Perfect Aviation, a Switzerland-based aircraft charter company, has chosen the U.K.’s Biggin Hill Airport as its new base. Perfect Aviation hired Gary Whitecunas to serve as operation manager of the new base. The center has two U.K.-registered Learjet 45s and other aircraft based in Portugal and Moscow.
JEFF MESSMER was appointed operations manager at West Star Aviation’s newest facility at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) in Chesterfield, Mo. Messmer has more than 20 years of aircraft experience, beginning as an aircraft structural technician for the U.S. Army. Most recently he was Bombardier customer support manager for Midcoast Aviation. In his new role, he will manage all maintenance, avionics and customer service and support operations at the Chesterfield location.
Cirrus Aircraft CEO Dale Klapmeier calls the potential market for general aviation in China “mind boggling.” Speaking at AOPA’s Aviation Summit last week in Hartford, Conn., Klapmeier and other Cirrus officials noted that Brazil is the company’s No. 1 export country today, but that China could become its top overseas market in as little as 24 months. India will be another big market, adds Klapmeier. Cirrus recently finished delivering 20 aircraft to the Civil Aviation Flying University of China, reportedly the world’s largest flight school.
A cross-section of the aviation industry joined together to combat President Obama’s proposed $100 air traffic control fee for most operations in controlled airspace. Twenty-seven organizations – including all of the major general aviation associations – sent a letter of opposition to House and Senate leadership, along with Super Committee members.
40 Years Ago Sept. 20, 1971 – A Department of Transportation report finds: “General aviation, in particular, poses a major problem to the efficient and safe operation of commercial air service throughout the nation.” 30 Years Ago Sept. 28, 1981 – FAA plans reductions in airline and general aviation flights in the wake of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike and subsequent controller firings. 20 Years Ago
LYCOMING IO-720-A1B engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0604; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-21-AD; Amendment 39-16791; AD 2011-18-09] – Inspect the crankshaft to ensure that the proper parts are installed. This AD, which was prompted by the failure of a crankshaft due to the installation of incorrect parts, is intended to prevent engine crankshaft failure and damage to the airplane. FAA estimates that this AD will affect two engines installed on airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $170. This directive is effective Sept. 29.
Schubach Aviation recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 45,000-sq.-ft. headquarters at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. The new headquarters is located 100 yd. west of its former location. The company had outgrown its previous 33,000-sq.-ft. headquarters. Schubach Aviation has signed a 10-year lease on the hangar and office space. The move comes as Schubach prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in San Diego. Schubach also continues to expand its fleet with the recent addition of a Gulfstream G-IVSP and plans to add another Hawker 800XP.
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has signed Senate Bill 619 into law, providing relief to flight training facilities facing new requirements of the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) (BA, Sept. 5/3). SB 619 exempts flight training providers and programs from the BPPE’s costly regulations. The National Air Transportation Association joined several other industry advocates in seeking the exemption, fearing the regulations could devastate the California flight training industry.
EMBRAER EMB-505 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0713; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-023-AD; Amendment 39-16810; AD 2011-20-01] – Requires replacement of the bolts that attach the balance mass weights to the elevator structure. The AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the Brazilian aviation authority ANAC. The MCAI notes that officials have discovered the possibility of free-play between the mass balance weight and the elevator structure.
Oct. 2-5—Air Traffic Control Association Annual Conference, National Harbor, Md., www.atca.org Oct. 10-12—National Business Aviation Association 64th Annual Meeting & Convention, Las Vegas, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Oct. 14-16—China International General Aviation Convention, Shannxi, China, www.cigac.blogspot.com Oct. 16-19—Airports Council International-NA 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition, San Diego, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Oct 17-19—Air Medical Transport Conference, St. Louis, Mo.
DORNIER 328-100 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1163; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-233-AD; Amendment 39-16795; AD 2011-18-13] – Conduct detailed visual inspections and eddy-current inspections of the left-hand and right-hand wing panel rear trailing edge around Rib 3 and Rib 5 for cracks. Also, install a modification that consists of the cold expansion of the former lower wing panel CAMLOC holes, together with installation of new attachment material that will prevent the onset of cracks in the affected wing panel.
