B-N GROUP BN-2 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1255 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-059-AD; Amendment 39-16618; AD 2011-05-09] – Before further flight and subsequently every 50 flight hr., visually inspect the elevator tip assemblies to see if they are deformed or concave, per the instructions of Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited Service Bulletin Number BN-2/SB 313, Issue 3 (dated Feb. 24, 2009). If the elevator tip assemblies are deformed or concave, inspect for delamination of the elevator tips before further flight.
The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) elected Jean-Noel Robert, Airbus area sales director for North Asia, as its new chairman. The board also named two vice chairmen: David Dixon, Bombardier Business Aircraft regional VP of sales for Asia-Pacific, and Lee Li, Embraer VP of sales in the greater China region. All three were elected during AsBAA’s annual general meeting earlier this month in Hong Kong.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, speaking before a rally of more than 2,000 general aviation workers in Wichita on March 21, vowed to “do everything I can” to persuade President Obama to visit the city to show his support for the industry and its contributions to the economy.
Pilatus Aircraft has tapped Quilque S.A. of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as its newest sales center in South America. Established in 1997, Quilque is the aeronautical arm of Estancias y Cabana Las Lilas, one of Argentina’s most renowned farming operations. Quilque will be responsible for sales and marketing of the PC-12 NG in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The U.K. is proposing to extend its Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax to business and general aviation. The U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, on March 23 unveiled the government’s new budget blueprint, including the expansion of APD to cover private jet operations.
FlightSafety International was selected as Pratt & Whitney Canada’s training provider for helicopter engines, and the first students have already graduated. “Classes are running full,” says Mike Lee, FlightSafety director of maintenance training business development. Training covers six different engine series for a total of 28 models, powering 26 different helicopters from 12 manufacturers. Primary training locations are Montreal, Dallas-Fort Worth, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Paris. FlightSafety has procured numerous training assets from P&WC.
Canadian-based aviation services company Flying Colours Corp. is preparing to deliver its second 14-seat executive configured Bombardier Challenger 850. This aircraft was acquired by a private Chinese individual and will be delivered by the end of March.
FAA is prohibiting new residential through-the-fence agreements (RTTF) at public airports under an interim policy released March 18. RTTF agreements provide rights for owners of residential properties next to airports to access the airfields with their aircraft.
The Regional Airline Association has joined the growing coalition of stakeholders that comprise the “Save Our GPS” group. The stakeholders have organized to express their concern about a proposal from LightSquared to build a high-speed wireless network that would transmit on a portion of the spectrum adjacent to GPS (BA, March 21/8). RAA notes the new signals are expected to be at least 1 billion times more powerful than GPS satellite signals and is concerned about potential disruptions the transmissions will cause to the satellite navigation system.
Cleveland-based Constant Aviation has completed installation of its first supplemental type certificate (STC) for a Wi-Fi system, along with Aircell’s Gogo Biz Inflight Internet, in a Gulfstream IV. The company also is completing its STC for installation of Aircell’s Gogo Biz Inflight and Wi-Fi in the Citation X, Hawker 800A/XP, Beechjet and Phenom 300.
The Chinese could soon be owners of another U.S. aviation entity — the SJ30 business jet program. Serious negotiations are under way to acquire the light business jet program, now stalled by Emivest’s bankruptcy, and the deal could close this year, sources say. Even though Ed Swearingen started development in the mid-1980s, and the aircraft received its FAA certification in 2005, the program has been bedeviled throughout by development, funding and production delays. Only four SJ30s have been delivered to date.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA), an aviation consultant that provides certification and technology support services, has partnered with Western Avionics to offer a new means to communicate and control aircraft using VOIP (voice-over-Internet protocol) from a base located anywhere worldwide. The system, VRCom, was designed by Western Avionics to facilitate remote communications for emergency medical services, law enforcement, airborne firefighting, agriculture survey and other operations.
Jay Shaw was named managing director for Seacor Capital (Asia). Based in Hong Kong, Shaw will be responsible for overseeing the company’s Asia Pacific aviation investments and business development activity. He co-founded Business Aviation Asia (BAA) in Hong Kong and Asia United Business Aviation, a business aircraft services company handling consulting, sales, management, charter, maintenance and FBO development in China.
