Daher-Socata President and CEO Stéphane Mayer says the company is still finalizing details of its next project, named NTx, but confirms it will be a new aircraft. Meanwhile, the company is still evaluating prospects for acquiring the Grob G180 SPn business jet, and a decision is expected by the end of 2011, says Mayer.
Eclipse Aerospace Inc. (EAI) has completed a combustion liner recertification project that will enable the Eclipse EA500 very light jet (VLJ) to return to its maximum certified service ceiling of 41,000 ft. FAA issued an airworthiness directive (AD) in March that limited the VLJ to 30,000 ft., superseding an emergency directive (AD 2008-24-07) that had limited the aircraft to 37,000 ft.
KIERAN KENNEDY was promoted to senior director–original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sales for International Communications Group (ICG). Kennedy had been manager–OEM sales for ICG for the past four years. He joined ICG as an applications engineer in 1999 with more than 10 years of maritime electronics and communication experience.
HONEYWELL TPE331-10 and -11 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0555; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-18-AD] – FAA is withdrawing a proposed rule that would have required adding 360 first-stage turbine disks to the applicability of an earlier directive (AD 2009-17-05), which was issued to prevent uncontained failure of the first-stage turbine disk and damage to the airplane. Instead, the agency is planning to issue a new proposed rule that will address the additional 360 turbine disks requiring inspection or removal.
Cessna recently added a new instrument-pilot course to its Cessna Flight Training System. The web-based course will be available through the company’s network of Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) later this quarter. The company recently increased its CPC network of more the 250 participants with the addition of five more flight-training organizations: Indy Flight Training, Indianapolis; Light Sport Aviation, Riverside, Calif.; Freedom Aviation, Lynchburg, Va.; Air Orlando Aviation, Orlando, Fla.; and Pro-Flight Aviation Services, San Marcos, Texas.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0720; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-252-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to incorporate a new maintenance task to prevent excessive free-play of the turnbuckle and cable within the main landing gear (MLG) alternate release system. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to ensure that the MLG will extend in case the normal MLG extension/retraction system fails. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 65 aircraft on the U.S.
FAA was headed toward partial shut down on Friday, July 22, after the House and Senate left Washington for the weekend with no agreement on an extension on the reauthorization bill that expired at midnight.
40 Years Ago July 19, 1971 – Sen. Frank Moss (D-Utah) introduces bill to require by Jan. 1, 1973 collision avoidance systems on all aircraft weighing 2,500 lb. or more. 30 Years Ago July 6, 1981 – FAA formally withdraws proposal to establish a number of user fees for services such as aircraft registration, certificates, aircraft title recording, special aircraft registration issuance and FAA-administered practical tests. 20 Years Ago
MAE Aircraft Management, based in Bahrain, has been awarded a certificate of registration for full compliance with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). “Meeting this world-class standard of safety and quality is testament to the hard work and professionalism of the entire team,” says General Manager Steve Wilks. “Our charter and aircraft management customers will benefit from the assurance of knowing our operations meet and exceed international best standards.”
RYAN BOGAN was appointed chief operating officer of LMI Aerospace, which provides aerospace design engineering services and structural assemblies. Bogan previously served as CEO of LMI’s subsidiary D3 Technologies, where he had worked since 1998. He will relocate to LMI’s corporate offices in St. Charles, Mo., and oversee the operations of both the Aerostructures and Engineering Services segments.
LYCOMING TIO 540-A series engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0691; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-26-AD] – This proposal would rescind an existing airworthiness directive (AD 71-13-01) because Lycoming Engines no longer supports Service Bulletin (SB) 335A, which was incorporated by reference in the earlier AD. The requirements of SB 335A— visual inspection of external fuel injector lines for damage and, if necessary, removal of the lines from service and replacement with serviceable parts—have been incorporated into Lycoming Engines Mandatory SB No. 342F.
Fabio Gamba has been named the new CEO of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), effective Sept. 1. He takes over from Brian Humphries, who moves to the role of president. Gamba comes from the Association of European Airlines (AEA), where he was the deputy secretary general. In that position, he was responsible for promoting the interests of legacy carriers and establishing ties with European institutions and European Union member states.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0718; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-117-AD; Amendment 39-16756; AD 2011-15-09] – Inspect the main landing gear (MLG) alternate extension system (AES) cam mechanism to make sure it is operating properly, per the instructions of Bombardier Repair Drawing 8/4-32-0160, Issue 3 (dated Feb. 15, 2011).
