BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0564; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-021-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace water accumulator assemblies installed on the pitot and static lines of the air data computer with new or serviceable assemblies, in accordance with the instructions of either Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-34-147, Rev. B (dated March 8, 2011) or 670BA-34-030, Rev. B (dated March 23, 2010), as applicable.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311 and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0479; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-154-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to rework the cockpit door striker plate and replace the latch block on certain aircraft, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletins 8-52-58, Rev. A (dated Nov. 17, 2006) and 8-52-61 (dated Oct. 20, 2006).
The fractional business is rebounding, Flight Options CEO Michael Silvestro said last week at the National Business Aviation Association’s Regional Forum at New York’s Westchester County Airport, and he expects to add another half dozen or more jets to his 101 aircraft fleet by year’s end.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Global Vision flight deck has been awarded certification by Transport Canada. The flight deck is the first application for the new Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite. The avionics maker announced in April that it had obtained all FAA technical standard orders for Pro Line Fusion. As part of the Global Vision flight deck, Bombardier Aerospace and Rockwell Collins will be the first to certify synthetic vision on a head-up display (HUD).
The Salina Airport Authority’s board of directors approved a $218,994 design contract with Wichita-based Howard and Helmer Architecture to handle renovations at the Kansas facility’s Hangar 959. Hawker Beechcraft is vacating the hangar, known as Big Bertha. The building can handle narrowbody aircraft and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.
JITKA BRETOVA was promoted to chief financial officer for ABS Jets. Bretova has served with ABS Jets for three years, beginning as an accountant. She became finance director at the beginning of this year.
TWC Aviation has added an Embraer Legacy 650 to its management fleet. The aircraft, the first U.S.-registered Legacy 650 to be managed, will be based in Singapore and added to TWC’s air carrier certificate. The company also operates four Legacy 600s, a predecessor of the 650.
Al Bateen Executive Airport has signed up private operator Rotana Jet Aviation as a new based operator. The new company, which began operations last month with a Gulfstream G450, will lease Building/Hangar 27 at the airport, where it plans to expand its scope of services to offer line maintenance and other technical works.
Air Methods, already the largest air medical transportation provider, is set to significantly expand its reach with a $200 million deal to acquire OF Air Holdings Corp., the parent of Omniflight Helicopters. Based in Addison, Texas, Omniflight provides services in 18 states using 75 base locations and a fleet of about 100 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Omniflight would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Methods once the deal is closed.
FAA last week corrected a technical error in its regulations governing fractional aircraft ownership programs that were issued in 2003. Specifically, the amendment revises Part 91.1091 (f)(2) to replace the term “check pilot” with “flight instructor.” “Because the section title applies to flight instructors, it is obvious that the use of the term ‘check pilot’ in (f)(2) should have been ‘flight instructor,’” the agency says. The change is effective June 2.
Greenpoint Technologies and Aviation Technical Services (ATS) have signed installation agreements for two Boeing Business Jet aircraft completions. Installations will be performed at ATS’ facility at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., which is located adjacent to Boeing’s 777 and 747-8 production lines.
JetCorp Technical Services, based in St. Louis, secured supplemental type certification for installation of the Aircell cabin telecommunications router (CTR) aboard a Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet. The Aircell CTR provides in-cabin Wi-Fi capability for the Gogo Biz Inflight Internet service, which enables passengers to use BlackBerry, iPhone and other devices to access the Internet, email and corporate VPNs. While in flight, passengers can enjoy connectivity speeds equivalent to ground-based hotspots.
Higher than expected business jet sales boosted Bombardier Aerospace’s earnings in the first quarter ending April 30, with revenues up $200 million to $2.2 billion, Bombardier Aerospace officials told analysts on June 1. Earnings before interest and taxes grew from $133 million to $141 million, or 6.4% of revenues. “Bombardier Aerospace has started to benefit from a stronger business aircraft market, especially at the high end,” says Bombardier President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) helicopter pilot’s decision to take off from a remote landing site without conducting a thorough assessment of the weather and nighttime conditions was the primary cause of a fatal crash in 2009. The safety board says contributing factors were the NMSP organizational culture (which emphasized mission completion over safety), as well as pilot fatigue, stress and self-induced pressure to complete the mission.
Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly signaled his continued emphasis on operations and supply chain with the hiring of his former colleague at GE Aviation, Scott Ernest, to take the helm of Cessna Aircraft. The selection of Ernest comes less than a month after the May 2 announcement that Cessna Chairman, CEO and President Jack Pelton was stepping down.
Gulfstream’s first G650 aircraft, Serial Number 6001, completed a 1-hr. and 39-min. flight May 28 and two subsequent 3-hr. flights last week, marking the resumption of the flight-test program that had been suspended in the wake of the April 2 crash of Serial Number 6003. Although the cause of the crash has yet to be determined, Gulfstream says it was assured that it was safe to move forward with the flight-test program.
Santa Monica, Calif.’s long battle to ban large business jets from flying into Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) has finally ended after local government officials said the city would no longer pursue further legal action. The announcement came from City Manager Rod Gould on May 21, when he spoke at the annual meeting of the nonprofit community group Friends of Sunset Park. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected the city’s petition to overrule a finding in January by FAA that the ban was illegal (BA, Jan. 24/1).
International Learn to Fly Day, which was held at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland on May 21, drew more than 350 people. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, Frederick Flight Center and Cirrus Aircraft gave free flights to 140 passengers during the second annual event. AOPA President and CEO Craig Fuller addressed a town hall meeting on the association’s efforts to grow the pilot population, along with its activities on Capitol Hill.
Landmark Aviation recently celebrated the completion of a $2 million remodeling of its fixed-base operation in Greensboro, N.C. The project involved structural changes that included a new passenger lounge, VIP lounge, bistro and conference room. The facility makeover also included an update of paint, flooring and furniture.
The grounding of Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 7Xs continued on Friday, but the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the FAA last week each issued approvals to enable operators to conduct ferry flights. EASA issued an emergency airworthiness directive on May 26 to prohibit Falcon 7X operation, and FAA followed suit May 27. The grounding came at the request of Dassault, which had received a report of “an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent” in one of its fly-by-wire trijets in Malaysia on May 25.
Six general aviation organizations urged Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief John Pistole to work with industry to provide relief from Presidential temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). “TFRs, which are one of the tools used to protect the President, create a direct economic impact through loss of revenue for aviation businesses,” the associations told the TSA administrator in a June 2 letter.
Special conditions for certification of the Bombardier Global Express and Global 5000 head-up display with a Video Synthetic Vision System (SVS) have been issued by FAA. The agency contends that the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this novel design feature. Therefore, Bombardier must show that BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes equipped with an SVS will meet certain safety standards. The special conditions are effective June 30.
The U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture have recently signed agreements with the United Mexican States to establish guidance and protocols for aerial firefighting operations along the border. These agreements enable firefighting contingents from one country to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, establishing 10-mi. areas on each side of the border as “zones of mutual assistance,” say Helicopter Association International officials. However, aircraft planning to enter Mexico’s airspace must obtain permission from the Interagency Dispatch Center.
Garmin International received Transport Canada validation of a supplemental type certificate covering the installation of the Garmin G500H cockpit in Eurocopter AS350B2, AS350B3 andEC130B4 helicopters. The validation enables Garmin dealers to install a G500H in these Canadian-registered helicopter models. The G500H is an all-glass avionics suite designed specifically for the VFR Part 27 helicopter market.
OnAir and TriaGnoSys have joined to offer a service that enables business jet passengers to use their mobile devices and laptops for calls, text messages, emailing and Internet browsing, as they do on the ground. OnAir is the telecomm services provider, with TriaGnoSys providing the hardware and software for both the aircraft and the ground facilities.
