Initial results of recently completed wind-tunnel testing have verified design concepts of the Stratos 714 very light personal jet, Stratos Aircraft officials say. The company recently concluded five days of wind-tunnel testing using a one-fifth-scale aluminum aircraft model. The testing, which took place at the University of Washington’s Kirsten Wind Tunnel, involved more than 90 runs that focused on airflow over the fuselage, wings and vertical tail.
FlightSafety International held grand-opening ceremonies last week for a new 375,000-sq.-ft. simulation manufacturing plant in Broken Arrow, Okla. The plant is replacing FlightSafety’s smaller manufacturing facilities—which were housed in four separate buildings—about 2 mi. away from the new Broken Arrow site.
An end of certain scheduled routes to Palma De Mallorca, a group of regular travelers and word of mouth spurred the formation of Victor, a new private members club and online community that offers a real-time trading and transaction platform targeting high-net-worth travelers.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0515; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-196-AD; Amendment 39-16776; AD 2011-17-12] – Inspect, repair (if necessary) and reinforce the transcowl assemblies. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by several cases of cracks in the joint extrusions securing the outer bondment to the acoustic panel of the nacelle transcowl assemblies.
The California Assembly last week approved a bill that would provide relief from recently implemented California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education regulations that impose a series of new fees and requirements on flight training companies. Senate Bill 619 (SB 619) exempts flight training organizations from the requirements, as long as the flight training program doesn’t require a student to enter into a contract of indebtedness or prepayment of instruction-related costs in excess of $2,500.
Embraer’s third annual Executive Jets Operators Conference for Latin American customers, held in Campinas, Brazil this month, drew nearly 150 attendees. The event covered Phenom 100 and 300 and Legacy 600 and 650 operators. The conference offered attendees the latest information about the company, new program development and also technical information and news on maintenance and flight operations issues, says spokeswoman Elisa Donel. “We had some dedicated panels for operations, maintenance and technical issues.
Global Aerospace, a U.K.-based insurer, has partnered with the Kansas City Business Aviation Association (KCBAA) to offer a Human Factors and Leadership in Corporate Aviation Seminar on Sept. 29. Safety expert Tony Kern, CEO and senior partner of Convergent Performance, will explain how to control human factors hazards and measure risk during a one-day seminar at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.
EUROCOPTER CANADA Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0596; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-37-AD] – Proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive that requires establishing a life limit for certain tension-torsion (TT) straps. This action would require reducing the “number of flights’’ life limit and providing a time-in-service (TIS) life limit for those TT straps.
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) recently released air cargo screening regulations drew industry praise for eliminating potential requirements for use of third-party screening and duplicative security assessments.
EMBRAER EMB-500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0088 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-072-AD; Amendment 39-16779; AD 2011-17-15] – Replace the left-hand and right-hand Angle of Attack (AOA) sensors and cover plates. Also, inspect the interface between the AOA covers and the AOA sensors, and, if the sealant is missing, clean the areas and apply new sealant, per the instructions of Phenom Service Bulletin SB No.: 500-27-0006, Rev. 02 (dated Jan. 14, 2011).
EPPCO Aviation, based in the UAE, has won the Chevron Global Aviation President’s Award for the sixth consecutive year. The award recognizes the company’s operational excellence and safety. EPPCO Aviation was recognized for meeting the Chevron Award criteria of zero recordable injuries, zero motor vehicle crashes, zero spills and zero product quality incidents.
Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) declared August “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” General aviation generates $728 million in economic impact annually, and supports 5,155 jobs in the state, says the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “Governor McDonnell understands the essential role that general aviation plays in the economy of Virginia,” says Selena Shilad, executive director for the alliance.
Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) has signed a letter of intent with Prime Fraction Club to enroll its fleet of engines into a JSSI hourly cost maintenance program. Prime Fraction Club recently launched the first fractional aircraft service based in Brazil with a fleet of Embraer Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 aircraft, as well as an Augusta A109 helicopter. JSSI has agreed to provide Prime Fraction Club with comprehensive hourly cost-maintenance programs for all three engine types that is designed to simplify the budgeting process and lower maintenance costs.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-10E2A1, CF34-10E5, CF34-10E5A1, CF34-10E6, CF34-10E6A1, CF34-10E7 and CF34-10E7-B engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0187; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-07-AD; Amendment 39-16784; AD 2011-18-02] – Remove from service certain fan rotor blade retainers and the fan rotor spinner support that was installed with those retainers.
FlightSafety International plans to provide Gulfstream G450 and G550 aircraft at its learning center in Dallas. The company expects to install a G450/G550 interchangeable simulator at the center next year. Training will begin following Level D qualification of the simulator. The addition follows FlightSafety’s announced plans to add G450 and G550 training in Hong Kong. Once in place, FlightSafety will have 10 G450 and G550 full flight simulators installed in the company’s training center network.
AeroMedevac Ireland is relocating its aircraft to Dublin Airport, which will enable it to provide service 24 hr. a day. The company’s current operational base at Weston can handle overseas medical repatriations, but can only operate with one to two days’ notice to arrange the repatriation flight.
FAA is forming a new committee to develop recommendations for rewriting Part 23, the rules governing the design and certification of small aircraft. Part 23 encompasses everything from the smallest jets to single-piston aircraft. Light-sport aircraft (LSA), however, typically are not certified under Part 23, but must meet ASTM standards. FAA has chartered a Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to update the decades-old rules, originally written for less complex aircraft than they now cover.
CHRISTELLE CHAMOT was named sales and marketing executive for Europe for U.K.-based private charter operator Cello Aviation. She will be based in Nice, France, where she will be responsible for delivering revenue growth across identified market segments, identifying new customers and revenue channels within the territory, and building Cello’s relationship within Europe with the charter broker sector. She will manage and develop a customer portfolio.
StandardAero Business Aviation has signed a new 10-year lease for its Augusta, Ga., facility. The lease ensures StandardAero’s continued occupancy and includes an additional 10-year option. StandardAero, formerly known as Garrett Aviation Services, has been the facility’s tenant since 1974.
FAA is warning operators to ensure they retain pilot employment records dating back to Aug. 1, 2005. The agency this month released an Information for Operators—covering Parts 91, 135, 121 and 125—noting the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010 calls for operators to furnish those records to a pilot records database. FAA, which chartered a Pilot Records Database Aviation Rulemaking Committee, says it expects to begin a rulemaking later this year that would facilitate the implementation of the database.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0907; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-146-AD; Amendment 39-16790; AD 2011-18-08] – Requires detailed visual inspection for chafing and damage and, if necessary, recertification of the integrated drive generator (IDG) power cables and hydraulic line support bracket. This AD results from MCAI from Transport Canada. The MCAI notes a reported case of an aft equipment bay fire occurring due to arcing of chafed IDG power cables.
JERRY MOBLEY was named assistant manager of FlightSafety International’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Mobley served in the U.S. Army for 20 years before joining FlightSafety in 2000 as a King Air 200 instructor in the Lakeland, Fla. learning center. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility in Lakeland, including program manager of King Air aircraft training, director of training and, most recently, center manager. While with the Army, he was a pilot, standardization instructor and flight examiner.
40 Years Ago Aug. 2, 1971 – Atlantic Aviation decides against renewing its long-standing distributorship with Beechcraft, saying it wants to place a greater emphasis on corporate jet aviation. 30 Years Ago Aug. 10, 1981 – About 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association are fired after going on strike, a move expected to impact the nation’s air traffic system for months. 20 Years Ago
Gary Scott, who has shepherded the Bombardier CSeries through its development, is stepping down as president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft on Oct. 1. Guy Hachey, Bombardier Aerospace president and COO, will lead the unit until a permanent replacement is found, the company says. Scott first came to Bombardier after a career at Boeing and CAE in 2004 as president of the New Commercial Aircraft Program unit. Scott has led the merged Regional Aircraft and Commercial Aircraft units since 2008.
