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.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0151; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-205-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2007-22-09), would retain the requirements of the earlier AD, but require operators to inspect the main landing gear using updated service information. The new proposal also would alter compliance times and the list of affected aircraft.
The first helicopter installation of a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System has been made in a Sikorsky S-61 by the avionics company and Vector Aerospace of Toronto. The glass cockpit features two 10- x 8-in. liquid crystal primary flight displays, solid-state TWR-850 weather radar with turbulence detection, AHS-3000A Attitude Heading Reference System, and TDR-94D Mode S Transponder with ADS-B Out capability. Options include an Integrated Flight Information System with electronic charting, XM graphical weather and enhanced maps.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking a Projects Administrator – Environmental Management to plan, initiate and manage environmental management and sustainability programs to ensure compliance with applicable regulations 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
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has increased its membership to 70 with the additions of Continental DataGraphics (CDG) and Thales Canada. Based in Cypress, Calif., CDG is a Boeing subsidiary that provides support services to component and general aviation aircraft manufacturers, including engineering and technical documentation services, training and e-learning options, process consulting and software. Thales Canada designs integrated systems for cockpit and flight controls for regional and business jet aircraft.
Comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation is expected to reach the House floor during the last week of March after the House Ways and Means Committee clears the taxes portion of the legislation. The committee is expected to approve increases in taxes on jet fuel and aviation gasoline, similar to the increases included in last year’s reauthorization package. As work continues on the bill, though, Congress is widely expected to approve an 18th short-term extension of FAA’s authorization, since the current short-term extension expires at the end of March.
Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft received a cash infusion from private investors, providing the utility turboprop manufacturer with financial stability, the company says. The company did not detail terms of the transaction, saying only that the recapitalization is part of a long-term corporate strategy. The funding will enable Quest to move forward on product and service improvements, the company says.
Kurt Sutterer, the former head of Midcoast Aviation, has joined West Star Aviation’s board of directors. “Kurt brings a deep, broad and respected knowledge of the aviation industry to our board of directors and will help shape the growth of West Star Aviation,” says West Star CEO Robert Rasberry. Sutterer, a former chairman of the National Air Transportation Association, recently retired as president of St. Louis-based Midcoast and Jet Aviation’s MRO and Completions business in North America, following a 29-year career with the company.
Satcom Direct, a satellite communications specialist, has partnered with AirCare Solutions Group (ASG), a provider of business aviation medical, safety and emergency training and services. Under the partnership, Satcom Direct will offer ASG’s Access Assistance tele-medical and travel support services to its customers. Access Assistance provides access to medical assistance, along with emergency medical equipment training and medical kit management.
Embraer has received certification for the Phenom 300’s inflight cabin management system. The new system enables passengers to control cabin lighting, temperature and speaker volume, as well as to select audio and video sources, like XM radio stations, flight information data and other digital media, all through a liquid crystal display screen interface.
