Simon Maina joined Flexjet as fractional sales director for the west central area. A 20-year aviation executive, Maina was most recently president of Premier Aviation in Broomfield, Colo., where he was responsible for the daily operations of a fleet of charter aircraft. In his new role, he will be responsible for Flexjet fractional aircraft sales in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Rockwell Collins has secured a supplemental type certificate (STC) to upgrade Dassault Falcon 50EX business jets with Pro Line 21 avionics. The Falcon 50EX typically is equipped with the Pro Line 4 suite. The upgrade will include four large, configurable 10-in. by 8-in. liquid crystal displays that incorporate Rockwell Collins’ Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS). IFIS provides pilots with access to high-resolution electronic charts, XM graphical weather and enhanced navigation maps.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is in the early stages of developing an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) for its members, foundation officials say. The foundation is working with FAA to develop a program that would be based on the Medallion program in Alaska, but initially would roll out in the Eastern region. Foundation President Bryan Burns says a foundation-run program could be especially beneficial for small and medium-sized operations that may not be capable of administering it on their own.
Mike Preston was named director of engineering and maintenance for PremiAir, a U.K.-based aviation services company. Preston is responsible for fixed-wing and rotary maintenance at PremiAir’s facilities in Oxford, Biggin Hill and Blackbushe facilities. He has more than 35 years of professional experience in the aircraft maintenance and engineering sector of the aviation industry, most recently as accountable manager/director of maintenance for Netjets (Europe) Technical Services.
Gulfstream has come a step closer to certification of its super midsize G250, completing natural icing tests and moving into function and reliability testing. The Savannah, Ga., manufacturer expects FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Israel approval later this year.
Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) is pledging to give up a part of a Pilatus PC-12 she and her husband own after the former state auditor was reported to owe more than $300,000 in property taxes. Missouri Republicans filed an ethics complaint about McCaskill’s use of the airplane. After the news broke, McCaskill apologized, paid about $287,000 for the taxes and said she would pay more if necessary. She also said she thought owning her own plane would have ultimately saved taxpayer dollars, but that dividing up trips had become too complicated.
Chea Neitzel was named a jet card sales director for Flexjet. Neitzel will be responsible for jet card sales in Manhattan. Neitzel handled pharmaceutical sales for the past nine years. She formerly was a captain in the Army Corps of Engineers’ 18th Airborne Corps.
Sikorsky Aircraft and the X2 Demonstrator Team have won the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy “for demonstrating a revolutionary 250 knot helicopter, which marks a proven departure point for future helicopters,” the National Aeronautic Association announced March 15. The Collier Trophy will be presented at the 100th Anniversary Collier Dinner, to be held this year on May 5 in Arlington, Va.
Private jet-broker TSH aero has unveiled a new iPhone app that enables clients to search for empty leg charter flights. TSH aero founder Thierry Huguenin says the app was designed to make searches easier for clients. The empty- leg finder searches among thousands of empty-leg flights available worldwide that are automatically posted by air charter operators and air carriers into a database, says Huguenin.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has teamed with McFarren Aviation Consulting to raise funds for the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) charitable organization during the NATA Air Charter Summit, June 6-8 at the Westfields Marriott in Virginia. Founded by retired U.S. Army helicopter pilot Walt Fricke, VAC provides free air transportation to wounded veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. NATA and MAC established a NATA Wings for Warriors fund so that NATA members and other interested parties could contribute to the cause.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India is drafting an airworthiness directive asking all operators of the civil variant of the Dhruv advanced light helicopter to temporarily stop flying following a technical issue. A proposed airworthiness directive, dated March 22, seeks comments from various stakeholders before the final AD is issued.
The leasing arm of Agricultural Bank of China will finance Embraer aircraft under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that could make $1.5 billion available to operators over the next five years. “The agreement is designed to create new financing opportunities for Embraer to sell aircraft in China and other markets, with a focus on the development of China’s regional, executive and agricultural aviation,” says Embraer. The leasing company is called ABC Financial Leasing. Its parent is one of China’s largest banks.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has recognized Svensen Management Services (SMS), its independent sales representative in Australia, for its sales efforts over the past five years. The Melbourne-based company has been an authorized sales representative for Gulfstream since 2006, working closely with Jason Akovenko, Gulfstream’s regional VP, Asia-Pacific, and Roger Sperry, Gulfstream’s regional senior VP, international sales, who oversee sales on the continent.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) has issued a proclamation declaring March as General Aviation Month. The proclamation recognizes that general aviation supports 8,000 jobs and contributes $639 million to the state, adding that New Hampshire “has significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation.” The proclamation drew support from the Alliance for Aviation Across America in addition to a range of other aviation associations.
