Duncan Aviation’s center in Lincoln, Neb., has added new authorizations to its Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) repair station. The authorizations cover maintenance of Dassault Falcon 900DX, 2000 and 7X models, making the Lincoln center the only Dassault-authorized service center with such approval from the Chinese, Duncan says. The Cessna Citation 680 and Beechcraft Super King Air B300 also were added to the CAAC certificate. Further authorizations covered the Honeywell GTCP36-100 and GTCP36-150 auxiliary power units.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0307; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-111-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the nuts and bolts that attach the actuator mounting bracket to the main landing gear shock strut, per the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 2000-32-073, Rev. 01 (dated Oct. 20, 2009).
London Oxford Airport reports that jet movements rose year over year by 31% and overall business aviation movements increased 18% in the past 12 months. The airport’s results contrast with the average 5% increase recorded by the 27 European states during the same period. Jet fuel sales at its business aviation facility, Oxfordjet, were up 19% during the period.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) named Amanda Joyner as director of government affairs. Joyner formerly served as senior legislative assistant for Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.), where she worked with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on aviation, highway and Coast Guard issues. She also has experience with the congressional appropriations process, along with transportation security, energy and tax issues.
Rizon Jet has opened a new two-level fixed-base operation and VIP lounge at London Biggin Hill Airport. The FBO/VIP lounge at the U.K. airport will cater to an international clientele, as well as Middle Eastern families and business travelers. The ground floor includes a mixture of five open and semi-private seating areas, and the mezzanine floor offers semi-enclosed lounge areas, as well as meeting facilities, including a boardroom with a video conferencing capability, a private office and a children’s corner. The entire facility comprises an area of 130,000 sq. ft.
Holland Sheltair Aviation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has unified its fixed-base operation, property leasing and facility construction divisions under one brand – Sheltair. As part of the rebranding effort, Sheltair redesigned the company logo, collateral materials and website, www.sheltairaviation.com. The company was previously segmented into three lines of business – Sheltair Aviation Services, Sheltair Aviation Facilities and Holland Builders, Inc.
Tom Aniello, VP of marketing for Cessna, is leaving the company, effective immediately, as part of a shake-up of the aircraft manufacturer’s sales and marketing team, according to an internal email sent by Mark Paolucci, senior VP sales and marketing. The changes come a little more than a week after Textron’s first quarter 2011 earnings call disclosed that Cessna posted a $38 million loss during the first three months of the year.
The Maine Supreme Court last week ruled that the Maine State Tax Assessor had to return nearly $26,000 in taxes levied against an out-of-state company, Blue Yonder, for briefly operating a Cirrus SR22 in the state during the first year after purchasing the light airplane.
FRANK GRAHAM was appointed director of commercial business development for Air Methods. Graham will lead the company’s Products Division commercial sales in both the helicopter and fixed-wing markets, including eamergency medical service, airborne law enforcement, search and rescue, corporate, utility and special missions. He previously spent 16 years with LifePort, most recently as chief operating officer of the Aircraft Medical and Aircraft Seating business units.
SAAB 340A, SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0042; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-010-AD; Amendment 39-16664; AD 2011-09-02] – Inspect the fuselage for corrosion and cracking behind the external adapter plate of the antennae installation and make repairs, if necessary. This AD is designed to detect and correct corrosion and cracking behind the external adapter plate of the antennae before it reduces the structural integrity of the fuselage, which could lead to rapid depressurization of the airplane. This directive will affect 201 airplanes on the U.S.
Internal evaluations and safety management system (SMS) training have proved to be trouble spots for many corporate and charter operators, according to a new audit report released by Argus subsidiary Professional Resources In System Management (PRISM). PRISM released its 2010 SMS Audit Results report, which focuses on SMS and Emergency Response Planning (ERP) that were found by auditors to have the highest number of deficiencies.
Mexican aviation authorities and FAA have announced a two-phase plan for more efficient operations over the Gulf of Mexico. Current separation requirements are 90 nm in the Miami sector and 100 nm elsewhere over the Gulf. The first phase, set to begin on Oct. 20, will reduce lateral separation requirements to 50 nm for aircraft authorized for RNP 10 or RNP 4 operations. Aircraft not approved for at least RNP 10 will still be allowed to operate over the Gulf of Mexico, but they may receive less direct routings.
CESSNA 172 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1243; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-058-AD; Amendment 39-16626; AD 2011-06-02] – For certain airplanes powered by Thielert engines, install a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, replace the FADEC backup battery every 12 calendar months, and replace the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual.
