DASSAULT Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0042; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-267-AD; Amendment 39-16695; AD 2011-10-14] — Perform a visual inspection for correct installation of emergency brake system No. 2, per the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F50-515 (dated Oct. 12, 2010). If the brake system is installed incorrectly, reinstall it correctly before further flight.
GE unveiled a new brand name for its latest business jet engine—Passport—the company announced at last week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. The engine, chosen as an integrated power system for Bombardier’s long-range Global 7000 and 8000 business jets, incorporates many of the advanced commercial and military technologies demonstrated in the company’s TechX program to develop a powerplant family for business jets.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND EC135 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0453; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-16-AD] — This proposed AD would require operators to insert into the Rotorcraft Flight Manual a manual synchronization procedure for pilots that is designed to prevent failure of the Full-Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) to automatically meter fuel.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0471; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-219-AD] — This proposed AD would require operators to determine the part numbers of the left and right elevator torque tube assemblies and, if necessary, replace the tube assemblies or the elevator torque tube rivets and reidentify the assemblies, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-27-50, Rev. C (dated July 26, 2010).
May 24-25—National Air Transportation Association Line Service Supervisor Training, Windsor Locks, Conn., www.nata.aero/events May 25—The Wings Club Luncheon (“Sight” Lecture) featuring General Duncan McNabb, Commander U. S. Transportation Command, The Yale Club, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] May 26-27—National Air Transportation Association OSHA Safety and Health Training for Ground Ops, Windsor Locks, Conn., www.nata.aero/events
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is withdrawing a controversial amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill, saying it might have bogged down conference negotiations on the legislation. The provision would have required FAA to recognize the various segments of the industry and the differing operating characteristics as it creates new regulations. But the amendment had drawn criticism that it would have made it harder for the FAA to make safety rules such as those being put in place in response to a Continental Airlines crash in 2009.
Hawker Beechcraft has developed new retrofit packages for the Hawker 750 and King Air 200GT and is approaching milestones in its upgrade programs for the Hawker 450 and 800. The company detailed the efforts at last week’s European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Geneva.
JOHN BLATCHLEY has joined Avantair as Northeast regional sales director. Blatchley will be responsible for expanding Avantair’s fractional aircraft ownership program in the Northeast and Eastern Canada, as well as management relationships with existing customers. He formerly served with Columbia Aircraft Sales, where he managed Piper sales in the Northeast, and has held management positions with Cutter Aviation.
Work on the Hawker 450, Hawker Beechcraft’s clean-sheet twinjet, is not going to resume soon, says company Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture. The project was shelved when the economic downturn began and is not expected to be restarted for a while. “Not in the next 12 months,” says Boisture. The same might go for a new Beechcraft turboprop single, but Boisture admits to having taken “some actions.”
Rockwell Collins is planning to offer a synthetic vision upgrade for aircraft equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics as both forward fit and aftermarket installations beginning in 2012. The technology improves situational awareness in low visibility and unfamiliar territory by using a computer-generated three-dimensional depiction of terrain. Rockwell Collins notes that more than 4,000 aircraft are equipped with Pro Line 21 and 300 more enter service each year.
FlightSafety International is increasing its training offerings for Bombardier aircraft to include the Global 5000 Vision and Global XRS Vision. The training company is designing a full-flight simulator that will be Level D qualified, along with other training equipment and courseware. Plans call for the new Global training to be offered at FlightSafety’s center in Columbus, Ohio. FlightSafety currently offers Bombardier Global Express training at its Greater Philadelphia Area Learning Center in Wilmington, Del.
12,751—Attendance at the 11th annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition last week grew from last year’s 11,174 to 12,751. This was the event’s second highest attendance. The convention, held May 17-19, drew a record 551 exhibitors who occupied 2,074 booth spaces and brought 62 aircraft to Geneva International Airport. The number of exhibitors was up from last year’s 436. Booth spaces sold topped the previous best of 1,691. The number of aircraft on static display was down slightly from last year’s 65, but the ramp was full.
