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.
RUDY QUEVEDO was named deputy director of technical programs for the Flight Safety Foundation. Quevedo formerly was director of safety for North American Airlines. He began his career as a mechanic for Eastern Airlines and has held safety roles with USAirways and JetBlue.
Talon Air, a charter and management company based at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y., has installed a perimeter-warning system in two of its hangars. The Optex system is designed to eliminate risk of damage to the aircraft and hanger during airplane entry or exit. The system uses four Redscan laser-scan detectors to warn pilots and hangar operators when a plane comes within 8 ft. of the hangar walls. The detectors, which pick up only objects 8 ft. off the ground, sense a moving object’s size, speed and distance.
The China market has become so important to Gulfstream that the U.S. aircraft-maker has decided to change the name of the Gulfstream G250 in an effort to do away with the negative connotations associated with that sequence of numbers. Instead the aircraft will be called the G280.
The Fastest Personal Jet Program Planning, conceptual design, preliminary design, systems integration, wind tunnel model, testing (2 entries) and loads analysis done around 2 Williams FJ33. Work has been completed by leading FAA Designated Engineering Representatives in Wichita, KS USA. Next step is detailed structure design. (303) 859-4618 or [email protected] Click here to view the pdf
The Nordam Group officially named Meredith Siegfried CEO, succeeding Bill Peacher and completing a transition announced last month. Peacher will continue to serve on Nordam’s board and as a financial consultant to the company. Ken Lackey, executive chairman, and Hastings Siegfried, vice chairman and COO of the Transparency Group, remain in their current positions. The election of Siegfried as CEO is one of the final pieces of the company’s long-term succession plan for its leadership.
Business aviation advocates received a setback in their efforts to preserve the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program last week after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied their motion to stop the Department of Transportation from severely limiting participation in BARR. The advocates say that they are pushing for a full hearing on the matter expeditiously. In June, DOT announced plans to effectively disable the BARR program on Aug. 2.
WC Aviation has added a 16-seat Gulfstream GV to its charter fleet. The GV is equipped with Wi-Fi installed by Duncan Aviation. The interior was refurbished this year with amenities including Airshow, a DVD/CD entertainment system, fully equipped galley with oven and microwave, and separate crew and passenger lavatories.
A branch of China’s Minsheng Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Embraer for the acquisition of up to 20 business jets. The MoU between Embraer and Minsheng Financial Leasing was signed on July 19 at the aircraft manufacturer’s headquarters in Brazil. The aircraft are expected to be converted into firm orders in the next five years, says Embraer, which adds that initial deliveries could start as early as this year. Embraer has not specified which type of business jets Minsheng plans to buy.
Gulfstream Aerospace received National Aeronautic Association confirmation for a speed record set by its G150 demonstrator on a flight between Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, and Geneva. The flight beat the existing record by 37 min. Gulfstream says. Piloted by International Captains David Steinfeldt and Nick Rose, the aircraft flew the 2,464 nm between the two locations in 5 hr. and 6 min., averaging Mach 0.80. The record was set while the aircraft was en route to the 2011 European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in May. Four passengers were aboard.
Signature Flight Support has added a base in Puerto Rico with its acquisition of Tropical Aviation Corp. of San Juan. Based at Isla Grande – Fernando L. Rivas Dominicci Airport (TJIG), the facility expands Signature’s reach into the Caribbean. TJIG, a business and general aviation airport, draws traffic that is en route to the U.S. from South America and the Caribbean. The airport includes a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. Signature’s new base is on the south side of the airport and includes 29,000 sq. ft. of hangars and shade ports, a 6,900-sq.-ft.
Textron Chairman Scott Donnelly reiterates that this year’s National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention will serve as a venue for “at least one” of Cessna’s product development programs. He says the company has a number of programs under way – some are upgrades, and others will be new aircraft. But he stresses that Cessna is remaining within its current aircraft range. “It’s not a Columbus-class aircraft,” he says.
SCOTT KACZOR joined West Star Aviation as regional sales manager for the southeast territory. Kaczor will be based in Tequesta, Fla. He has nearly 30 years of corporate aviation sales experience, including serving as sales manager and regional sales manager for Bombardier.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0710; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-26-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to remove from service certain gas generator second-stage turbine discs before they exceed 4,000 cycles-in-service (CIS) since new. Also, operators would need to remove from service certain other gas generator second-stage turbine discs before they exceed 6,500 CIS since new.
STEPHAN KRENZ was appointed senior vice president and general manager for Jet Aviation Basel. Krenz will lead the Jet Aviation Basel facility and oversee the entire completions business in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia regions. Krenz has served as interim general manager of the Basel facility since March, and before that was with Bombardier Transportation.
A day after Wichita, Kan.-based Spirit AeroSystems announced a $53 million pre-tax charge, the company last week unveiled a major shake-up of its top management team, effectively immediately. Spirit AeroSystems named David Coleal as senior VP/general manager of the company’s fuselage segment. He will report to President and CEO Jeff Turner. He comes from Bombardier Aerospace, where he was vice president and general manager of Learjet.
AJ Walter Aviation has extended and its mechanical and avionics component repair and supply agreement with Honeywell International for five years. AJ Walter says the newest agreement has been enhanced to ensure predictable repair costs, as well as improved component availability.
