Gulfstream Aerospace increased space at its Dallas Love Field facility with the reopening of a 62,000-sq.-ft. hangar dedicated to the company’s mid-cabin aircraft. Gulfstream says the opening of Hangar F increases space by nearly 18% and enables the company to dedicate hangars to specific aircraft models. The new hangar will be dedicated to the Gulfstream G200 and G250, but also will include a warehouse stocked with parts for mid-cabin and non-Gulfstream aircraft.
Facing an Aug. 2 deadline, support continues to build both on Capitol Hill and within industry to fight the Department of Transportation’s policy to end most participation in the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. The House already has included language in its version of the FAA reauthorization bill that would protect the program as it is currently in place. Business aviation advocates have been seeing growing support for similar language in the Senate version of FAA reauthorization.
BELL 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0561; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-001-AD; Amendment 39-16715; AD 2011-12-08] – Conduct a one-time inspection of the tail-rotor blades for corrosion or pitting, and repair or replace any damaged blades. This AD — which is designed to prevent blade cracking, loss of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter — was issued after the manufacturer discovered that certain blades may have manufacturing anomalies in the spar area.
Dassault Falcon received approval for the Falcon 900LX from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC). The CAAC previously had certified the other aircraft in the Falcon 900 family, along with the Falcon 7X and 2000. Dassault expects to deliver the first 900LX to a customer in China by year’s end. “China continues to embrace business aviation at a rapid pace,” says Dassault Falcon President and CEO John Rosanvallon.
Eurocopter will publicly fly for the first time its X3 hybrid rotorcraft at the 2011 Paris Air Show. The X3 demonstrator is powered by a five-blade main-rotor system and two propellers on short-span fixed wings – a combination that delivers the excellent vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter, along with aircraft-type fast cruise speeds and maneuverability, says Eurocopter.
U.S. Jet A fuel prices continue to increase, averaging $6.05 per gallon in the first quarter, according to Jetnet. This is up 69 cents per gallon from the $5.36 in the first quarter of 2010. But it still doesn’t beat the 2008 “fuel price bubble” of $6.83, Jetnet adds.
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
Piaggio Aero, one of the oldest names in aviation, took an important step into its future by breaking ground last week for a new manufacturing plant at Villanova d’Albenga, Italy.
The Department of Transportation is “well along” in its draft of a new proposed rulemaking to regulate charter brokers, says Dayton Lehman, deputy assistant general counsel in the DOT Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings. The proposal, originally spurred by charter broker transparency issues that came to light after the November 2004 Challenger accident in Montrose, Colo., has “become a vehicle for all broker issues,” Lehman says. DOT officials have explored whether brokers should be registered or licensed, he says.
The first Falcon 7X has begun flying again after the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved a fix to the trim system, thus ending the fleet grounding that began in late May. Dassault Aviation CEO Charles Edelstenne says he expects the entire fleet will be upgraded and resume operations within a couple of weeks.
Landmark Aviation began operations on June 11 as the new fixed-base operation (FBO) at Miami International Airport (MIA). Landmark earlier this year was awarded a 10-year lease to be the new FBO at the airport. “MIA is a key market for our customers, and a great addition to our network,” says Landmark President and CEO Dan Bucaro. Landmark plans to immediately begin facility upgrades, and says the facility joins the “Landmark Cares” network that supports local charities by making donations for every gallon of fuel sold.
Jet Aviation Geneva has added in-house cleaning services for the exteriors of commercial, corporate and private aircraft. The new services include dry exterior cleaning, a wet wash service and brightening work. Brightening work is a three-step procedure that includes oxidation removal, Permagard polishing and swirl-mark removal.
Diamond Aircraft is planning a gradual restart of its D-Jet program after receiving a commitment for a “significant investment” that is dedicated to the personal single jet, the light aircraft manufacturer says. In addition, the company says it is moving resources from its Austrian piston-aircraft operations to support the program’s completion “in the shortest possible time.”
Cambridge Airport in the U.K. is hosting the seventh annual Business and General Aviation Day (BGAD11) on Sept. 20. The event will include an exhibition, seminars and a static display. BGAD11 also will include panel discussions on the “practicalities of the Olympics,” as well as issues associated with the day-to-day running of services during exceptionally busy periods.
Executive Air Services, a charter and management company based in Miami, has added a 1996 Lear 31, a 1993 Gulfstream IV-SP and a 2002 Hawker 800XP to its charter fleet. The three aircraft will be available for domestic and international travel, and join two other 800XPs, a Gulfstream G550 and a Bombardier Challenger 601.
Avfuel continues expanding its network with the additions of North Philadelphia Jet Center and Kearney Aviation Center as the latest branded dealers. Based at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, North Philadelphia Jet Center provides services such as fuel, ground support, transportation, overnight hangar rentals and tie-downs, as well as a range of amenities, including a pilot’s lounge, pool table, a rooftop hot tub, patio area, snooze rooms, showers and kitchen facilities.
Avantair, the Clearwater, Fla.-based fractional ownership program that specializes in Piaggio Avantis, is planning to increase its fleet to 59 by the end of July as the company experiences a resurgence, says Steven Santo, president and CEO of Avantair. While Avantair is sensitive to the current economy’s fluctuations, Santo believes his operation has faired better than most during the downturn.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S turboshaft will be subject to special certification conditions by FAA. The conditions, which are effective July 11, were issued by the agency because the PW210S incorporates “a novel or unusual design feature”— engine operation in auxiliary power unit mode. FAA says, “The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the latest entity to weigh in on the concerns surrounding the potential for LightSquared’s planned wireless broadband network to interfere with GPS. In a letter to U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, ICAO says the “potential disruption to aviation use of GPS caused by the LightSquared system would have a far-reaching impact on current and future aviation operations.” ICAO worries the impact would be felt in the U.S. and beyond its borders. See article on Page 4.
MICHAEL BRUNSKILL was appointed director of customer services for lighting systems specialist Pelican. Brunskill has more than 20 years of customer support and strategic project management experience.
Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft have broken ground on a new facility in Singapore dedicated to service and support of customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The facility is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. When fully operational, the complex will employ about 90 workers. The new facility will replace and augment the existing Bell Helicopter Supply Center. It will have more than 48,700 sq. meters (524,202 sq. ft.) of hangar, office, storage and maintenance space.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0220; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-259-AD; Amendment 39-16721; AD 2011-12-14] – Conduct a one-time general visual inspection to check the route and clamping of the fuel sense line hose and wiring conduit hose to each wing tank overflow valve, per the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-28-050, Rev. 1 (dated July 28, 2010). If necessary, take corrective actions to ensure that the fuel sense line from the overflow valves does not touch the adjacent fuel-quantity indication probe.
At least six states have passed proclamations in June recognizing aviation and/or general aviation, marking a growing acknowledgment of the important role the industry plays for the economy and the nation, says the Alliance for Aviation Across America. This brings the total number of states that have adopted proclamations to 29, but Selena Shilad, executive director for the Alliance, says much more work remains to ensure that aviation is recognized in all 50 states.
