BOMBARDIER DHC-8-101, -102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -315, -401 and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1157; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-137-AD; Amendment 39-16674; AD 2011-09-12] – Install a drain system for the lower windshield frames. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent trapped water on the bottom of the cockpit windshield frames from causing corrosion that could lead to the structural degradation and inflight loss of the windshield.
Miami Executive Aviation has expanded the hours that U.S. Customs operates on the field at Florida’s Opa Locka Executive Airport. Previously, Customs was only available until 9 p.m.; now, the airport can accept international aircraft arrivals until midnight year-round.
Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly spent last week in Wichita as he took on his new role as the temporary chief of Cessna Aircraft and faced the task of stemming losses at the 84-year-old company. Donnelly took the reins of the Textron subsidiary on an interim basis in the wake of the surprising departure of Jack Pelton.
The used business aircraft inventory has dropped, indicating a continued recovery for the industry, say two reports released last week. Corporate aviation information provider Amstat points to a reduction in the used jet inventory, which has been a drag on new airframe sales. And Utica, N.Y.-based business aviation research company Jetnet reports that all the leading indicators in the used business jet market are showing signs of an early-stage recovery, except for continued softness in average asking price.
As the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) prepares to release its quarterly shipment results early this week, President and CEO Pete Bunce concedes, “The first quarter was not as robust as we would’ve hoped.” Cessna already has reported flat deliveries in the first quarter, while Embraer and Gulfstream were down compared with first quarter 2010. And, while Hawker Beechcraft’s overall deliveries were up, its business jet shipments slid (see article on Page 5).
Eurocontrol has issued an updated action plan to deal with calls for expanded runway incursion incident reporting. The 104-page document spells out “the need to improve the quality of data provided in runway incursion incident reports and the need to disseminate the lessons that can be learned from the actual incidents.” The action is driven by an increase in runway incursions in Europe, which, on average, occur at the rate of two a day, Eurocontrol notes.
AERONCA (Burl A. Rogers) Model 15AC and S15AC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0318; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-033-AD] – This proposal would extend the comment period on a proposed AD that would require operators to conduct repetitive inspections of the upper and lower main wing spar cap angles for cracks or corrosion and install inspection access panels. The proposed AD also would require operators to replace the wing spar cap angles if moderate or severe corrosion is found and apply corrosion inhibitor.
The Los Angeles City Council, at the behest of Santa Monica area member Bill Rosendahl and council member Janice Hahn, late last month unanimously passed a resolution in favor of shutting down all six flight schools at Santa Monica Municipal Airport. Rosendahl and Hahn cited safety, noise and pollution concerns. Hahn previously said that flight school students and instructors were performing hazardous maneuvers over densely populated areas, but she cited no specific examples. She and Rosendahl nevertheless want to see the flight schools moved to an unpopulated area.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1304; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-254-AD; Amendment 39-16644; AD 2011-07-07] – Conduct a detailed inspection for minimum clearance between the Fuel Quantity Tank Unit (FQTU) wiring harness and the outer wing FQTU hole reinforcement structure, per the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF28-57-097, Rev. 1 (dated June 10, 2010). If the minimum clearance is insufficient, rework the surrounding structure before further flight to remove the possibility of an ignition source.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT King Air B300 and B300C (C-12W) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0436; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-009-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to update the performance charts in the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH). This proposal, which was prompted by an error found in the takeoff speeds and field lengths published in the FAA-approved AFM, is intended to ensure that the published data in the manual and the POH are correct and correspond with the published data in the pilot’s checklist.
AERObridge, the nonprofit organization devoted to coordinating emergency aviation response during disasters, is participating in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Level Exercise (NLE 2011) this month. The exercise is designed to prepare for and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophe. NLE 2011 will simulate a major earthquake in the central U.S.
DOWTY R321/4-82-F/8, R324/4-82-F/9, R333/4-82-F/12 and R334/4-82-F/13 propeller assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2010-1270; Directorate Identifier 2001-NE-50-AD] – This proposed revision of an existing directive (AD 2005-25-10) would provide operators with an optional terminating action (installation of a new propeller hub) to the repetitive ultrasonic inspections of prop hubs required by the earlier AD. This proposal is designed to prevent propeller hub failure due to cracks in the hub, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.
JOHN MORABITO was promoted to senior VP of CIT Aerospace’s Financial Institutions Group. Morabito will manage asset sales, pricing and structuring, investment strategies, and raising capital for CIT Aerospace. He previously was a director in the Financial Institutions Group, where he oversaw third-party financing, loan origination, purchasing secondary market loans and securities, and asset sales. He joined CIT in 2001 as an analyst in the pricing group.
Raisbeck Engineering is sponsoring the first international King Air & PT6A Performance Conference, which will be held May 12 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This event is a continuation of a series that started in Van Nuys, Calif., in February. Raisbeck plans to host and participate in several other King Air-focused events later this year, including conferences in Wichita and Cape Cod, Mass.
Despite the uncertain economy in recent years, the European Business Aviation Association’s membership has more than doubled since 2005. The association picked up 40 new members last year alone, when the European economy was particularly tumultuous. EBAA credits a more proactive membership recruitment approach in 2010—the association gave a trial membership to anyone who attended last year’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition. The organization went from 211 full members in 2005 to 458 in 2011, including 23 members from the U.S.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CT7-8, -8A, -8A1, -8E and -8F5 engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0392; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-12-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install an accessory gearbox axis-A oil slinger nut on the axis-A shaft assembly, per the instructions of GE Aircraft Engines CT7-8 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin (SB) No. CT7-8 S/B 72-0033 (dated Feb. 11, 2011).
May 11—American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ 2011 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C., (703) 264-7511, www.aiaa.org May 12—Society of Experimental Test Pilots’ Northwest Regional Symposium, Future of Flight Aviation Center, Paine Field, Everett, Wash., (661) 942-9574, www.setp.org May 16-17—“Introduction to Jet Engines, A Practical Perspective,” Ohio Aerospace Institute, Cleveland, (970) 887-3155, www.practicalaero.com
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has directed Hawker Beechcraft to pay about $14.2 million to Airbus to settle a two-year dispute over Hawker Beechcraft’s purchase volume of fuselages, wings, track kits and spare parts, Hawker Beechcraft says. Airbus filed a request for arbitration with the ICC in April 2009, seeking up to nearly $60 million in damages from Hawker Beechcraft for breach of its purchase obligations.
U.K.-based Securus Escrow has seen growth in the number of inquiries from the international business aviation market. “We’ve seen a rise in demand covering a variety of aviation sectors, including aircraft brokers, engine repairs, helicopter sales and even training schools,” says Managing Director Geoff Gates. One driving force is the rapid business aviation growth in areas like Asia, the Middle East and India, says Gates.
STACY JACKSON was promoted to director of contracts and risk management for regional fractional aircraft ownership provider Executive AirShare. Jackson, who joined Executive AirShare in 2008, previously was manager of contracts. She has more than 10 years of experience in risk management, paralegal and contract management.
Aviation market intelligence consultancy Jetnet will hold its first Global Business Aviation Summit June 6-7, in New York, based on the theme “Igniting Ideas. Provoking Change.” “We wanted to hold the summit to discuss economic details in business aviation,” says Paul Cardarelli, Jetnet’s director of sales and marketing. “We wanted thought leaders to raise the dialog.”
Empire Aviation Group (EAG) in Dubai has announced plans to begin operations in India, with a new branch office opening in Mumbai by mid year. The new branch will eventually offer the full range of EAG services on the subcontinent, with an initial focus on aircraft sales and management.
