate aileron control stiffness, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 398 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
Garmin’s GTN touchscreen avionics have received European Aviation Safety Agency validation, clearing the way for installation of the GTN 650 and GTN 750 series on European-registered general aviation aircraft. The GTN 650 and GTN 750 are the successors to Garmin’s GNS 430W and 530W series GPS/NAV/COM avionics. They combine multifunction display (MFD) features with touchscreen data entry and integrated radio tuning, as well as optional remote transponder control. The GTN 750 series has the option of supporting remote audio processor control.
FAA has set new requirements for the evaluation of composite rotorcraft structures for fatigue or damage tolerance. The final rule, released this month, is designed to update the regulations to the latest advances in materials, along with harmonizing rules with the agency’s counterparts in Europe.
Sierra Industries delivered its 59th re-engined FJ44 Citation business jet, a project that the company completed in its fastest time yet. The engine modification, which replaces original Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15-D engines, took a little more than six weeks, a two week improvement from the previous fastest turnaround time, the company notes. The latest Sierra J44-2A Stallion aircraft (Citation 500/501 series) was handed over to Florida automobile dealer Larry Phillips. Sierra has re-engined Citation series aircraft for more than two decades.
