Business jet inventory for sale fell 1.4 points to 14.4% in February, according to a new report from aviation consultancy Jetnet. The decline in the percentage of available business jets for sale comes as business jet sales jumped 17.2% in the first two months of the year, compared with the same period in 2010. The business turboprop inventory also dropped from 11.1% in February 2010 to 10.7% in February 2011. The transactions through February, meanwhile, improved 10.4%.
Global Wings was named a Piper Aircraft dealer for the Caribbean and parts of South America, including Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Global Wings is teaming up with private jet broker TSH aero to reach out to the islands with its dealership network. Global Wings has sold more than $240 million in new Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft in the region over the past 10 years.
Gulfstream Aerospace is taking nominations for its Outstanding Flight Award Program. The award recognizes Gulfstream operators, both commercial and governmental, who use their aircraft in the most outstanding and noteworthy manner each year. Nominations are due June 30.
MARY-LOU MURPHY was named manager, public relations and communications for Jet Aviation, with responsibility for all lines of business in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Murphy formerly has served as a senior editor and marketing manager for Nexus Telecom.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0436; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-230-AD; Amendment 39-16643; AD 2011-07-06] – Revise the “Limitations” and “Normal Procedures” sections of the Airplane Flight Manual and revise the maintenance program by incorporating new inspection requirements following activation of the low-heat detection switches. Also, replace any data concentrator units (DCUs) with modified DCUs, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-31-034, Rev. A (dated April 10, 2008).
Air Works, a provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services in India, has received a contract for the maintenance of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) VIP squadron of three Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), say senior Air Force officials. Operated by the Indian Air Force’s Communication squadron, the aircraft carries the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and the other VIPs of the country. The aircraft have a separate state and meeting room, a communication center and seating for at least 48 passengers.
Despite the disruption caused by severe weather on March 31 during the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla., Cessna secured orders for 30 aircraft during the six-day event ending April 3, with a number of them for the company’s newest Corvalis.
Mitsubishi Aircraft and parent Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have confirmed the program schedule for the MRJ regional jet as assembly of the first unit begins in Nagoya. Six months after manufacturing of the first part began, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ceremonially started the riveting of a frame around the cockpit emergency escape hatch.
The House General Aviation Caucus, which has been recruiting new members after the turnover from last fall’s elections, recently topped the 100-member mark again. The House caucus is chaired by Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and John Barrow (D-Ga.). Meanwhile, Senate GA Caucus co-chairs Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) have begun their own recruiting efforts, sending a “Dear Colleague” letter in March to discuss the value of GA.
Bombardier Aerospace has entered into a strategic alliance with Fokker Services for the launch of FLY, a program designed to improve the availability of components and cut repair costs for Dash 8/Q-Series 100/200/300 aircraft operators. The program will also help operators to better predict and budget for material maintenance, Bombardier says.
COMMANDER 112, 112B, 112TC, 112TCA, 114, 114A, 114B and 114TC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0302; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-008-AD; Amendment 39-16650; AD 2011-07-13] – Inspect the elevator spar for cracks. If any cracks are found, replace the spar with a serviceable one. This AD, which was prompted by multiple reports of cracked elevator spars, was issued to prevent structural failure of the spar, which could result in separation of the elevator from the airplane and subsequent loss of control.
ANTHONY SMITH was named VP-sales and marketing for rotating component supplier TECT Power. Smith formerly held business development positions with BAE Systems and has experience with several other aerospace companies, including Gulfstream, Rolls-Royce, General Electric and Timken.
BOMBARDIER Challenger 300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1200; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-136-AD; Amendment 39-16647; AD 2011-07-10] – Revise the maintenance schedule for the safety valves of the cabin pressure-sensing port, repetitively cleaning the safety valves and removing foreign material from the area surrounding the valves.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0212; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-055-AD; Amendment 39-16632; AD 2011-06-07] – Inspect and modify certain emergency flotation gear (1G units), per the instructions of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 25A037 (dated April 27, 2010). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent an uncommanded inflight deployment of the emergency flotation gear, which could lead to loss of control of the helicopter.