FAA is launching a major new safety initiative designed to improve education and outreach with the general aviation community and lower the number of GA accidents. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen and Mel Cintron, manager of FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division, outlined the initiative to reporters on March 21, saying the agency has established a goal of reducing the general aviation fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours by 10% over the next 10 years.
40 Years Ago March 1, 1971 — The Soviet Union requests negotiations with the U.S. for a bilateral airworthiness agreement to market the Yak 40 commuter/business trijet. 30 Years Ago March 23, 1981 — The Reagan Administration calls for a 65-cent tax on jet fuel and a 36-cent tax on aviation gasoline. 20 Years Ago March 4, 1991 — FAA proposes to exempt aircraft weighing less than 75,000 lb. from the Stage 2 aircraft phaseout.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt warns that proposals on Capitol Hill for across-the-board funding cuts “would not be without consequence.” Speaking to reporters last week, Babbitt cited a slowing of certification activity. FAA has a backlog of about 2,200 certification applications, he says, and these applications typically will improve safety and/or prepare aircraft for the next generation air transportation system. He also notes there are plans for three new aviation factories, the largest of which should employ 4,000 workers.
APEX AIRCRAFT CAP 10 B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1296; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-063-AD; Amendment 39-16625; AD 2011-06-01] – Conduct repetitive inspections to verify the correct installation of the turnbuckles of the flight control cables. If the turnbuckles are not correctly installed, restore the locking clip and the safety wire. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent another fatal accident attributed to improper locking of a flight control cable turnbuckle.
Robert E. Breiling Associates, the Boca Raton, Fla. aviation safety expert, is releasing the 2010 Business Turbine Accident Review, which contains more than 500 pages of detailed narrative accounts of more than 355 turbine airplane and helicopter accidents and incidents reported worldwide last year. The review provides a summary of each accident, including model, operator type, phase of operations, conditions and a description of reported circumstances. The review also includes comparisons of accident rates, causal factors, phases of flights and aircraft performance.
J. Bruce Peddle joined Flexjet as VP of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for leading the company’s sales organization and overseeing marketing initiatives. Peddle previously spent 14 years with Embraer, most recently as VP of North America’s airline market. He also has served with Canadian Helicopter Corp., (formerly Sealand Helicopters) and Air Canada Jazz (formerly Air Nova).
Universal Jet Aviation recently added two Gulfstream IVs to its fleet. The jets will be based out of Miami and Carlsbad, Calif. Universal Jet’s charter fleet now has 14 aircraft, including four Gulfstream IVs, seven Gulfstream IIIs and a Legacy 600.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is calling for a study on control tower staffing levels after two aircraft landed at Washington National Airport in the early hours of March 23 without being able to contact the lone controller on duty. The incident happened the week before the House was scheduled to take floor action on the FAA reauthorization bill, which has already passed the Senate. In the Senate version, a controller staffing study also is mandated, notes Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).
Herndon, Va.-based CFI Tools has unveiled CFI Tools Nearest 1.0.1, the latest in a line of iPhone and iPad apps for the aviation industry. The app gives pilots the bearing and distance to the 100 nearest airports and navaids.
Jay Brentzel was promoted to president of Jet Source, a Carlsbad, Calif., aviation services company. Brentzel, who will continue as director of operations, also will be responsible for overall strategic planning, fiscal management, business development and day-to-day activities. Brentzel, who has a bachelor of science degree in aviation from Utah Valley State College, has more than 6,000 hr. of flight time as a professional pilot. He is rated in a number of corporate aircraft, including the Falcon 50 and Gulfstream 400.
Cessna Aircraft has restructured its sales efforts, merging Cessna propeller and Citation teams into new teams focused on either domestic or international sales. Cessna says the reorganization will enable its sales staff to represent the company’s spectrum of products, including new propeller aircraft, new and used Citation aircraft, and CitationAir on-demand offerings.