The audit committee for NetJets parent Berkshire Hathaway has concluded that former NetJets Chairman and CEO David Sokol violated the company’s business ethics standards amid a suspicion of insider trading over the $9.7 billion acquisition of specialty chemical company Lubrizol Corp.
Rizon Jet’s base in Doha, Qatar, has won Qatar CAA certification as a Part 145 line-maintenance and repair station. Rizon Jet holds approvals for Bombardier Challenger 604/605 and Hawker 900XP aircraft. The center also provides support on wheels, tires and batteries. The new Rizon Jet facility can also support some selected U.S.-based Bombardier business aircraft types, as well as Hawker 700 and 900XP aircraft registered in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Isle of Man.
Hawker Beechcraft tapped Absolute Aviation in Lanseria, South Africa, to serve as its exclusive Beechcraft distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Africa represents a huge opportunity for us as travel around the continent is becoming increasingly important,” says Sean McGeough, Hawker Beechcraft president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We have already seen strong interest in our aircraft from a number of organizations, including multinationals based there.”
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt fears that funding levels in the House reauthorization bill “would degrade the safe and efficient movement of air traffic today and in the future.” Also speaking during the Chamber’s Aviation Summit last week, Babbitt stressed as budgets tighten, “we will prioritize even more as we go forward. We will carefully choose and deliver the technologies and programs that will most help us improve safety and efficiency.” FAA will review and restructure projects as needed to save money.
An aviation consultant who announced a potential bid to buy Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Industries has put that attempt on hold to see if the offer from China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. Ltd. (CAIGA) comes to fruition.
STEPHEN LAMBRIGHT has joined Xojet as senior VP, marketing and business development. Lambright has more than 20 years of experience introducing new products and services to the market at companies including Autodesk, Narus, Informix, Apprion and NetObjects. Most recently he founded and was VP of marketing and customer services for Apprion, which designs, deploys and manages industrial wireless systems.
Gulfstream Aerospace does not appear to be neither the leader nor the laggard compared with its closest business jet peers with the pace of its recovery, says a new report from JP Morgan. “Bombardier [has seen] the strongest rebound thus far (though aided by the launch of the Global 7000/8000), and Dassault is still reporting net cancellations for the second half of 2010,” writes analyst Joseph Nadol. He predicts that Gulfstream will deliver 78 large-cabin aircraft this year, but 72 next year. “We still have concerns about G450 demand,” he adds.
Bun Air Corporation, a fixed-base operation and aircraft management company based at Bedford County Airport in Pennsylvania, has joined the Avfuel network of fuel providers. Founded in 1974 as a training service for GIs returning home, Bun Air provides a ranging of training, sales, management and line services. In addition, Bun Air is an authorized Cessna Service Center.
Michael Turner has rejoined Hawker Beechcraft as senior product marketing manager for global customer support. Turner will help develop and market new aftermarket programs for the Wichita airframer. Turner, who has more than two decades of media, communications and marketing experience, formerly served as senior manager of public relations for Hawker Beechcraft from September 2005 to December 2007. Most recently he was director of marketing and corporate communications for StandardAero in Tempe, Ariz.
The National Air Transportation Association is calling a bill that passed a California Senate panel last week as the first step in getting much-needed relief from looming flight training regulations. The regulations, to take effect July 1, include a $5,000 registration fee, an annual fee equal to 0.75% of gross revenue, requirements for facilities to maintain a 1:1 current liabilities to current assets ratio and numerous other administrative and recordkeeping requirements, NATA says.
John Burton, who has served as president of Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Fla., will take over as president of the Florida Air Museum (FAM), effective June 1. Sun ’n Fun is launching a national search to find a successor for Burton, who managed the annual fly-in and expo. “John came to Sun ’n Fun more than 10 years ago and raised the profile of our event to a world-class aviation expo,” says FAM Board Chairman and Sun ’n Fun Executive Committee member Pat Hill. “Now we are asking him to repeat his success with the Florida Air Museum.
PACIFIC AEROSPACE 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0379; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-007-AD; Amendment 39-16670; AD 2011-09-08] – Inspect the left-hand and right-hand rudder pedal assemblies for cracks and modify the assemblies if any cracks are found, per the instructions of Pacific Aerospace Limited Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/050, Issue 1 (dated Dec. 15, 2010). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the aviation authority of New Zealand, was prompted by a report of cracks in rudder pedal assemblies at the quadrant attachment.
