The U.S. and the European Union (EU) signed an aviation safety agreement last week that the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) calls “vitally important” to the long-term health of the industry. The bilateral aviation safety accord, expected to go into effect on May 1, creates a “one-stop shop” by reducing redundant certification activities in the U.S. and Europe, GAMA says.
March 21-24—National Business Aviation Association 38th Annual International Operators Conference, San Diego, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org/events/ioc/2011/ March 22-25—Aircraft Electronics Association, 54th Annual International Trade Show and Convention, Reno, Nev., www.aea.net March 29-31—JEC Composites Show 2011: Joint stand for lightweight design from North Rhine-Westphalia, Porte de Versailles, Paris, [email protected]
TURBOMECA Arriel 1E2, 1S and 1S1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0141; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-06-AD; Amendment 39-16617; AD 2011-05-08] – Inspect the fuel ejector in the body of the fuel ejector assembly for proper installation by checking that the circlip is properly seated in its groove. If a fuel ejector is improperly installed, replace the fuel ejector assembly before further flight.
With the price of oil topping $100 a barrel, Utah-based Fuel Managers is hoping to draw aircraft operators to its web-based service that is designed to lower fuel costs.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0154; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-016-AD; Amendment 39-16624; AD 2011-05-14] – Check to ensure proper operation of the main landing gear alternate extension system cam mechanism. Repair or replace the cam assembly with a new or serviceable assembly, as needed. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent failure of the cam on one side, which could lead to an unsafe asymmetrical landing configuration and possible loss of control during landing.
The Regional Jet Center at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville renewed its fuel contract as a branded Phillips 66 Aviation fixed-base operator. The renewal covers five years. Regional Jet Center participates in the Phillips WingPoints Reward Card program and serves as a Phillips Partners-Into-Plane participant, handling fuel for direct commercial flights.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0222; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-056-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise their maintenance programs to incorporate a new reduced maximum Time Between Overhaul (TBO) for the DC generator of 650 flight hr. (versus the previous 1,000 hr.). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was issued after service experience has shown that the current bearing design cannot sustain the 1,000-hr. TBO.
A number of external factors are having a strong influence on regional charter demand, Avinode Business Intelligence says. “North Africa, for example, is still experiencing an atypical increase in requests as a result of prolonged political unrest in the region,” Avinode says.
With a second prototype joining the flight test program in December, Eurocopter’s 16-passenger, EC175 twin has logged more than 100 hr. and is on track for certification at year’s end, with deliveries to follow in 2012.
Cessna Aircraft appointed MJETS of Thailand as an authorized service facility for Citation business jets. Based at Don Muaung Airport in Bangkok, MJETS provides a range of business and general aviation services, including charter, management, sales, line services, flight planning and ground handling. MJETS invested $10 million in new facilities as part of an expansion into maintenance. “We see maintenance services provided through our new hangar complex at Don Muaung as a logical next step for our business,” says Jaiyavat Navaraj, executive chairman of MJETS.
Airbus has appointed Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company (TAECO) as its first approved corporate jet cabin-outfitter in the Asia-Pacific region. A subsidiary of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company, TAECO provides heavy and line maintenance, freighter conversion, component overhaul, engineering design, parts manufacturing and training in Xiamen, China. Outfitting business jet cabins is a new venture for TAECO, Airbus says, but adds the facility underwent an audit and already has built a cabin mock-up.
CAE Global Academy received contracts to train European Institute of Aviation and Business (EIAB) and Omni Aviation Training Center pilots. Based in Saarlouis, Germany, EIAB renewed a long-term contract with CAE for ab initio training. CAE further received a new contract from Omni in Tires, Portugal to train ab initio pilot cadets in visual flight rules operations. Pilots from both EIAB and Omni will train at CAE’s center in Mesa, Ariz.
Australian aircraft manufacturer GippsAero is adding floats as an option for its eight-seat passenger aircraft, the GA8, and has moved ahead with development of a stretched version known as the GA10. GippsAero says U.S. company Wipaire is developing floats for the GA8, with testing to start in October and deliveries to customers in 2012. “The GA8’s large square-section cabin, impressive payload and very docile handling characteristics make it a very attractive float/amphibious aircraft,” it says.
