EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-365N1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0781; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-49-AD; Amendment 39-16590; AD 2011-03-06] – Replace the aluminum tail-rotor blade-pitch control shaft with a steel tail-rotor blade-pitch control shaft. This AD was prompted by an incident in which there was a loss of control of the tail rotor due to a broken shaft.
Garmin International recently unveiled new audio panels that will incorporate features such as voice recognition, three-dimensional spatial audio processing, advanced auto squelch and ambient-noise-based volume adjustment. The panels include the GMA 350 for fixed-wing aircraft and GMA350H for rotorcraft. “As the GA industry’s first truly all-digital audio panels, we’re able to provide pilots many capabilities that have never been available in the cockpit,” says Gary Kelley, Garmin’s VP of marketing.
Business aircraft flight activity in February essentially was flat compared with January levels, according to the latest Argus TRAQPak data. The numbers indicate that February activity increased only 0.1% over January. By operational categories, the fractional segment saw a month-over-month increase of 3.3%. Part 91 essentially inched up 0.6%, while Part 135 charter activity was down 1.9% from January.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Social Flights, LLC has launched a web-based service that enables travelers to reserve seats on private aircraft using social media tools including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
FAA, moving ahead with a proposed rulemaking that would require safety management systems (SMS) for Part 121 operators, last week withdrew an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) that explored SMS programs for a range of certificate holders. In a notice in the March 17 Federal Register, FAA notes it is under congressional mandate to complete an SMS rulemaking for Part 121 by July 2012 and says it is withdrawing the ANPRM “to redirect its resources to complete the SMS for Part 121 final rule by the ... deadline.”
The House Ways and Means Committee last week approved the taxes portion of the comprehensive, long-term FAA reauthorization bill, eliminating the expected tax increases to jet fuel and aviation gasoline. Separately, the Science, Space and Technology Committee also last week passed the research and development (R&D) piece of the FAA reauthorization bill. The approval of the taxes and R&D portions clear the four-year FAA bill, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act (H.R.658), for a vote on the House floor.
Eastway Jet Services in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., was appointed as an Embraer service center for Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft. The authorization covers a range of maintenance services, including scheduled inspections, warranty repairs and aircraft-on-ground service. Eastway provides services for a variety of other aircraft, including the Embraer Legacy and Gulfstream, Hawker, Dassault Falcon and Bombardier Global business jets.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America has added the Helicopter Association International (HAI) to its board of directors. “We and HAI share a common goal of helping to educate the public about the value of all types of general aviation aircraft, particularly when it comes to providing disaster relief, medical care, law enforcement and a host of important services,” says Alliance Executive Director Selena Shilad.
CHARLES CELLI was named vice president of Gulfstream Aerospace’s service center operations in Savannah, Ga. Celli oversees day-to-day operations at Gulfstream’s 680,000-sq.-ft service facility. He moves to Savannah from Basel, Switzerland, where he was senior VP, completions services—Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) and Asia, and general manager of Jet Aviation Basel. He also has served as VP and general manager of Gulfstream’s facility in Dallas.
Bell Helicopter’s share in the BA609 civil tiltrotor will be sold to AgustaWestland, the Italian company’s CEO Giuseppe Orsi reported at Heli-Expo. A year ago, AgustaWestland’s frustration over Bell dragging its feet on the program prompted Orsi to set a deadline of June 30 to determine the program’s fate. A sale agreement was reached, but negotiations have been stymied by difficulties in transferring assets from Bell to AgustaWestland. These problems revolve around separating the intellectual property rights for the civil tiltrotor from the U.S.
The European helicopter industry is in an uproar over a French government move to limit rotorcraft activities in urban areas, saying implementation of the order would threaten the industry’s survival.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner – Development to develop plans and initiate and manage both design and construction projects for O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/100/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
Winner Aviation Corp., a fixed-based operator and maintenance, repair and overhaul facility based at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Ohio, was acquired by longtime employee Rick Hale. Hale, the sole shareholder, joined Winner in the mid-1990s, when it was owned by Aero Services International. The company was later acquired by Jim Winner and renamed. The facility, which claims to be the oldest independent factory-authorized Honeywell TPE331 major service center, has been at the airport for more than 65 years.
