The Westchester Aviation/Aerospace Expo drew more than 850 area high school and middle school students to the two-day event, which was intended to introduce youngsters to the variety of aviation occupations. The event, hosted by Pepsico in its hangar at New York’s Westchester County Airport Oct. 21-22, involved workshops, presentations and hands-on activities ranging from a robot face-off and wind tunnel display to flight simulator flying and a space shuttle discussion. Several aircraft, including a Cessna Skycatcher, Piper Meridian and Cirrus SR22 Turbo, were displayed.
Eurocopter has started construction of a new industrial facility in the Mexican state of Querétaro. The new plant, which is being built in Aerotech Park adjacent to Querétaro International Airport, will be dedicated to the production and assembly of helicopter and aircraft components, such as tailbooms, vertical stabilizers and doors. The facility is to begin delivering parts in late 2012. Eurocopter’s initial investment in the plant is about $100 million, and the facility is expected to employ about 180 people by 2015.
Bell Helicopter has received type certification of the Model 429 from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. “This is an important milestone as Bell Helicopter continues to grow its presence within the Asia Pacific region,” says Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter’s Commercial business. The Bell 429 — which is used in VIP, aeromedical, law enforcement, utility and oil support operations — has been certificated in more than 40 countries.
The research arm of Imperial Capital, the investment banker, is predicting that business aircraft deliveries will remain flat in 2012, compared with 2011 totals, and that a market recovery may not come before 2013. In a report published in Barron’s, the research unit also says it believes that 2011 will be down from last year’s totals. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association this week is expected to release its third-quarter shipment report for the industry.
Diamond Aircraft has received an order for a dozen DA20s from the air force of Ecuador. Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana (FAE) selected the Diamond DA20-C1 as its new primary flight training aircraft. The all-composite, two-seat, Garmin G500-equipped airplanes will be operated by FAE’s air force academy in Salinas, Ecuador. Deliveries are to start in February. The contract includes spare parts and on-site support, along with flight instructor and maintenance training.
Enstrom Helicopter Corp. has appointed Zuhai Business Aviation Center (BAC) as an Enstrom helicopter dealer in China. Based in Guandong Province, Zuhai BAC will sell, service and operate Enstrom helicopters along with operating its fixed-wing business. To inaugurate the dealership, Zuhai BAC has placed orders for a 280FX and 480B helicopter. Enstrom has had a helicopter in China for more than 15 years and already has Chinese certifications for both the 280FX and 480B.
Embraer and Boeing, along with Brazil’s Sao Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP), are conducting a study that will outline “the unique opportunities and challenges of creating a cost-effective, bio-derived, and sustainable jet-fuel production and distribution industry in Brazil.” When completed in late 2012, the report, which will include a technology and sustainability road map, will be made public.
Richmond Jet Center recently joined the Shell fixed-base operation (FBO) network. Based at Richmond International Airport in Virginia, Richmond Jet Center provides a range of FBO services, including catering and flight planning. The facility also is a Cessna service center and offers airframe, engine and propeller maintenance, avionics sales and charter. The Shell network comprises more than 400 FBOs. Eastern Aviation Fuels is the distributor of Shell-branded aviation fuels in the U.S.
King Air pilots are needed to participate in an FAA precision-approach study, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) says. The simulation study will assess the infrastructure requirements to support localizer performance with vertical guidance to a decision height of 200 ft. in approaches by Category A and B airplanes. The study is designed to lay the groundwork for increasing the number of precision approaches.
Executive Aircraft Maintenance (EAM), the authorized Twin Commander service center in Scottsdale, Ariz., has received approval from Honeywell International to overhaul TPE331 turboprop engines. The engine maker also has approved EAM to provide engine component repair services on TPE331-1 through -14 powerplants.
House and Senate lawmakers are negotiating a comprehensive funding bill that includes a measure essentially calling for the reinstatement of the Block Aircraft Registration Request program (BARR). House and Senate negotiators on Nov. 3 kicked off a conference to hash out their respective differences on a “minibus” appropriations bill that includes fiscal 2012 spending for several federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation (and the BARR measure). The conference follows Senate passage of the bill earlier last week.
