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.
BAE Systems has sold its asset management business and commercial aircraft lease portfolio to New York management firm Fortress Investment Group for $187 million. BAE Systems will transition 151 BAE legacy aircraft to Fortress, a portfolio composed of BAE 146 and Avro regional jets, as well as the Jetstream and ATP turboprops. However, BAE plans to retain its engineering and support services. According to spokesman David Dorman, BAE has ceased to function as an operating lessor largely because defense remains its core capability.
Garmin is seen as a serious contender for next-generation avionics contracts after placing its G5000 avionics suite on the Citation Ten announced at last fall’s NBAA convention, says a Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst.
MAX DOLSDORF joined Jet Support Services as a technical services representative as part of its European technical services team based in Zurich. He formerly was with Jet Aviation, and also worked as an engineer for LTU Airline.
Hawker Beechcraft’s final pre-production Hawker 200 completed its first flight, joining the certification program, the company said Friday. The other aircraft in the program include the first Hawker 200 and two modified Premier aircraft, which will be used for systems certification, functional and reliability testing and interiors certification. Development testing of the Premier follow-on is more than 50% complete and meeting performance targets, says Executive VP Shawn Vick. The aircraft is designed to cruise at 473 kts, reach altitudes up to 45,000 ft.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0530; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-012-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain elevator trim tab actuators with serviceable units, per the instructions of Daher-Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-190-27 (dated January 2011). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent a trim tab from jamming, which could reduce aircraft controllability. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 377 aircraft on the U.S.
FinServe Aviation Insurance, a European business aviation insurance broker, has developed a new insurance program – FinServe European Business Aviation Placement (F-EBAP) – which is designed to cover a broader range of risks associated with owning and operating business aircraft in Europe. “Most policies are very limited, covering the aircraft only,” says FinServe CEO Guy Broddin.
Jet Aviation Moscow Vnukovo recently signed an agreement with Vnukovo Invest, a co-owner of Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, to expand its operations. The agreement, which strengthens the existing relationship with Vnukovo, will facilitate plans to occupy a new hangar, storage and office facility later this year. The agreement further provides for additional light scheduled maintenance capabilities. “The business aviation community in Russia is strong and growing,” says Ian Ludlow, general director at Jet Aviation Moscow Vnukovo.
STÉPHANE LEFEBVRE was appointed VP of finance and CFO for CAE. He replaces Alain Raquepas, who is leaving the company. Lefebvre has been with CAE since 1997, most recently as vice president of finance, military and new core markets.
VIKING AIR LIMITED (de Havilland) DHC-3 Otter airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0543; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-018-AD; Amendment 39-16709; AD 2011-12-02] – For aircraft powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 or -12JR turboprop engine, incorporate revised airspeed limitations into the Airplane Flight Manual and mark the airspeed indicator accordingly.
SIKORSKY S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0548; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-025-AD; Amendment 39-16710; AD 2011-12-03] – Perform nondestructive inspections, eddy-current inspections or fluorescent-penetrant inspections of each main gearbox (MGB) upper housing assembly rib on the left, right and forward MGB mounting foot, per the instructions of Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 92-63-025A, Rev. A (dated May 12, 2011). If any cracks are found, replace the MGB upper housing assembly with an airworthy assembly.