Arizona-based StandardAero, a unit of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise since 2007, kicked off its 100th birthday celebration and its 44th year in maintenance, repair and overhaul for helicopter engines at last week’s Heli-Expo in Orlando, Fla. Originally founded as Standard Machine Works in Winnipeg, Canada in 1911, StandardAero has grown into one of the world’s largest independent repair and overhaul companies supporting the aerospace industry.
FAA later this month is expected to convene the newly chartered Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to help it investigate issues involved in moving general aviation from a leaded to an unleaded fuel.
Eurocopter Canada has delivered its 600th helicopter for the Canadian market to Quebec-based Héli-Inter. The 847-shp Turbomeca Arriel 2B1-powered AS350 B3 single, the first of this type for the customer, is being flown primarily in northern Quebec in support of mineral exploration and development, Eurocopter Canada said. With the delivery, the Héli-Inter fleet grew to 44 aircraft, including 23 AStar and Ecureuil singles, and two AS355 TwinStar/Ecureuil twins.
A new assembly plant under construction in China is expected to help increase the pace of Cessna 162 Skycatcher shipments this year. Cessna delivered 30 of the light-sport aircraft in 2010, and the company is hoping to deliver 150 this year, Textron China President Martin Lin said during last week’s Asian Aerospace show in Hong Kong. The Skycatcher is built by China’s Shenyang Aircraft and then shipped to the U.S. for final assembly. Shenyang Aircraft makes the Skycatcher at its main base, on the outskirts of Shenyang city in northeast China.
ExcelAire added a 10-seat Gulfstream III to its fleet. The addition increases the charter operator’s fleet to 22 jets. Based at N.Y.’s MacArthur Airport (ISP) on Long Island, ExcelAire operates a fleet of Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, Cessna and Dassault Falcon jets.
Professional Aviation Associates has formed a Global Helicopter Support Parts Group to serve rotorcraft operators. The company has invested an initial $1 million in rotables and airframe parts inventory to support different helicopter platforms.
Kaman Aerospace, seeking to reduce its 70% dependence on military business, has opened a plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, to help reduce the cost of commercial products. Aluminum extrusions for OEM helicopter manufacturers and their suppliers are the first products it will manufacture. “We’re working very hard in expanding our footprint in the commercial side,” says Greg Steiner, president of Kaman Aerospace Group. “We see a lot of value in having a more balanced portfolio. We’re bidding a lot of packages right now for commercial firms everywhere.”
JIM MCNEILL was appointed regional VP for Landmark Aviation. McNeill has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience, beginning with Esso Avitat Ottawa-Imperial Oil, in several capacities. In early 2000, he joined Piedmont Hawthorne — now Landmark Aviation — where he was general manager of several locations, as well as VP of Canadian operations.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has instituted a series of changes that are continuing to ease access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The changes, implemented on March 1, include increased flexibility with aircraft and crew use, as well as with screening times, says Signature Flight Support. TSA further changed the Prohibited Items List, making it “more appropriate to general aviation operations.”
Citing several accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board Friday issued a safety alert advising operators to be on the lookout for meteorological evaluation towers (METs) during low-altitude flights. NTSB released the safety alert following the Jan. 10 fatal accident involving a Rockwell S-2R, N49977X, which crashed into a MET during an aerial application in Oakley, Calif. The safety board also noted fatal accidents in 2005 and 2003 involving similar incidents.
WALTER GIVEN was promoted to helicopter product line specialist for Jet Support Services. Given, a 14-year company veteran, is a licensed airframe and powerplant technician and his career in aviation maintenance spans 32 years.
Apple’s iPad technology has found another home in aviation – this time with Pilatus Business Aircraft. The single-turboprop manufacturer has kicked off a new iPad delivery program for its customers. New owners of Pilatus PC-12 NGs will receive an iPad that contains interactive content customized to each owner. The iPad will display delivery documents, owner’s manuals and a number of aviation apps such as Fore Flight and My Radar Pro.
