Canadian manufacturer Heroux-Devtek is the latest aerospace company to move part of its operations to Mexico. The company last week announced plans to build facilities spanning up to 150,000 sq. ft. at Queretaro Aerospace Park in Mexico, saying the project has received all the necessary approvals from local authorities.
Nearly 160 Kansas aviation leaders assembled in Wichita last week, renewing a call for more favorable tax policies and the elimination of unnecessary regulations that could hamper the industry. Those sentiments were expressed during an Economic Summit held April 25 at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT).
May 17–19—11th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, Geneva, Switzerland, www.ebace.aero May 20—European Aviation Club luncheon featuring Siim Kalas, VP-European Commission and European Commissioner for Transport, Cercle de Lorraine, Brussels, e-mail [email protected] June 3—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Taxes Seminar, San Francisco, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
SICMA AERO SEAT 88xx, 89xx, 90xx, 91xx, 92xx, 93xx, 95xx and 96xx series passenger seats [Docket No. FAA-2010-0040; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-203-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to visually inspect the seat backrest links for cracks, per the instructions of Sicma Aero Seat Service Bulletin 90-25-013, Issue 4 (dated March 19, 2004). If any cracks were found, operators would need to replace both backrest links of the affected seats with new, improved backrest links.
Degree-seeking aviation students in Arizona can apply for the 2011 Angel MedFlight Scholarship for Excellence in Aviation. Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance will award this college scholarship in August, and the recipient will receive $3,000 toward tuition for a relevant program at an Arizona college or university. All entries must be postmarked by June 30 to be considered for the 2011 award. To learn more about this program or to download an application, please visit http://www.angelmedflight.com/azbaascholarship.html.
India wants to introduce 100 seaplanes into service in the next 10 years to support tourism and essential services to its coastal and island territories. The federal government has allowed 100% foreign direct investment in the seaplane sector and has urged overseas operators to take advantage of the offer. India is looking for more foreign direct investment in this sector so seaplanes can be introduced on a large scale not only for tourism, but also to provide essential services such as medical aid during floods and other emergencies.
Major U.S. aviation industry groups are urging congressional lawmakers to continue to support the FAA contract tower program as the legislators begin work on the fiscal 2012 budget. In a letter to House and Senate appropriators, the nine groups ask that the program be fully funded in the Transportation Department’s fiscal 2012 budget. Full funding, as requested by the Obama administration, would be $121.8 million for the FAA contract tower program and $10 million for the contract tower cost-sharing program.
Missouri has become one of the latest states to honor the general aviation industry, with Gov. Jay Nixon (D) issuing a proclamation declaring March as “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” Missouri is the 21st state to officially recognize the value of GA and business aviation. The proclamation was made during the fifth annual “State Aviation Day” in the state capitol of Jefferson City. Across the country, business aviation contributes some $150 billion to the economy. Missouri has 131 public-use community airports, 15,882 active pilots and 6,814 GA aircraft.
Professional Resources In System Management (PRISM), a unit of Argus, has teamed with Honeywell to provide its Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) through the flight planning module on Honeywell’s Global Data Center (GDC) website. “We are very pleased that the Honeywell GDC has selected the PRISM Flight Risk Assessment Tool to be their integrated solution,” says Bill Yantiss, PRISM executive VP.
Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered its 500th PlaneView glass cockpit, 8 yr. after the flight deck was first delivered. The Savannah, Ga., plane maker reached the PlaneView milestone with the delivery of the 209th G450 aircraft. Additionally, the company has delivered 200 synthetic vision systems and more than 100 enhanced navigation systems. Gulfstream was the first original equipment manufacturer to obtain FAA certification of synthetic vision in 2008. FAA certified Gulfstream’s enhanced navigation system in 2010.
