Eurocopter has sold 25 EC145 T2s to air rescue operator DRF Luftrettung, making the German company Europe’s largest customer for this type of helicopter. DRF Luftrettung will be using the new helicopters to replace its BK 117s. The company plans to put the first five aircraft into service between December 2013 and the end of 2015. The remaining 20 rotorcraft are to be delivered in phases through 2022. DRF Luftrettung, which is based in Filderstadt, operates a total of 31 helicopter stations in Germany, Austria and Denmark, eight of which offer 24-hr. service.
Twenty-two aviation companies and associations are urging Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to release the final repair station security rule, which has been in the works for seven years, by the end of 2011. “The extensive delay in promulgation of a final rule regarding repair station security has a negative impact on … the U.S. industry,” they say in a Nov. 22 letter to Napolitano. “American companies seeking to expand their markets overseas are hindered relative to foreign competitors due to their inability to get new repair stations certified.”
Volvo plans to sell its aerospace division, Volvo Aero, as a step to “further streamline the group” toward commercial vehicles. “One of the prerequisites for a transaction being implemented is that a divestment could enable Volvo Aero to enter into a structure that would enhance the company’s opportunities for further development in its sector,” Volvo CEO Olof Persson says. “Another requirement is, of course, that we are paid a reasonable price.
DASSAULT Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1166; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-169-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise their maintenance programs to include a new procedure for nondestructive checks of flap tracks 2 and 5, as found in the Falcon 50/50EX Maintenance Manual, Rev. 21 (dated June 2011). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent cracking of the flap tracks, which could lead to flap asymmetry and loss of control of the airplane.
JOLANE CRAWFORD has rejoined Schubach Aviation as business development manager. Crawford, who has 19 years of aviation industry experience, will be responsible for community outreach and business development efforts, including sponsorship and philanthropic activities, cross-promotion partnerships and charter customer outreach. She most recently had served as business development and charter sales director for another San Diego-area charter company. She also previously had spent six and one-half years with Schubach in charter sales and client services.
Raisbeck Engineering added Deer Horn Aviation of Midland, Texas, to its dealer network. Deer Horn maintains more than 30 Beechcraft King Airs and operates two Dassault Falcon 2000s, three Cessna Citation CJs and five King Airs. The company has been authorized to perform services on certain Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna and Cirrus aircraft.
CHRIS MURVINE was named lead inspector and director of training for Phoenix Heliparts. He will coordinate and oversee all inspection functions. Murvine most recently spent 15 years as field service engineer and senior maintenance instructor with MD Helicopters.
Nov. 28-30—Airports Council International Europe/Asia’s 2011 Airport Exchange, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, United Arab Emirates, www.airport-exchange.com Nov. 28-30—Power of India: New Horizons for Airport Commercial Revenues, Novotel, Hyderabad, www.aci.aero Dec. 1-2—Airports Council International-NA International Aviation Issues Seminar, Washington, D.C., www.aci-na.org/conferences/
Quest Helicopters has launched a new family of turbine helicopters that are to be built in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The new, privately owned aerospace company, which is headquartered in Dubai, plans to develop a family of new light twin-engine and twin-rotor helicopters designed by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Udovenko.
T.J. JAEGER was promoted to Gulfstream/Learjet program manager for West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colo. Jaeger will supervise all Gulfstream and Learjet maintenance projects at the Grand Junction facility.
GULFSTREAM G150 and G200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0716; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-013-AD; Amendment 39-16858; AD 2011-23-07] – Perform a one-time detailed inspection of the aileron control servo actuators to detect fractured or broken centering spring rods, per the instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 150-27-123, Rev. 1, or 200-27-374, Rev. 1 (both dated Jan. 27, 2011). If any centering spring rod is fractured or broken, replace the rod before further flight.
Pilatus has released a PC-12 app for the iPad and iPhone. The digital, interactive aircraft flight manual for the Apple iOS operating system is available free of charge at the Apple App Store. Pilatus pilots can use the app to calculate weight and balance, crosswind numbers, takeoff and climb, as well as cruise, descent and landing performance for all PC-12 models. Performance and weight-and-balance calculations can be emailed to a dispatch center. Many of the app’s controls feature “switchology,” which mimics controls in the actual aircraft.