Honeywell is teaming with upstart avionics producer Aspen Avionics to develop a “NextGen-ready” multifunction touch screen cockpit display for general aviation aircraft, the companies announced last week at the Aircraft Electronics Association annual convention in Reno, Nev. The partnership will strengthen Honeywell’s competition against Garmin, Avidyne and others at the lower general aviation price points, while providing Aspen a venue to expand its reach in the market.
BRITISH AEROSPACE HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream 200, Jetstream 3101 and Jetstream 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0230; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-004-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive eddy-current inspections of certain Main Landing Gear (MLG) fittings and replace or repair any cracked fitting, per the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA090240, Rev.1 (dated Jan. 18, 2010).
CP Aviation co-owner Judy Phelps was named Certified Flight Instructor of the Year for 2011 by the General Aviation Awards program. Phelps is a member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, the Ninety-Nines, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, International Aerobatic Club and Women in Aviation. She currently is president of the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, Calif. Santa Paula-based CP Aviation is a Cessna Pilot Center (CPC).
Steve Taylor was appointed as a jet card sales director for Flexjet. Taylor will be responsible for jet card sales in the north central region, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan. A former naval aviator, he was most recently senior VP of business development at Pentastar Aviation.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0703; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-040-AD; Amendment 39-16633; AD 2011-06-08] – Modify the Air-Driven Generator (ADG), including replacing the power-feeder wire harness assembly with tin-plated electrical wires, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-24-128, Rev. C (dated May 14, 2010). Also, replace the backshell and reorient the ADG cannon plug to reduce wire-bending stress.
An aviation consultant announced plans last week to form a group that will look into buying Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Industries to counter an offer currently on the table from China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA). Earlier this month, CAIGA announced plans to buy the single-engine plane maker, with plans to close the deal by mid-2011. The transaction’s terms were not released. Last April, CAIGA bought the assets of Bend, Ore.-based Epic Aircraft, a manufacturer of the high-performance, single-engine LT aircraft.
Five people were killed and another seriously injured when their aircraft, a Super King Air 200, crashed on takeoff March 16 from Long Beach Municipal Airport in California. Owned by Carde Equipment Sales, the aircraft, N849BM, was on a Part 91 flight to Salt Lake City International Airport. The aircraft departed Runway 30, turned left, plunged to the ground, caught fire and slid about 200 to 300 yd. on the northern area of the airport, according to initial reports.
MICHAEL COX has joined Duncan Aviation as VP of human resources. Cox previously spent 28 years in aviation insurance, holding leadership roles in marketing, public affairs, education and training, strategic planning, finance, sales administration, recruiting, change management and insurance claims. At Duncan, he will be responsible for the human resources and professional development departments, as well as for wellness and safety programs for all Duncan Aviation locations.
GIL JACKSON was appointed technical business development manager, aftermarket services for Sargent Aerospace & Defense, a supplier of precision engineered components and aftermarket services. Jackson will be responsible for expanding Sargent’s landing gear component business, as well as powerplant exhaust and flight controls services. He has a 24-year landing gear background with companies including Goodrich Aerospace, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.
Aviation associations and avionics manufacturers have joined other transportation sectors in launching a coalition to tackle a jamming threat to GPS. Aviation industry people say the system could be compromised by plans to expand wireless broadband coverage of the U.S. using a satellite spectrum adjacent to that of GPS. The navigation system is a key component of the NextGen satellite-based air traffic control.
FlightSafety International has developed a crew resource management training course designed specifically for helicopter operations. The scenario-based training program covers human factors, teamwork, communication, situational awareness, aeronautical decision-making, leadership and safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week cited poor pilot decision-making, fatigue and inadequate crew resource management (CRM) as factors in the July 31, 2008, crash of an East Coast Jets Hawker Beechcraft 125-800 at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in Minnesota, and the board’s report on the crash includes 14 recommendations.
