Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has acquired a new RedBird SD flight-training device to prepare its pilots to operate in challenging conditions in remote parts of the world. The FAA-approved trainer uses wrap-around visuals, along with realistic flight controls. “This new RedBird enables us to do a lot of training that we couldn’t do before,” says Paul Bergen, MAF’s aviation training manager.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is moving ahead with its assessments of foreign airports’ security capabilities, but shortages of staff and funding pose limits to its operations, and the agency could do a better job analyzing its amassed information, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports.
CHRIS DANCY has joined Helicopter Association International as director of communications and public relations. Dancy previously spent nearly 10 years as the media relations director for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, where he responded to events such as the Cory Lidle accident and the midair collision over the Hudson River. He also coordinated AOPA’s external communications on issues such as the Transportation Security Administration’s Large Aircraft Security Program. Before that, he spent more than 20 years in local and network television news.
Jeppesen received an FAA Type 1 Letter of Acceptance endorsement for its processing of navigation obstacle data. The endorsement letter, the first for navigational obstacle data processing, notes that Jeppesen complies with FAA Advisory Circular 20-153A Acceptance of Aeronautical Data Processes and Associated Databases, as well as RTCA/DO-200A Standards for Processing Aeronautical Data. The Jeppesen obstacle database contains about 750,000 obstacle data points worldwide.
Former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey has been selected to receive the Aero Club of Washington’s Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for aviation excellence. The trophy will be presented Nov. 14 during the Aero Club’s luncheon at the Capital Hilton. Garvey led FAA from 1997-2000, guiding the agency through the Year-2000 (Y2K) transition and upgrade, as well as during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Before becoming FAA administrator, Garvey was director of Boston’s Logan International Airport and acting administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Congressional opposition to the White House’s $100 per flight air traffic control user fee proposal continues to grow as nearly one-quarter of the Senate signed a letter to President Obama against the proposal. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who is a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, and 22 fellow senators sent a letter Nov. 2 saying, “Increasing taxes on corporate jets and other general aviation aircraft will only further stifle economic recovery.”
Dassault Falcon has launched Falcon Dispatch Plus, a new package of service bulletins and applicable new parts for all models of the Falcon 900 and 2000. The program, developed in partnership with Dassault Falcon authorized service centers, is based on a thorough fleet analysis of more than 900 Falcon jets. As a result of that study, Dassault determined which modifications and improvements were most effective in reducing costs and downtime.
Lower-than-expected deliveries of executive aircraft are forcing Embraer to moderate its earnings guidance, although the situation is cushioned by strong regional jet and defense activities.
Embraer has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of an investigation into possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but company executives last week were confident the aircraft maker would be exonerated.
The average prices of used business aircraft are still dropping, and average time for sale continues to lengthen, market research firm Jetnet reports. However, the used market is still better compared with the past couple of years. The used market is considered a key indicator of the general health of business aviation industry overall.
Supply issues hampered Hawker Beechcraft’s production of its Hawker 4000, King Air and piston lines, contributing to a nearly 23% drop in third-quarter deliveries, the company reports. Deliveries fell from 49 in the third quarter of 2010 to 38 in the most recent quarter. As a result, revenues for the company’s Business and General Aviation segment dropped 15.9% for the quarter, but operating losses improved 39.4%, the company says.
Elite Aviation has entered a partnership with Piaggio Aero to expand aircraft sales in North America. Elite Aviation will be the West Coast sales center for Piaggio, covering California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada, and spearheading sales of Piaggio Aero’s P180 turboprop aircraft out of the company’s office in Van Nuys, Calif.
AGUSTA AB139 and AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1034; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-014-AD; Amendment 39-16816; AD 2011-20-06] – Conduct a daily check of the tailboom panels to detect bulging or deformation of the outer skin. If any bulging or deformation are found, perform a tap inspection for debonding. If a debonded area exceeds a certain limit, modify the tailboom. If a debonded area does not exceed the limit, repair the debonded area or replace the tailboom.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412CF and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1041; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-109-AD; Amendment 39-16821; AD 2010-26-52] – Before further flight, unless accomplished previously, replace certain tail-rotor blades with airworthy blades. This AD supersedes an existing emergency directive (AD 2010-26-52), retaining its requirements, but adding new blade part numbers and serial numbers to the applicability.
The Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) has started its first helicopter ab initio technician training class at its campus in Guanghan, Sichuan Province. This is the first step in a long-term plan devised by Eurocopter and CAFUC to develop a pool of qualified helicopter technicians to meet China’s future needs. The goal is to train 120 helicopter technicians annually by 2015. Using a “train the trainer” approach, Eurocopter provides training to CAFUC instructors in China for one month and at its training academy in Germany for three months.
BOMBARDIER Challenger CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1095; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-241-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace or relocate certain bus bars and inspect (and rework, if necessary) any loose or improperly crimped lugs in affected circuit breaker panels and junction boxes. Also, operators would need to ensure there is no foreign object damage in the affected areas. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is intended to prevent short circuits from occurring.
BRUCE COUSINS was appointed CEO of lighting specialist Carmanah Technologies Corporation. Cousins succeeds Ted Lattimore, who has served as CEO since 2007. Cousins formerly spent 13 years with Johnson & Johnson in finance and operations and in 2004 helped start up Aspreva Pharmaceuticals. Most recently he has been involved in the renewable energy industry, including tenures with Xantrex and Ballad Power.
Aviation industry groups are keeping up the pressure on Capitol Hill to stay away from user fees. The Air Transport Association last week released a “unified message to Congress” against the White House’s proposed $100 per-flight user charge from a coalition of nearly 30 organizations – including the major general and business aviation groups. ATA, which just a few years ago had sparred with the business aviation community over user fees, Oct. 27 reiterated its position that “Our policymakers should be focused on increasing U.S.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1088; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-099-AD] – The proposed AD would require operators to conduct a general visual inspection of the airstair structure and gearbox drain paths for sealant blockages, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-53-48 (dated Dec. 2, 2010). If any blockages were found, operators would need to remove them before further flight.
EMBRAER EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2011-0312; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-159-AD; Amendment 39-16838; AD 2011-21-15] – Conduct repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the rearward and forward face of the auxiliary power unit (APU) firewall. If any cracks are found, repair them.
Oct. 31-Nov. 2—ACI World Annual General Assembly and Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition, Marrakesh, Morocco, (514) 373-1219, www.aci.aero Nov. 7-8—National Air Transportation Association’s Line Service Supervisor Training, Atlanta, (800) 808-6282, www.nata.aero/events Nov. 7-10—Airports Council International-NA Airport Concessions Conference, Atlanta, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Nov. 8-10—National Air Transportation Association FBO Success Seminar, Atlanta, (800) 808-6282, www.nata.aero/events
Daher-Socata rolled out its 600th series production TBM turboprop aircraft, a milestone that the company says matches the original expectation for the life of the program. The 600th aircraft, a TBM 850, was unveiled during a ceremony at Daher-Socata’s factory in Tarbes, France, and will be destined for a customer in the northwestern U.S. The company first certified the TBM 700 single turboprop in 1990 and delivered the 300th in June 2004. The aircraft evolved into the TBM 850 with an 850-hp. engine in 2006. “With the roll-out of TBM No.