Constant Aviation Birmingham has become an Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 authorized service center. Officials at the maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Alabama’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport say they will provide complete maintenance and avionics services, as well as modifications, composite repairs and compliance with airworthiness directives and service bulletins. Constant Aviation, which has had a relationship with Embraer since 1996, has relocated technicians from its Cleveland base to Birmingham to support Embraer aircraft.
General Electric’s long-term plan to develop the H80 turboprop into a challenger to the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 has taken another step forward with the first flight of an H80-powered L410 commuter aircraft.
DASSAULT Falcon 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1164; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-084-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain fuel-quantity sensors with an improved fuel-quantity sensor, per the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F900-410 (dated Dec. 20, 2010). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by several incidents in which fuel leaked from defective fuel sensors located in the wing front spar.
Theodore (Teddy) J. Forstmann, the senior founding partner of Forstmann Little & Co. and former owner of Gulfstream Aerospace, died Nov. 20 after a battle with brain cancer. He was 71. Forstmann was a longtime investor and philanthropist, and his firm made 31 major investments, including General Instrument, Dr Pepper, Topps and the sports business firm IMG, where he was chairman and CEO at the time of his death.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller will be the featured speaker at the next meeting of the Atlanta Aero Club, scheduled for Dec. 8 at the Capital City Club in downtown Atlanta. Fuller became the fourth person to hold the position of president of AOPA in 2009 after holding senior public affairs and executive positions in business, association and government, including eight years of White House service. The luncheon costs $40 for club members and $45 for nonmembers.
Piaggio Aero Industries recently celebrated the delivery of its 100th Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti aircraft in the U.S. The aircraft, an Avanti II, Serial Number 1216, was delivered to the Avanti’s biggest customer—fractional ownership provider Avantair, which has a fleet of more than 55 of the twin pusher-props.
FAA should refrain from creating any equipage mandates for cockpit systems that rely on data feeds from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), an industry advisory panel recommends. The ADS-B Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) says it supports the use of ADS-B “Out,” but it believes it is far too early to consider requiring ADS-B “In.” ADS-B Out provides surveillance data for ground-based controllers, while ADS-B In provides information for use in cockpit systems.
JASON BLUST was named Learjet team leader at West Star Aviation’s Grand Junction facility in Colorado. Blust will lead maintenance projects on all Learjet aircraft.
BOMBARDIER Challenger 601-3A, 601-3R and 604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1223; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-173-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the air-driven generator (ADG) generator control unit (GCU), per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 605-24-003 and 604-24-023 (both dated April 25, 2011).
Gulfstream’s service center in Appleton, Wis., recently earned an approved maintenance organization designation from Saudi Arabia. With this approval, Saudi-registered aircraft can undergo maintenance, repairs, alterations and inspections at the 275,000-sq.-ft. Part 145 repair station. Gulfstream’s Savannah Service Center in Georgia and Luton Service Center in England are also Saudi-authorized maintenance facilities.
KEN RICE was promoted to director of maintenance for West Star Aviation. Rice previously was Gulfstream/Learjet program manager for West Star. In his new role, he will oversee all maintenance functions at the Grand Junction, Colo., facility.
FAA has issued additional special conditions for the hydrophobic windshield coating that is used on Gulfstream’s new G650 aircraft in place of windshield wipers. The coating is designed to keep the windshield clear during precipitation. “Sole reliance on such a coating, without windshield wipers or a windshield blower, constitutes a novel or unusual design feature for which the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards,” FAA says.
Piaggio Aero has delivered the first P.180 Avanti II aircraft to JSC FIS, the Russian company that provides flight inspection and calibration services in the Russian Federation. JSC FIS and Piaggio Aero also jointly announced a new contract for five more P.180 Avanti II flight Inspection aircraft with deliveries beginning in 2012. JSC Flight Inspections and Systems is an officially authorized representative of the State Corporation for an AIR traffic management organization and performs flight inspections of ground systems and navigation aids.