Precision Aviation Group (PAG), an Atlanta-based maintenance, repair and overhaul inventory provider, has acquired Gardner Aviation Specialist, a repair station based outside of Atlanta in Peachtree City, Ga. Gardner specializes in avionics installation, glass panel upgrades and other maintenance services. PAG says the acquisition expands its services available to both fixed- and rotor-wing operators. Garner operates out of a 35,000-sq.-ft. hangar at Falcon Field.
Rolls-Royce recently celebrated the rollout of its 2,000th BR710 engine. The powerplant was manufactured at the company’s Dahlewitz, Germany, plant. The engine, which has thrust ratings between 14,750 lb. and 15,500 lb., powers Bombardier Global and Gulfstream G500/550 models. The BR710 was certified in 1996 and completed its first run in 1997. It is part of the BR700 family, which also includes the BR715 and BR725. The family has collectively accumulated more than 11 million service hr.
ExecuJet Middle East added two more large-cabin aircraft to its fleet—a Gulfstream 450 and a Falcon 900DX EASy. Both airplanes are registered on ExecuJet’s operating certificate in the United Arab Emirates and will be offered for charter. The aircraft are in addition to the Challenger 605 ExecuJet Middle East added in late December. The carrier expects further additions in the coming months. ExecuJet Middle East and ExecuJet Europe combined their charter businesses late last year to provide their customers with access to both fleets.
BELL HELICOPTER Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427 and 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0079; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-108-AD; Amendment 39-16587; AD 2010-26-51] – Before further flight, replace any affected tail-rotor blade with an airworthy blade. This emergency AD, which was prompted by an MCAI from Transport Canada, supersedes an existing directive (AD 2009-08-03) by adding more blades to the applicability of the directive.
The Hawker 800XPR upgrade is on track for certification this summer following the recent installation of winglets at Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support’s (GCS) Chester, U.K. center. GCS subsequently flew the aircraft to the U.S., where it will install new Honeywell TFE731-50R engines. The aircraft is undergoing minor structural and electrical modifications in advance of the engine installation. Ground power runs will take place within the next several weeks before flight testing and certification.
JUSTIN MERKLING was named manager of Duncan Aviation’s engine service shop in Battle Creek, Mich. Merkling joined Duncan in 1999 as an aircraft technician and in 2007 became a Citation tech representative. He has served on the NBAA Citation 500 Series Tech Committee and as Duncan Aviation-Battle Creek’s authorized facility contact for Cessna.
Landmark Aviation’s facility at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) has been approved as a gateway for authorized operators destined for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The authorization is the latest in a series of new gateways that the Transportation Security Administration has cleared in its effort to ease access to DCA. The number of gateways has grown to nearly 45 locations. Landmark notes that the approval at RDU provides another option for operators in southern states.
The Air Safety Institute’s latest online edition of the Joseph T. Nall Report covering general aviation safety provides some good news about commercial GA operations, but also raises significant concerns. The comprehensive report is based on 2009 accident data, the last year for which enough accident data are available to be statistically valid and give a complete safety picture, the institute says.
ExecuJet Australasia is expanding its maintenance facility at Essendon Airport in Melbourne, Australia to offer full fixed-base operation (FBO) services. ExecuJet plans to add more than 8,100 sq. ft. (755 sq. meters) to its hangar complex, which currently spans more than 29,000 sq. ft. (2,700 sq. meters). The addition, scheduled to be completed in August, will provide space for an integrated lounge area, offices, stores and maintenance workshops. ExecuJet plans to add six more staff to run the new facilities.
Interfast Inc., the Toronto-based fastener distributor, signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture with China’s AVIC International Zhuhai Co. that will supply specialized fasteners and hardware, fastening systems and other services to the growing aerospace market in the Asia-Pacific Rim. The agreement, announced during the recent 2011 Asian Aerospace International Expo, calls for the joint venture company to be located in Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province in China. Interfast has worked with AVIC since 1995.
