Dassault Falcon selected the CAE Flightscape/Ruag Aviation partnership to be the preferred provider of flight data monitoring (FDM) service for all new production and in-service aircraft. “This service will enhance safety and provide regulatory compliance where required,” says Jacques Chauvet, senior vice president-customer service for Dassault Aviation.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1061; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-053-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain Ram Air Turbine (RAT) Transformer Rectifier Units (TRUs) with a modified RAT TRU, per the instructions of Dassault Aviation Mandatory Service Bulletin 7X-163 (dated Dec. 1, 2010).
SuperJet International has launched the Sukhoi Business Jet with a $200 million order for four aircraft from Comlux The Aviation Group, a leading VIP charter services company. The first two aircraft (the second two are options) will be delivered for outfitting to the Comlux Group completion center in Indianapolis early in 2014. Comlux America has been appointed as the first approved completion center for the jet.
San Francisco-based XOJet has placed an order with Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support for up to 12 Hawker 800XPR aircraft. The agreement includes firm orders for seven aircraft to be delivered next year and options for five more, for a total value of $50 million.
The German navy will take delivery of its first Ruag Do 228NG special-mission aircraft in the next few weeks, marking the third of the new-production aircraft to roll off the production line at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich. Aircraft number six is now on the line, and the seventh and eighth airframes in the first batch ordered from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. will arrive in the next few weeks. Ruag has sold seven Do 228NGs. The first two were delivered to New Central Airservice of Japan and Lufttransport of Norway.
China’s BAA Ltd has signed an investment agreement with the Tianjin Airport Development Zone, covering a 67,000-sq.-meter plot (721,182-sq.-ft.) of land within the airport’s bonded, free-trade zone. BAA plans to invest US$53.3 million in the site to build 1,100 meters (3,609 ft.) of taxiway, maintenance, parking and paint hangars, workshops, a fixed-based operator and offices. Construction is due to begin in April, with completion of all facilities and start-of-service expected by October 2013. BAA will eventually establish its own training center in Tianjin.
Tempe, Ariz.-based StandardAero’s Business Aviation unit is working to diversify the scope of its service offerings and move into international arenas. The unit’s “predominance of business” is in the U.S., concedes Marc McGowan, vice president, strategy and businesses development for Business Aviation. But McGowan adds that the company is poised to expand its international reach, beginning in Europe.
Christophe Degoumois was promoted to vice president of sales for Bombardier Aerospace. Degoumois will be responsible for sales in China, Asia-Pacific, Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. He has served with Bombardier Business Aircraft for more than seven years, most recently as regional vice president-Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS countries. Degoumois takes over as David Dixon retires following 33 years of service with Bombardier.
StandardAero’s Springfield, Ill., facility recently achieved recertification of its supplemental type certificate Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). Recertification is the result of a mandatory audit by FAA earlier this year conducted by FAA’s Chicago Aircraft Certification Office. The audit found the Springfield facility to have “no findings” and recertified the ODA for an additional three years.
Jeppesen has become a founding member of The Lindbergh Foundation’s Aviation Green Alliance, launched earlier this year to address environmental challenges facing the industry. The alliance provides a forum for aviation organizations to share best practices and establish innovative programs to guide environmental stewardship. Jeppesen became the fourth founding member. Other members include Bombardier, Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft.
Hamilton Sundstrand, the auxiliary power unit supplier for the new Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 large, long-range business jets, has partnered with Microturbo of Toulouse, France, to develop a new generation of electrical and bleed-air auxiliary power units for the broader business jet market, as well as the new Globals. Hamilton Sunstrand is designing and developing the overall APU system, and Microturbo is designing, certifying and supplying major modules and components for the APU and its installation system.
Michael Han was promoted to the newly created position of regional vice president, China for Bombardier Aerospace. Han has 15 years of aviation industry experience, most recently as Bombardier Business Aircraft’s sales director for greater China.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CT7-8, CT7-8A, CT7-8A1, CT7-8E and CT7-8F5 engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0392; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-12-AD; Amendment 39-16808; AD 2011-19-03] – Install the AGB axis-A oil slinger nut to the axis-A shaft assembly, per the instructions of GE Aircraft Engines CT7-8 Service Bulletin No. CT7-8 S/B 72-0033, Rev. 1 (dated April 28, 2011).