PilotAway.com is hoping to help pilots make reservations for hotels, car rentals and fixed-base operators (FBOs). PilotAway.com is the brainchild of founder and CEO Chase Larabee. “Right now, the only application that offers nationwide web reservations is Flight Aware, but it’s a completely different model,” he says. “It’s a fuel application that can offer some services.”
European aerospace giant EADS has completed the acquisition of Canadian maintenance, repair and overhaul company Vector Aerospace. The business is becoming part of Eurocopter, which has a mandate to increase services. EADS has been looking for deals across a range of areas, including in the services sector. Growth in that business is part of CEO Louis Gallois’ Vision 2020 strategy. Another core element is growth in the U.S., where EADS is also considering acquisitions.
ANTHONY MORELAND was appointed VP-Americas for Sikorsky Aircraft. Moreland will be responsible for commercial and foreign military sales in the Americas. Formerly regional sales direct-India for Sikorsky, Moreland also has served with Med-Trans and Bell Helicopter.
Rotorsim, a consortium established in 2003 by CAE and AgustaWestland, is adding a CAE 3000 series full-flight simulator for the AW139 helicopter. The simulator, to be developed jointly by CAE and AgustaWestland, will be delivered in 2012 and meet Level D qualification. The simulator will provide mission training for offshore oil and gas, law enforcement, corporate VIP and other operations. The CAE 3000 will be designed for training in low-level flight, confined area operations, autorotation and landing on platforms.
The pilots of the ExcelAire Embraer Legacy 600 that collided with a Gol Boeing 737 in 2006 testified in Long Island, N.Y., last week as part of their ongoing criminal trial in Brazil. The pilots, Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino, each testified for about six hr. using a video-conferencing system to connect with the Brazilian proceedings.
The National Transportation Safety Board, along with the AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute and the Air Care Alliance, recently discussed key safety issues with more than 200 pilots involved in volunteer missions. The March 25 event included presentations by NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman and AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg, among others. Topics discussed included “mission mindset,” weather, instrument approaches and use of NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System.
The American Association of Airport Executives has scheduled its General Aviation & Security Conference June 26-28 in St. Louis. The conference, hosted in cooperation with a number of the general aviation and state aviation organizations, will focus on GA security issues such as the Transportation Security Administration’s proposed Large Aircraft Security Program and General Aviation Airport Vulnerability Assessment. The conference also will discuss industry trends, best practices and the latest advancements in the search for a replacement for leaded fuel.
KEVIN CARTER has completed the transition to the position of CEO of Timco Aviation Services. Carter shared the position with Robert Utecht, who now has taken a senior advisor role. Carter has held a number of positions with Timco, including chief financial officer and chief administrative officer.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA330F, SA330G and SA330J helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0891; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-055-AD; Amendment 39-16585, AD 2011-03-02] – Conduct a functional test of the pedal-unit adjustment system following the instructions of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.18 (dated Aug. 3, 2009). If any non-conformity is found, modify the pedal-unit adjustment system before further flight by incorporating Eurocopter MOD 330A779820.00. Even if no non-conformity is found, modify the pedal system within three months.
SimCom Training Centers, which has specialized in King Air simulator training since 1991, recently marked its 23,000th King Air pilot training event. The company has provided initial, recurrent, second-in-command and instrument refresher training for the King Air at its Orlando, Fla., headquarters, as well as at its locations in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW). The DFW facility, part of SimCom’s PrestoSIM acquisition completed earlier this year, has added a ninth King Air simulator.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT DA42 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0231; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-003-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive inspections of the Main Landing Gear (MLG) damper-to-trailing-arm joints and eventually replace those aluminum parts with ones made of steel, per the instructions of Diamond Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB 42-088/2 (dated Feb. 3, 2011).
