A Citation Mustang named the American Patriot has flown the first mission in support of a Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) program to provide free transportation for injured veterans. The flight, which was conducted on Nov. 10, involved carrying two veterans from San Antonio to VAC’s annual fundraiser in Pinehurst, N.C., where they were honored on Veterans’ Day. VAC is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping veterans of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) through a national network of aircraft owners and pilots.
President Obama signed into law on Friday a measure designed to restore the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program – at least through fiscal 2012.
Bristow Group has signed a contract for six AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters, plus options for additional units of the new 16-passenger rotorcraft. Bristow, the first large fleet operator to order the AW189, will fly offshore energ-support missions with these new helicopters. Mark Duncan, Bristow’s senior vice president – commercial, says, the AW189 will fill a key position within the company’s fleet, “particularly given the planned retirement of the AS332 Super Puma over the next few years and the continuing growth of deepwater developments in our key future markets.”
A Piaggio P.180 Avanti II, N168SL, operated by fractional ownership provider Avantair, was destroyed after it skidded off the runway during an emergency landing and flipped over on Nov. 16. The aircraft was on a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Wisconsin’s West Bend Municipal Airport when the crew reported engine problems and diverted to Flint-Bishop International Airport in Michigan. The aircraft landed on Runway 18/36, but went off the runway and came to rest upside down.
A new FBO in Riyadh will be operated by ExecuJet and NasJet, the private aviation arm of Saudi Arabia’s National Air Services (NAS) Holding. The 1,500-sq.-meter (16,146 sq. ft.) facility at King Khalid International Airport will be located within the airport’s new private aviation terminal. Maintenance line service on most aircraft types and models will be available through a partnership with Lufthansa Technik. FBO clients also will have access to aircraft management services upon request. NasJet has a fleet of 18 aircraft and 60 more under management.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0868; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-027-AD; Amendment 39-16854; AD 2011-23-03] – Install a protection fuse on the wire at the standby compass connector, per the instructions of Daher-Socata TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-192-34 (dated April 2011). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to increase the electrical protection of some airplanes to allow inflight handling of the standby compass lighting cover when energized.
The city of Mesquite, Nev., has asked FAA to suspend work on an environmental impact statement for a proposed replacement general aviation airport in Clark County, Nev. The city asked for the suspension because of economic conditions in Mesquite and other local fiscal and budgetary constraints. The replacement airport, which would have featured a 7,500-ft. runway, was to be located south of Interstate Highway 15 between Exit 108 and 109 on the Mormon Mesa, about 15 mi. west of the existing Mesquite Municipal Airport.
DAVID UFEN has joined J.A. Air Center as director of avionics. Ufen will manage avionics sales, installation and program development. He has 13 years of aviation experience, beginning as a line crew technician at Indianapolis Aviation in 1993. He also has served with Bloomington Avionics and Elliott Aviation.
Nov. 28-30—Airports Council International Europe/Asia’s 2011 Airport Exchange, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, United Arab Emirates, www.airport-exchange.com Dec. 1-2—Airports Council International-NA International Aviation Issues Seminar, Washington, D.C., www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Dec. 5-7—University of Westminster Air Transport Short Courses: Introduction to Air Transport Business & Management, London, +44 (207) 911-5000 ext. 3220, www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/architecture/transport/Aviation-Short-Cou…
The National Transportation Safety Board is assisting in the investigation of the Nov. 11 crash of a Eurocopter AS 332L Super Puma, XC-UHM, operated by Fuerza Aerea Mexicana for presidential use, that killed eight passengers and crewmembers, including Francisco Blake Mora, Mexico’s second highest ranking government official. The helicopter crashed in a rural area south of Mexico City on a flight that was en route from Camp Marte, Mexico to Cuernavaca, Mexico. Initial reports were that the helicopter crashed into the side of a hill, Cerro Ayaqueme, at a height of 8,500 ft.
Robinson Helicopter has delivered the 10,000th helicopter to come off its production line - R44 S/N 13217. Company employees, along with representatives from the city of Torrance, Calif. (where the company is headquartered), the FAA and many of Robinson’s vendors celebrated at the factory.
EADS CASA CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1091; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-037-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to repetitively inspect engine-condition control cables for excessive wear and replace any worn cables with an improved cable. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent failure of the engine-condition control cable and consequent runway excursion or reduced control of the airplane in flight.