Bell Helicopter will deliver three Model 429s to the Royal Australian Navy. The twin-engine helicopters will be used in the Navy’s Retention and Motivation Initiative, which enables junior qualified aircrew to consolidate and enhance their skills prior to flying operational helicopters. Under the terms of the four-year contract, the Bell 429s will replace existing helicopters and fly a minimum of 1,500 hr. per year.
“Knowing more has helped us become the world leader in advanced winglet technology, so we rely on JETNET’s world-leading information for market research and prospecting. We provide outstanding products and build trusting business relationships with clients, and JETNET does the same for us. Their team always comes through—they’re indispensable.” Gary Dunn - Vice President of Sales, Aviation Partners, Inc. - Client since 1996
The National Transportation Safety Board is planning a two-day forum to discuss safety issues surrounding public aircraft operations. The event, titled “Public Aircraft Oversight Forum,” will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Washington. Chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman, all five board members are expected to participate. NTSB notes that government organizations conduct public aircraft operations for a variety reasons—from national defense and search and rescue to biological and resource management —but with no FAA oversight.
Heico Corp. has acquired French microelectronics manufacturer 3D Plus, integrating the company into Heico Electronic Technologies Group. It first announced the agreement in June. Heico plans to strengthen 3D Plus activities in the U.S., which include a sales and marketing office in McKinney, Texas, and a technical center in Fremont, Calif. 3D Plus employs 120 people at its headquarters in Buc, France, where it continues to design and produce microelectronic and stacked memory products for satellites and medical equipment.
Air Partner, a London-based air charter broker, has opened a new office in Monaco as part of its strategy to grow its international presence. The new office joins Air Partner’s network of 21 offices. In the first half of the current financial year, new JetCard requests in the South of France increased by 10%. The launch of Air Partner Monaco will build on this success.
Sabreliner has opened a new $7 million paint hangar in Perryville, Mo. The 32,000-sq.-ft. facility will eliminate a bottleneck in the refurbishing process and enable the company to handle larger aircraft than before, according to Sabreliner officials. The new hangar, which eventually will employ 25 people, utilizes an electrostatic paint process, which reduces emissions by 35% and uses less paint. All the painting equipment is housed on the hangar’s second floor in the event of a major flood, like the one that hit the Sabreliner facility in 1993.
DOWTY R212/4-30-4/22 and R251/4-30-4/49 propeller assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2011-0735; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-01-AD; Amendment 39-16807; AD 2011-19-02] – Repetitively inspect for cracks in the buttress threads in the propeller hub and driving center assembly, per the instructions of Dowty Propellers Alert Service Bulletin No. 61-1043, Rev. 7 (dated March 1, 2011). If any cracks are found, remove the propeller assembly from service before further flight.
National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen sees business aviation as a driver of global economic growth as China moves ahead quickly with its plans for general aviation. “There is a real responsibility for all of us to do what we can to make sure, not just that this industry reaches its full potential in China, but it does so in a very safe, very secure and very efficient way,” says Bolen, who was a participant in the recent U.S.-China Aviation Summit, hosted by the American Association of Airport Executives.
Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), the ranking Democrat and former chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, is retiring at the end of his term in January 2013. He has served in Congress for 23 years, first elected in 1988. “You can’t go from 100 mph every day and just stop—I intend to continue to go full speed pursuing other interests and opportunities that may come along,” says Costello. Costello has co-authored long-term FAA reauthorization legislation and has been an outspoken opponent of aviation user fees.
Safe Flight Instrument Corp. plans to celebrate its 65th anniversary during this year’s National Business Aviation Association meeting and convention. The firm was founded in October 1946 to develop Leonard Greene’s stall-warning system invention. Since then, the company has pioneered a number of important safety and performance products, including wind shear warning, AutoPower (automatic throttle system), SCAT (speed command of attitude and thrust), angle-of-attack sensors and systems, helicopter exceedance warning units and powerline detection systems.
