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.
Embraer recently hosted its first conference for Asian-based Phenom operators. The event, which took place Nov. 3 in Mumbai, India, was part of the Brazilian manufacturer’s Embraer Executive Operators Conference series for customers, operators and service centers. The fourth edition of the Legacy 600 and Legacy 650 conference took place just a few days earlier, on Oct. 31, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Both meetings provided operators with the latest technical, maintenance and flight operation updates.
MIKE GUILLEMOT has joined Sojourn Aviation as a partner. He will be responsible for expanding Sojourn’s operations, with the initial focus on the Chicago region. He most recently was Hawker regional sales manager for Hawker Beechcraft Corp., based in the Chicago area for 16 years.
JOE VOLKER has joined Flightline Technical Services as an aviation technician. Volker has 11 years of experience repairing, installing, testing and inspecting avionics on general aviation aircraft. He also served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an electronics technician.
James R. Greenwood, 91, a public relations executive in the business aviation industry for decades, died Nov. 4 in Green Valley, Ariz. Greenwood, a U.S. Navy veteran and pilot, began his public relations career in the late 1940s doing promotional work for Miami All-American Air Maneuvers. He later joined aviation legend Bevo Howard, operator of a flight training academy in Moutrie, Ga.
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation has elected Robert Stangarone and Katie Pribyl to its board of directors. Stangarone is vice president of corporate communications for Embraer, and Katie Pribyl is director of communications for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). “Their experience as both gifted communicators and respected members of the aviation community will be welcomed in our mission to better the environment through the innovative use of science and technology,” says Larry Williams, chairman of the foundation.
TAY TIANG GUAN has joined the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors. The appointment covers a three-year term. Tay is deputy director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), where he is responsible for the safety regulation of the aviation industry in that country, as well as the Singapore Aviation Academy, which is the training arm of CAAS. He has more than 23 years of civil aviation experience.
General aviation manufacturers are on pace for near double-digit declines this year, based on the statistics through the first nine months. And, over the past three years, the numbers show the dramatic toll the economy has taken on the industry, with deliveries down by half (see chart on Pages 5-6). But the third-quarter unit shipment report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), which was released last week, shows a slight upturn in shipments of turbine aircraft over the past three months.
Blackhawk, the Texas-based provider of turboprop engine upgrades, has received a Brazilian supplemental type certificate for its Cessna 208B Caravan XP42A performance package. Company officials say Brazil has one of the largest fleets of Caravans flying in commercial, civil, military and law enforcement roles. The Brazilian approval follows certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in September and approval from the FAA in June.