Gulfstream Aerospace has expanded its Airborne Product Support (APS) program with the addition of a backup G100 aircraft, three pilots and two technicians to provide aircraft-on-ground support. Gulfstream launched the airborne aircraft maintenance and support program in May 2002 to provide around-the-clock service for customers in North America and the Caribbean. In addition to two aircraft, Gulfstream has dedicated four flight crews, a full-time manager and nine technicians to APS.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue continues to voice his opposition to FAA’s effort to limit the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, which enables operators to ask FAA to withhold their registration information from flight tracking agreements. “It poses a security threat to users of business aviation,” Donohue told the Chamber of Commerce’s 10th annual Aviation Summit last week.
OTTO WRIGHT was named manager of KaiserAir’s fixed-base operation in Oakland, Calif. Wright will be responsible for KaiserAir’s 24-hr., 365-day-a-year line service operation, along with the executive terminal and aircraft storage facilities of more than 115,000 sq. ft. and a ramp area of 16 acres. He was previously director of North America business development with Jetex Flight Support and director of sales and marketing with Far East Russia Aircraft Services.
DORNIER 328-100 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-233-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a one-time inspection of all rudder trim and spring tab fixation brackets to ensure that they are installed correctly, per the instructions of 328 Support Services Service Bulletins SB-328-55-493 (for Model 328-100 airplanes) and SB-328J-55-245 (for Model 328-300 airplanes), both dated April 21, 2010.
JetFlite International (JFI), an aircraft management and charter provider in Long Beach, Calif., has added a Challenger 601 aircraft to its charter fleet. The aircraft is based at the JetFlite International Center in Farmingdale, N.Y.
As the U.K. government considers extending air passenger duty to business jets, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is fighting the proposal, saying those in the industry were omitted from discussions on the matter. George Osborne, the U.K.’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, has proposed a flat fee at the highest standard rate on each business aircraft passenger, regardless of the distance to be flown.
Up to 20 Legacy 600/650 business jets a year could be produced at Embraer’s assembly plant in Harbin, China, where the airframer currently builds ERJ-145s, believes analyst JP Morgan. Embraer and AVIC earlier this month announced an agreement to build the Legacy in Harbin, a compromise that averted a shutdown of the production line there altogether. Embraer has built ERJ-145s in Harbin since 2003, but is discontinuing production of the aircraft.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and Airports Council International-NA (ACI-NA) are at odds over a bill designed to reduce “unfair government competition” with the private sector. Introduced by Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) in the House and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) in the Senate, the legislation calls for government agencies to procure from private sources and seeks a study on commercial activity conducted by the government.
Rockwell Collins unveiled its HGS-3500 head-up guidance system for light to medium-size business aircraft last week at Flight Safety Foundation’s Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar in San Diego. The system is being designed by the firm’s Portland HGS subsidiary.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has scheduled a May 24 hearing on the probable cause of the Aug. 9, 2010 crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and four others, but last week the board released a series of factual reports that detail the events surrounding the accident. The aircraft involved, a de Havilland Canada DHC-3T (N455A), crashed into tree-covered mountains about 10 mi. northeast of Aleknagik, Alaska. The pilot, Stevens and three other passengers were killed.
The trial of two American pilots charged with involuntary manslaughter resulting from the inflight collision of an Embraer Legacy and a Brazilian airliner is expected to conclude in the next few weeks. “We’re hopeful about the outcome,” David Rimmer says, “but personally, I’m not very optimistic.”
Hyannis, Mass.-based Cape Air has teamed with Italian manufacturer Tecnam for a new nine-seat aircraft to augment its service to seasonal markets that include Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and the Caribbean. Cape Air currently flies 67 Cessna 402s, but says its “need for additional seats far outweighs the available supply of [C402] aircraft.” Cape Air selected Tecnam after a “worldwide search,” the carrier says, adding that Tecnam has “a compatible corporate culture to Cape Air.”
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0515; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-196-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect, repair (if necessary) and reinforce the transcowl assemblies, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-78-008, Rev. B (dated Dec. 22, 2010) or Service Bulletin 670SH-78-029, Rev. C (dated Nov. 10, 2010).