JENNY MUNRO was tapped to serve as managing director for London Biggin Hill Airport in the U.K. Munro succeeds Peter Lonergan, who retired after serving as airport director since 1994. She formerly spent 11 years in the Middle East with Dubai International Airport and Emirates Airline.
Some 36,000 Cessna airplanes will be affected by a new airworthiness directive that will require more rigorous, repetitive 100-hr. or 12-month inspections of seat rails, rollers and other related hardware. AD 2011-10-09, which goes into effect June 17, adds steps to the seat inspection procedures specified in an earlier directive (AD 87-20-03 R2), which is being superseded.
A Brazilian federal judge last week convicted two ExcelAire pilots and one of two controllers on trial for the Sept. 29, 2006, midair collision of an Embraer Legacy 600 with a GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Boeing 737. On May 16, Judge Murilo Mendes, from the state of Mato Grasso, sentenced the two ExcelAire pilots, Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino, to four years and four months of community service after finding them guilty on one charge stemming from the crash.
Dassault Aviation has unveiled the Falcon 2000S, a replacement for the Falcon 2000DX. Announced during last week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, the new model is being developed to compete directly against other super-midsize business aircraft, including the Bombardier Challenger 300, Gulfstream G250 and Hawker 4000.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has appointed Chris Ward to the newly created position of VP of new product development and interactive marketing. He will be responsible for online information, products and services. Ward joins the association with a background in e-commerce, most recently as senior director of e-commerce for the Bradford Exchange. He also has served as VP and general manger of e-commerce for Hanley Wood e-Media, VP of e-commerce for Time Life and director of National Geographic Online.
MATT DAVIS was named director of business development for TAC Air. Davis will be responsible for expanding the TAC Air network through acquisition opportunities, new product/services development and assistance with base operations. Davis previously was VP of aviation marketing for Flightaware and has experience as an FBO general manager, and sales and marketing manager. He also has held various operational roles.
EMBRAER ERJ 170 and ERJ 190-100 STD, ERJ 190-100 LR, ERJ 190-100 IGW, ERJ 190-200 STD, ERJ 190-200 LR, and ERJ 190-200 IGW airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0038; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-153-AD; Amendment 39-16684; AD 2011-10-03] – Conduct a detailed inspection for drill marks at the left and right lower-ring region of the rear pressure bulkhead between the circumferential splice joint and rear skin between Stringers 12 and 13, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 170-53-0082 or 190-53-0042 (both Rev. 01 and dated April 28, 2010).
CHRISTOPHER SUGDEN was appointed manager of Ocean Sky’s engineering base at London Luton Airport, where he will oversee all business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services at the facility. The Luton facility provides authorized maintenance services for Bombardier business jets and supports aircraft from other manufacturers, including Dassault.
Universal Weather & Aviation is expanding its range of service offerings with the acquisition of inflight catering and concierge specialist Air Chef Holdings. The acquisition includes Air Chef’s divisions: Air Culinaire, Air Culinaire International and CaterLink Worldwide.
Cessna’s recent analysts day in Wichita gave confidence that the company “is a second-half story” tied to expected announcements at the National Business Aviation Association’s convention this fall, says Morgan Stanley analyst Heidi Wood. While Cessna has been on pace for one new plane/major refreshment per year, “we believe the next 2+ years will be more ambitious.” She believes that a new plane and two refreshments could be on deck.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1306; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-112-AD; Amendment 39-16682; AD 2011-10-01] – Conduct repetitive functional tests of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) heater. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent a potential dormant failure of the RAT heater, which could lead to the freezing of the RAT mechanism. This could, in turn, result in insufficient electrical power to operate the fly-by-wire system and subsequent loss of airplane control.
Despite environmental issues and continuing economic difficulties, business aviation flight activity is up 5%, according to the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).
