Aircell, the inflight connectivity provider, announced last week that two members of its global dealer network received separate installation certifications for Aviator 300 and Aviator 350 systems from Brazil’s national civil aviation agency (ANAC). These new approvals represent the first-ever certifications of SwiftBroadband-based communications systems in Brazil. One of the new certifications was an Aviator 350 system installed aboard an Airbus ACJ319 in VVIP configuration by Avionics Services of Sao Paulo.
Flight departments are beginning to embrace safety management systems (SMS), in part thanks to reductions in insurance premiums. Don Baldwin, a former flight department manager who now heads the Baldwin Aviation consultancy, says insurers have been a prime mover in Part 91 operators implementing SMS. “We’ve had a number of operators say they’ve experienced a significant reduction, but sometimes it’s hard to put a number on what ‘significant’ means. It’s not clear. Some say five or seven percent or in between.”
FOKKER F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0472; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-005-AD; Amendment 39-16767; AD 2011-17-03] – Install a fuse packed in a “jiffy junction” in the collector tank level float switch wiring. Also, revise the aircraft maintenance program by incorporating critical design configuration control limitations. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent a short circuit in the collector tank level float switch wiring.
Sikorsky has delivered three S-70i Black Hawks to an undisclosed customer, marking the initial deliveries of the international variant of the GE-powered medium helicopter. The rotorcraft were assembled, completed and flight-tested at PZL Mielec, Sikorsky’s production facility in Poland. PZL Mielec plans to expand production to 10 helicopters in 2012, and to 22 in 2013. Since 2007, Sikorsky has invested more than $100 million to establish a modern production operation at PZL Mielec, which now employs more than 2,000 people.
KELLY ALLENDER was promoted to manager of FlightSafety International’s facility in Tucson, Ariz. Allender joined FlightSafety in 2001 and most recently was assistant manager of the Cessna learning center in Wichita. In addition to assistant manager, he has served as director of programs, program manager for Citation Mustang training, as well as ground and simulator instructor. He also spent nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and is an AV-8B Harrier and A-6E Intruder pilot.
Cessna Aircraft’s executive suite is losing another denizen. Robert Stangarone, the airframer’s vice president of communications, has submitted his resignation. Stangarone joined Cessna six years ago at the invitation of then-Chairman/President/CEO Jack Pelton, with whom he had worked at Fairchild Dornier in Germany. At Cessna, in addition to overseeing its communications efforts, he served as a close advisor to Pelton, and they traveled together frequently. Pelton officially retired from the company, which has been hard hit by the years’ long recession, on May 2.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is poised for stability in its leadership ranks with the recent swearing in of Deborah Hersman for her second two-year term as chairman. She originally filled the spot vacated by acting Chairman Mark Rosenker in mid-2009. Hersman also is in the middle of serving her second term on the board, with her term as a member scheduled to expire in December 2013, five months after her current chairmanship expires.
China and Russia are quietly soliciting interest from countries opposed to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) in a move that could lead to a formal complaint through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), industry sources say. The stakes could be high. In a worst-case scenario, a formal complaint under Article 84 of the Chicago Convention could result in all 27 member states of the European Union (EU) losing voting rights in ICAO if the body rules against the EU.
The Transportation Security Administration is expected to soon release a much-anticipated rulemaking on cargo security. The Office of Management and Budget recently cleared the final air cargo screening rule for publication, following a review that began May 5. The rule follows the September 2009 interim final rule that established the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) for shippers, manufacturers and other entities to screen air cargo transported on passenger aircraft.
Aug. 16-18—Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems North America 2011, Washington, (D.C.) Convention Center, (703) 845-9671 ext. 213, www.symposium.auvsi.org/auvsi11/public/enter.aspx Aug. 19-21—Wide Bay Australia International Air Show, Bundaberg Regional Airport, +61 (74) 155-0044, www.widebayairshow.com.au Aug. 20-21—Waterloo (Ontario) International Airport Air Show, +1 (519) 648-2256 ext. 8523, www.waterlooairshow.com
Business aircraft makers used last week’s Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (Labace) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as a platform to expand their reach into what they believe is a growing market.