Pennsylvania has become the 31st state to publicly proclaim the value of business and general aviation. Gov. Tom Corbett has declared September 2011 “General Aviation and Aerospace Appreciation Month.” Aviation is responsible for 5% of jobs in the Keystone State, the governor’s proclamation notes, and general aviation supports 8,550 of those jobs. “Pennsylvania is home to 133 public use airports and heliports,” said Corbett, “[as well as] 67 charter flight companies and over 40 flight schools.
Cessna continues to spool up on its Model 162 Skycatcher light-sport aircraft, topping 100 deliveries. Cessna, which had captured orders for more than 1,000 of the aircraft, reached the milestone a little more than a year and one-half after deliveries began.
ExecuJet Europe’s fleet is growing at an average rate of one a month, with six new aircraft joining since April. The latest additions include a Danish-registered Falcon 7X; a Falcon 900 EXy and 2000, both positioned at Geneva Airport; an Embraer Legacy 600 based in Marseilles, France, and a Hawker 800B based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. ExecuJet also has added a new Isle of Man M-registered Falcon 7X, based at London City Airport. The aircraft boost ExecuJet’s European-based managed fleet to more than 50 aircraft, one-third of which are available for charter.
Slot reservations for flying into the greater London region during the 2012 Summer Olympics already have become available for many airports, and others are expected to become available later this fall or early next year.
BAE SYSTEMS 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0569; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-240-AD; Amendment 39-16811; AD 2011-20-02] – Conduct repetitive visual inspections for damage to the main landing gear (MLG) shock absorber lower-attachment pins. If damage is found, install serviceable pins. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country, was prompted by reports of in-service failure of the MLG shock absorber lower attachment pin as a result of corrosion.
Florida’s Jacksonville Airport Authority (JAA) is planning to expand the available business aviation facilities at Cecil Airport with the construction of a new taxiway and roadway on 120 of the facility’s acres. “We’re ... constructing a taxiway that connects to the airport runway system. We’re also going to construct a roadway along 113th Street that will bring access to the east side of the runway,” explains JAA interim COO Bob Simpson.
FAA is proposing a $2.425 million civil penalty against Cessna Aircraft for failing to follow its approved quality-control system when manufacturing a Corvalis aircraft and 82 parts at its factory in Chihuahua, Mexico.
The General Aviation Airports Coalition named Robert Mark as communications director. In this new position, he will be responsible for developing the coalition’s positions on legislation and other events critical to the success of general aviation airports. He also will lead a committee of airport managers on how to be more effective with the media. Mark is CEO of his own communications company, Chicago-based CommAvia, and writes the Jetwhine blog.
BOMBARDIER CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0992; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-126-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace all air-driven generator (ADG) power feeder cables with new cables that contain tin-plated copper wires, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 604-24-024 (dated Jan. 31, 2011). This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by several failures of the ADG to provide power during regularly scheduled operational/functional checks.
Pratt & Whitney Canada and Avic Engines are establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, China, to support P&WC PT6 and PW100 turboprop engines. The new joint venture — Zhuzhou Tonghui Aero Engine Maintenance (AEMC) — will provide in-country services for civil-certified PT6A and PW100 engines. The agreement was signed Sept. 19 by P&WC President John Saabas, Avic Engines President Pang Wei and China National South Aviation Industry Co. President Li Zongshun.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Global Express XRS (BD-700-1A10) business jet has entered U.S. Air Force service under the new military designation, E-11A. The first XRS owned by the Air Force, it is one of three aircraft operated by the military branch. The Global Express, which will be used as an overhead communications-relay platform in Southwest Asia, is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, enabling disparate battlefield communications systems to share data.
Cirrus Aircraft recently delivered its 5,000th airplane since production of single-engine light aircraft began at the Duluth, Minn.-based company 11 years ago. The SR 20 (N5000J) was handed over to Joe Whisenhunt, a Little Rock Ark. businessman who also has reserved an early production position for the Cirrus Vision SF50 personal jet.
United Technologies is buying Goodrich for $18.4 billion, marking one of the largest aerospace and defense (A&D) mergers since a wave of industry consolidation in the late 1990s.
A recent initiative by Asia-Pacific transport ministers is drawing strong praise from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) for its recognition of the need to strengthen business aviation in the region. During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting Sept. 14 in San Francisco, the transport ministers adopted a joint mission statement that focused on promoting green growth, enhancing international regulatory cooperation and strengthening regional economic integration.