PATS Aircraft Systems recently completed a major interior overhaul of a Bombardier Challenger SE (CL850) aircraft for a customer based in the Asia Pacific region. The work, completed at the company’s Georgetown, Del., facility, involved an update of nearly all existing interior design elements including veneer refinishing, carpet and upholstery. In addition, the facility upgraded the auxiliary fuel system, completed necessary maintenance and repainted the exterior.
Gulfstream Aerospace has secured provisional type certification (PTC) for its much-ballyhooed G650 – the largest, fastest and most expensive Gulfstream to date – clearing the way for the company to begin delivery of “green” aircraft. PTC enables the company to begin interior completions on the aircraft, with the first G650s expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2012. “We are pursuing a two-step certification approach to keep us on track for our planned deliveries in the second quarter of 2012,” says Gulfstream President Larry Flynn.
Cutter Aviation plans to deliver its first Quest Kodiak in December. Phoenix-based Cutter Aviation Sales was designated by Quest this past August as the Southwestern U.S. authorized new aircraft dealer for the single-turbine aircraft. The airplane being delivered next month will feature options such as the larger 29-in. tire upgrade package, four additional Timberline passenger seats, air conditioning and a Garmin GDL 69A-XM datalink with an audio infotainment package.
DUBAI, UAE – The small impact of global economic turmoil and regional political unrest on business jet sales in the Middle East demonstrates just how insulated buyers in this region are from the rest of the world. But this is not to say that the upheaval of recent months has passed the corporate and private jet sector by. Europe’s economic troubles and the overall slow recovery globally are leading Embraer to give more credence to its “downturn” market forecast for business aviation rather than a rosier projection.
Massachusetts and Texas have both declared November as “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick issued his state’s proclamation during an event held at New Bedford Regional Airport, becoming the 34th state to make such a proclamation. Massachusetts’ 39 airports generate $3.8 billion annually in economic activity and support roughly 28,000 jobs, the state says. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican presidential candidate, issued a similar proclamation.
Bombardier continues to expand its global reach with a memorandum of understanding with the government of Morocco to build manufacturing facilities there. The exact location and manufacturing capabilities are to be announced later, but Bombardier expects to invest $200 million in equipment, buildings and startup costs over the next eight years, the company says.
Benet Wilson, formerly Aviation Week’s online managing editor for business aviation, has taken the role of director of media relations for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). She succeeds Chris Dancy, who moved into a similar position at Helicopter Association International.
Action Aviation has become the exclusive sales agent for the Nextant 400XT in Europe, the Middle East and India. Jay Heublein, Nextant Aerospace’s vice president of sales and marketing, says, “Action Aviation has a proven track record of bringing the most innovative, high-performance business jets and helicopters to the marketplace.
Sierra Industries has re-engined nearly 60 legacy Cessna Citations with Williams International FJ44 powerplants. The firm’s 58th conversion, a Citation S550, is slated to become the 12th aircraft fitted with 2,820-lbst FJ44-3A engines. The 59th aircraft modified by Sierra Industries is a Citation I that is being upgraded to the Sierra Stallion FJ44-2A standard. Both aircraft are to be completed before year’s end.
NetJets is suing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over nearly $643 million in past taxes that the fractional ownership provider says were illegally assessed. In a complaint filed Nov. 14 before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, NetJets complains the IRS assessed the commercial ticket tax on noncommercial NetJets and Executive Jet Management (EJM) flights, as well as on associated fractional ownership and management fees.
Flexjet has teamed with Abercrombie & Kent to develop a special-edition Flexjet 25 Jet Card for travel operated by Flexjet partner Jet Solutions. The Flexjet 25 Jet Card – Baja Adventure edition, which is available through Jan. 31, includes a four-day and three-night stay at the Las Ventanas resort, situated where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean at the edge of the Baja peninsula. The package includes private butler service, and guests will be able to golf on the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol with PGA Tour Champion Mark Calcavecchia.
ExecuJet Europe and Shell Aviation plan to officially open a new fixed-base operation (FBO) in Frankfurt on Dec. 1. The Frankfurt FBO will feature a centrally located customer lounge adjacent to the entrance to the airport’s general aviation terminal. The facility also will have a separate crew area with a computer, printer and free Internet access. The Frankfurt location increases the number of ExecuJet FBOs in Europe to 10 and is the second such collaboration in Germany between ExecuJet and Shell.
AgustaWestland has delivered the first of two AW139 medium twin helicopters to the Province of Trento in Italy. The aircraft will be flown by the aviation unit of the province’s firefighting department, performing emergency medical service, search and rescue and disaster relief missions. The second AW139 is to be delivered by year’s end.
