MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0695; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-001-AD; Amendment 39-16740; AD 2011-14-05] – Conduct a visual inspection and an eddy current inspection (if necessary) of the lower rotor hub for cracks. If any cracks are found, replace the lower hub with an airworthy one, per the instructions of MDHI Service Bulletin SB900-117 (dated Jan. 14, 2011). This new AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2010-18-52), is intended to prevent failure of the lower hub and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
At the midpoint of the year, the business jet market had still not picked up “decisively,” says a new report from J.P.Morgan. “We continue to see mixed signals regarding new demand halfway through the year, calling into question whether 2012 will see a broad-based delivery upturn or only one at the high end,” analyst Joseph Nadol says in J.P.Morgan’s July Business Jet Monthly.
Landmark Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has opened its Customs and Border Patrol facility. The 1,400-sq.-ft., $775,000 facility includes a holding cell, agriculture room, clearance space, computer room and office space. Designed by Tammy Edmonds Designs in conjunction with CSA Constructors, the Customs office will be able to accommodate passengers and aircraft up to the size of a 767.
Despite reports to the contrary, a veteran aircraft broker says she is not seeing any real indication of a recovery in business aircraft sales. Reports have painted a rosy picture of a rebounding economy, notes Janine Iannarelli, founder and president of Houston-based of Par Avion Ltd., but she has been asking “What recovery?” for months. She cites continued negative statistics, including the high unemployment rate and low rate of new housing starts.
FAA’s budget has a lot in common with airline passengers headed out of town on a holiday weekend—it is stuck in a long queue. A House Appropriations panel was supposed to begin considering a bill to fund the Transportation Department, and within that, the FAA. But the bill will likely have to wait until after the August recess, according to a key lawmaker, while Congress works to come to an agreement on the debt ceiling and other contentious spending bills for other departments, including the Environmental Protection Agency. But Rep.
Honda Aircraft recently completed its HondaJet production plant in Greensboro, S.C., opening the doors last week for the first time to the press. Although production facilities are now complete, CEO Michimasa Fujino says one of the reasons he selected the site for the $100 million plant (not including the equipment) is “space for expansion,” clearly implying there is more to come.
Cleveland-based Flight Options has inked a $167 million financing agreement with Brazil’s Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) that will help underwrite the fractional ownership provider’s purchase of Embraer Phenom 300s. The BNDES agreement will be guaranteed by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and is advised by the Brazilian Export Credit Insurance Agency.
Embraer’s executive jet deliveries picked up in the second quarter, with 23 aircraft shipped—almost three times that of the first quarter. This brings the total number of business aircraft delivered through the first half of the year to 31. But deliveries are still off the company’s pace of last year, when the Brazilian plane maker shipped 40 in the second quarter and 59 for the year.
Thirty-three House lawmakers joined their counterparts in the Senate in appealing to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to hold off on changes to business jet privacy protections. In a July 11 letter spearheaded by House General Aviation Caucus co-Chairmen Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and John Barrow (D-Ga.), along with Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), the lawmakers call plans to essentially dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program “a troubling reversal of a decade-old policy established to uphold the privacy rights of Americans.”
BOMBARDIER CL-601, CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1307; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-049-AD; Amendment 39-16671; AD 2011-09-09] – Revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” by incorporating a requirement to functionally test the wing-leading-edge thermal switches and inspect the wing anti-ice duct piccolo tubes.
Avantair, the fractional aircraft ownership provider that specializes in the Piaggio Avanti, has developed new benefit programs. The programs include a 90-day satisfaction guarantee for prospective shareowners of an Avanti and an affinity program with incentives for current owners. Under the guarantee, Avantair will buy back a share purchased through the end of the year if the owner is not fully satisfied.
Congress has until the end of this week to take action on FAA reauthorization, since the latest extension is set to expire July 22. At one point it appeared reauthorization would make its way onto the calendar, but several issues continue to block progress, including a labor measure in the House bill. The House Friday introduced a 21st extension, which would carry FAA’s authorization through Sept. 16.
TAC Air’s recently acquired facility at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) has been granted authorization to serve as a gateway for approved operators to fly directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The announcement comes a week after TAC acquired the facility from Executive Beechcraft (BA, July 11/10). The facility had operated as Signature Flight Support. TAC Air also operates a gateway location to DCA from its fixed-base operation at Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Ky.
Jeppesen is working with light-sport and experimental avionics supplier GRT Avionics to provide Jeppesen NavData services through GRT electronic flight information systems. The Horizon HX and Sport SX units now support Jeppesen data services. Jeppesen offers various coverage areas worldwide, and can be used in both certified and non-certified aircraft.
ROTAX 912A-powered airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0714; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-024-AD; Amendment 39-16744; AD 2011-14-09] – Replace certain washers and associated gasket rings on the magneto ring flywheel hub with FAA-approved serviceable parts, per the instructions of Rotax Aircraft Engines Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-912-058 and SB-914-041 (dated April 15, 2011). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency and supersedes AD 2011-11-03, adds airplanes to the applicability section.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT B300 and B300C (C-12W) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0436; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-009-AD; Amendment 39-16752; AD 2011-15-05] – Correct the takeoff speed and field length data published in the Airplane Flight Manual and the Pilot’s Operating Handbook to ensure it corresponds with the correct data in the pilot’s checklist.
FRANZ GILBERT was named director, human resources technologies for Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. Gilbert joins Gulfstream from RiseSmart.com, where he was regional vice president responsible for business development, sales and client relationships for the southeastern U.S. Before that, he was a director at Affiliated Computer Services and Hewitt Associates.
AAR Aircraft Services also is considering new hires, and has planned a “career networking fair” with SLN Aviation Service Center and Kansasworks this week in Salina, Kan. “AAR Aircraft Services is part of a growing global organization looking to expand its operations, and (Salina), Kansas is one location it is considering,” says Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. AAR says the event, to be held July 18-19, will enable the firm to meet with local aviation workers as it considers expanding its operations into Kansas.
Dynamic Aviation is looking to fill more than 50 new jobs, including pilots, mechanics and engineers, to support expanding customer needs and new business with commercial aviation and government organizations. Over the next three months, the Virginia-based company will hire about 30 pilots, 20 mechanics and several engineers in locations including its headquarters in Bridgewater, in Winston-Salem, N.C. and in a number of international locations.
KENNETH FRAZIER has joined Smyrna Air Center as director of marketing and sales. Frazier was previously with Peak Aero Group, where he was vice president of business development.
As the debt ceiling talks continued late last week, changes in depreciation schedules for corporate aircraft remained on the table, but a series of possible new tax proposals—including user fees—surfaced as well. A proposal floated last week apparently includes potential $27 billion in revenue raisers that would derive from aviation and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