Cutter Aviation San Antonio has been named an authorized service center for Cirrus Aircraft. The facility now can perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for all Cirrus models, as well as warranty work, repairs and component replacement for new and used Cirrus airplanes. Avionics service and support for Cirrus aircraft also will be available through Cutter Aviation San Antonio. In addition to servicing Cirrus airplanes, Cutter Aviation San Antonio is an authorized service center for Piper Aircraft and Daher-Socata TBM models.
Delta Private Jets continues with its rebranding efforts by changing the name of its Air Elite Card to the Delta Private Jets Card. The company also added the option to purchase flight time in $50,000 increments, along with the currently available $100,000 increments. The company formerly was called Delta Air Elite, but last fall was rebranded to Delta Private Jets. “This is a catch-up move to have everything under the same branding,” says spokeswoman Leslie Parker. Delta Private Jets decided to offer a $50,000 card at the request of customers, says Parker.
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) led a group of lawmakers asking for intervention on an intended lawsuit against fixed-base operators (FBOs) and fuel distributors for supplying and using leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) in the state of California. The letter, dated Aug. 9, was sent to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Cessna Aircraft completed its latest order for nine Model 208/208B Caravan aircraft to Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB), the aviation branch of the Brazilian armed forces. The completion of the most recent contract brings the total number of Caravans delivered to the service to 32. Delivery of the Caravans to FAB began in 1987. The single turboprops are based around the country and perform a variety of missions.
True Blue Power, the power management products division of Mid-Continent Instruments, will provide its MD835 Emergency Power Supply (EPS) for the Eurocopter EC135 and EC145 T2 helicopters. True Blue Power says the MD835 is the industry’s first EPS to feature A123 Systems’ innovative nanophosphate lithium-ion chemistry, which reportedly offers stable chemistry, faster charging, consistent output, excellent cycle life and superior cost performance. This translates into smaller, lighter products that are less than half the size and weight of existing products.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) on Aug. 6 were scheduled to vote on a proposed new five-year contract with Hawker Beechcraft that marks a stark contrast with the seven-year proposal rejected in October. The deal would hold wages to current levels over the next two years and then increase by 1% in the third year, 2% in the fourth year and 3% in the final contract year. The contract also would create a “Joint Partnership Committee” to discuss continuous improvements and other issues that relate to the company’s health.
Ronald E.G. Davies, for 30 years curator of air transport at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, has died after a series of strokes and a heart attack. He had retired earlier this year and returned to his hometown of Shaftesbury, England. Davies started his career in aviation as a salesman for Douglas Aircraft, then moved to Bristol Aeroplane, where he pioneered the complex analytic systems that launched the concept of sales engineering. He compiled data on airline fleets, forecast when each would need replacements and provided guidance to the sales force.
Hamilton Sundstrand and Aviation Industry Corporation of China Electromechanical Systems Co. Ltd. (AVIC EM) have “laid the cornerstone” for a facility in China to house the development and manufacturing of the Comac C919 electrical power system. The facility, in Xi’an, is slated to open in the first quarter of 2012. The new plant will create about 130 jobs during its first two years of operation. It remains to be seen if the facility will offer repair capabilities in the future.
Miami-based private jet brokerage firm Unity Jets is hoping to fill a gap between charter and fractional services with its “jet hedging” approach. Under jet hedging, customers can choose between fractional ownership, a prepaid Jet Card or a one-time charter on a trip-by-trip basis.
DAMON CRAM has joined FlightSafety International as director of marketing for simulation. Cram formerly spent 11 years with CAE, most recently as business development and sales lead for commercial aircraft training. He also has served as general manager, Embraer CAE Training Services and director, service sales for CAE Services Solutions.
Rhobi in Fort Smith, Ark., has revamped its aviation e-commerce website, Live MarketPlace, which enables aviation companies to buy and sell products. The new Rhobi Community interactive platform connects existing business websites to a larger global market. It also enables access to integrated sales, marketing, order processing, and live communication tools. The new website enables sellers to market their inventory once and make it searchable from thousands of websites.