RICHARD SKASICK was promoted to plant manager for Custom Aircraft Cabinets (CAC). Skasick, who joined CAC in 1997, has served as assistant plant manager since 2006. In that role, he was responsible for floor production and quality control.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating last week’s accident involving a Gulfstream G150 (N480JJ) owned by NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports. The twinjet ran off the end of a runway after experiencing braking issues upon landing at Key West International Airport (KEYW) in Key West, Fla. on Monday, Oct. 31.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 407 and 427 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1035; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-038-AD; Amendment 39-16817; AD 2011-15-51] – Inspect certain hydraulic servo actuators to determine whether the shaft turns independently of the nut or the clevis assembly. If the shaft turns independently, replace the servo with an airworthy servo.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1139; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-021-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the aileron control cables in the left and right wings for proper installation, per the instructions of Daher-Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-191-27 (dated April 2011). If any discrepancies were found, operators would need to properly reinstall the cables in accordance with the approved design configuration.
GRAHAM EVITT was appointed Rolls-Royce M250 regional sales manager at H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul unit. Evitt will oversee sales of engine, accessory and component repair and overhaul services for Rolls-Royce M250 engines operating in Europe. He joined H+S Aviation in 1990 as a technician on the M250 engine and most recently was a commercial engineer for the engine.
Bell Helicopter recently delivered three Bell 412s to Heliservicio Campeche for use in the company’s oil and gas support operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Heliservicio operates a fleet that includes 22 Bell 412s. “The Bell 412 is the workhorse in our fleet and meets the demands of our oil and gas operations with excellent dependability,” says Alfredo Miguel Bejos, CEO of Heliservicio Campeche.
GINA KVITKOVICH was named director of publications and media for Helicopter Association International. Kvitkovich has 25 years of experience working with publications and media. She held positions with firms that worked with government clients, including FAA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense. She most recently was director of communications for GAMA International, an association for managers in the insurance industry.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has accepted – over the objections of European members – the tenets of the Delhi Declaration opposing the inclusion of international aviation in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) of the European Union (EU). The declaration says the inclusion of international aviation “violates the cardinal principle of state sovereignty laid down in Article 1 of the Chicago Convention.” This provision recognizes that each country has “complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.”
Universal Avionics has helped upgrade a low-time private DC-9 to make the VIP airliner’s cockpit NextGen-compliant. The flight deck package includes four EFI-890R flat-panel integrated, high-definition flight displays; two UNS-1Fw flight management systems with 5-in. flat-panel control display units; two radio control units and two application server units. Universal Avionics officials say the supplemental type certificated upgrade gives DC-9 operators “a new option for advanced flight deck upgrades for the aircraft.”
Flexjet has submitted a letter of intent to FAA for approval to use the iPad 2 as an electronic flight bag (EFB). Full approval, expected by mid-2012, would cover iPad 2 use for viewing navigational charts, aircraft publications and other flight documents. Flexjet is hoping to obtain interim authorization early next year. “While the interest in electronic flight bags has been under constant evaluation for several years, technology and industry support has finally made the transition from paper cost-effective,” says David Gross, Flexjet vice president of operations.
BOMBARDIER CL-215, CL-215T and CL-415 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1096; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-185-AD; Amendment 39-16848; AD 2011-22-06] – Perform repetitive eddy current inspections for cracks on the forward lug of the main landing gear (MLG) upper member. If any cracks are found, replace the forward lug of the MLG upper member with a new forward lug. Also before further flight perform a one-time fluorescent-penetrant inspection for cracks on the forward lug of the MLG upper member.
TIM REESNES was promoted to vice president of production for Custom Aircraft Cabinets (CAC). Reesnes joined CAC in 1997 and has served as plant manager, where he oversaw a facility that has grown from less than 2,000 sq. ft. to more than 46,000 sq. ft.
FAA last week directed operators of the Cessna CJ4 aircraft to replace certain lithium-ion batteries installed as the main aircraft battery within the next 10 hr. (time in service) or seven days. The AD, released as an emergency AD and effective Nov. 1, stemmed from a reported battery fire that broke out after an energized ground power unit was connected to a CJ4. The directive calls for replacement with either a Ni-Cad or lead-acid battery. FAA estimates the AD affects 43 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of nearly $195,000.
House General Aviation Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is appealing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold off on any approval of LightSquared’s proposed ground-based broadband network until testing demonstrates that the network will not interfere with any type of GPS device. Graves, chairman of the Small Business Committee, authored a letter signed by eight other committee members expressing fear that LightSquared’s plan to utilize frequency bands close to the GPS band could have a significant impact on general aviation.