ExecuJet Australasia has become the first fixed-base operator to secure Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) accreditation with a “zero findings” audit and second operator worldwide to be registered without restriction against the new risk-based standard. The BARS program, designed to establish a common aviation safety standard for the resource sector, was developed by the Australian office of the Flight Safety Foundation in concert with resource companies such as BHP Billiton, Lihir Gold, MMG, Rio Tinto, Shell and Xstrata.
Sikorsky’s X2 technology demonstrator recently flew for the final time after making a total of 23 flights and accumulating approximately 22 hours aloft. But the technology development arm of Siksorsky aircraft will show off the X2 during this week’s EAA AirVenture air show in Oshskosh. Sikorsky also plans to display its Project Firefly helicopter.
The 15th anniversary of the BBJ was celebrated recently during the delivery of the newest Boeing Business Jet to China’s Deer Jet Airlines. When Deer Jet representatives came to Seattle to accept their new corporate jetliner, they joined dozens of current and former BBJ employees to celebrate the program’s 15-year anniversary. Boeing and General Electric launched the BBJ in July 1996 with the introduction of a 737-700 modified for corporate and VIP applications.
ROBERT MARSHALL was tapped to take over the chief executive role of the Marshall Group of companies from his father Sir Michael Marshall, who has been group chairman and CEO since 1990. The changes will take effect in January. Robert Marshall joined the family business in 1994. The Marshall Group is involved in aerospace, motor retail and vehicle engineering businesses, including aircraft engineering design services, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and operation of Marshall Airport in Cambridge.
DORNIER 328-100 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-233-AD; Amendment 39-16754; AD 2011-15-07] – Inspect to determine if the helicoil inserts of the rudder trim tab and spring tab fixation brackets are correctly oriented and are facing the fitting surface, per the instructions of 328 Support Services Service Bulletin SB-328-55-493 (dated April 21, 2010) or SB-328J-55-245 (dated April 21, 2010), as applicable.
The 100th Eurocopter EC225 was delivered recently to the Bristow Group, a leading provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry. This 19-passenger helicopter, which is Bristow’s 18th EC225, is flying in Malaysia. Bristow’s EC225s have logged more than 50,000 hours, which represents approximately one-third of all flight time accumulated by this helicopter type worldwide. Bristow was the launch customer for the offshore version of the EC225 when the type was introduced in 2005.
Cessna has teamed with Aircraft Performance Group (APG) to offer Citation aircraft operators full flight planning on Apple iPads using the iPreFlight app. The app, available through APG, features real-time METARs and winds aloft, graphical weather, routing, graphical weight and balance, a worldwide database, flight planning and a Runway Analysis Max Payload Estimator (MPE). iPreFlight includes takeoff and landing performance data derived from Cessna’s Citation Performance Calculator (CPCalc).
The first AgustaWestland GrandNew for a U.S. customer was delivered to Intermountain Healthcare, an emergency medical services (EMS) operator that has ordered five of the twin-engine helicopters. The rotorcraft is the first of its kind to be completed in Philadelphia with an EMS configuration. The GrandNew will be operated by Intermountain Life Flight, Intermountain Healthcare’s aviation division, and the new rotorcraft is joining two A109 K2’s that already are flying medical evacuation missions in Utah and Northern Nevada.
Schubach Aviation, a San Diego-based charter firm, is moving into a new solar-powered, 40,000-sq.-ft. hangar and larger 5,000-sq.-ft. office suite at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. The new headquarters is 100 yards west of Schubach’s current facility. Schubach signed a 10-yr. lease on its new complex, saying it outgrew its 30,000-sq.-ft. hangar and 3,000-sq.-ft. office space. The company continues to grow its fleet, adding a Challenger 601 and most recently a Gulfstream IV.
FAA has released a draft advisory circular, AC 20-136B, Aircraft Electrical and Electronic System Lightning Protection, which provides guidance on new rules that codify lightning protection requirements. The Aircraft Electronics Association advises that shops engaged in developing supplemental type certificates should review and comment on the draft AC. Comments are due by Aug. 26 to Lee Nguyen at [email protected].
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. began an $11 million expansion of its Kaiser Alexco hard-alloy aerospace extrusion facility in Chandler, Ariz. The project, which will provide additional extrusion and heat-treating capacity, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Engine rotor-overspeed certification standards have been amended by FAA. The new rule, which goes into effect Sept. 16, establishes uniform rotor-overspeed design and test requirements for aircraft engines and turbochargers certificated by the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency. The rule also establishes uniform standards for the design and testing of engine rotor parts in the U.S. and in Europe, thus eliminating the need to comply with two differing sets of requirements.
