Flight Options provided more evidence of an improving market, announcing last week plans to recall eight furloughed pilots. Flight Options says the recall is a sign of growing demand for its services. “Their return to our team reflects our confidence in the company’s continued growth, as well as the strong partnership we have forged with our pilots,” says Flight Options CEO Michael J. Silvestro.
Eurocopter’s next helicopter, the X4 replacement for the Dauphin and EC155 light twins, will dispense with having a cockpit, said President and CEO Lutz Bertling at last week’s Heli-Expo in Orlando, Fla. “The X4 will not have a cockpit as you know it,” he says. “The way of flying this helicopter will be completely different from any other aircraft you’ve ever seen.” Eurocopter is working with avionics companies on the new concept, which might not be fully implemented by the time the X4 is formally launched late in the first half of this year.
Pratt & Whitney Canada has delivered its first PT6C-67E production engine for the Eurocopter EC175, a medium-size utility helicopter for multirole civilian and parapublic applications. The PT6C-67E engine uses a reverse-flow combustor and features a proven high-efficiency compressor and the latest material and hot-section design technologies while maintaining an uncooled CT stage.
SCARLETT CONNOR has joined Professional Aviation Associates to support its new Global Helicopter Support Parts Group. Connor has more than 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, including 10 years as an aircraft engine mechanic and naval air crewman with the U.S. Navy.
ROSEMARY LEONE was promoted to director, programs development – general aviation for ConocoPhillips. Leone previously was business improver for General Aviation. She is responsible for managing and developing marketing support programs for Phillips 66 Aviation fuels. Before joining the Phillips 66 Aviation in 2003, she spent 19 years at IBM.
House lawmakers introduced a bill last week that would make the research and development (R&D) tax credit permanent. The bill, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2011 (H.R. 942), was introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by John Larson (D-Conn.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas). The bill would increase the “alternative simplified credit” for research and development from 14% to 20% and make it permanent.
Eclipse Aerospace last week called new altitude limits on the EA500 very light jet too restrictive and unsupported by the data, but says it is in the final stages of working on a fix with engine-maker Pratt & Whitney to end the limits. On March 10, FAA issued an airworthiness directive (AD) that limits the EA500’s operating altitude to 30,000 ft. The AD, which was released without prior comment and which takes effect March 21, supersedes an existing emergency directive (AD 2008-24-07) limiting the aircraft to 37,000 ft.
The inaugural China Helicopter Exposition 2011 will be held Sept. 15-18 in Tianjin, where Avicopter, a unit of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, has invested more than $800 million in a research center and helicopter production facility that will have an initial capacity of some 240 aircraft per year. “This is a revolutionary development for a country of 1.4 billion people that currently has only 200 civil rotor aircraft at its disposal,” organizers note, pointing to “numerous opportunities” for foreign companies.
Business aviation services company Jet Aviation expects to begin managing aircraft in China in 2012, relying on its experience, reputation and a wide global network to set it apart from local competitors. The expansion of Jet Aviation into China is part of a larger Asia-Pacific push by parent General Dynamics, says David Paddock, senior vice president for business development and strategic planning at the aviation services company.
Bombardier Aerospace is laying the groundwork for expanding its presence in the emerging Chinese market with a new financing agreement and increased support. Bombardier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the leading leasing company in China, ICBC Financial Leasing Co., to secure up to $8 billion in financing for Bombardier customers, as well as for maintenance, service and production initiatives. The financing covers advanced payment, delivery and leasing options for both Bombardier business and commercial aircraft customers.
A Dassault Falcon 900LX recently became the first aircraft to fly approaches using the new European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite navigation system. The approaches were flown into Pau Pyrénées Airport in France (LFBP) on an airplane equipped with the EASy II flight deck. Dassault pilots flew seven approaches during the mission, confirming the accuracy and precision of the new signal, which on the runway was close to one ft.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support has appointed Air Works at India’s Mumbai International Airport as an authorized service center to support its line of King Air turboprops and Premier light jets in the region. Air Works is certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation under Civil Air Regulations CAR-145 and is a Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization entity for maintenance and management of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
Bombardier Aerospace has delivered its first Challenger 605 aircraft to be based in Mexico to an undisclosed customer. The Bombardier Business Aircraft Market Forecast, published in July 2010, predicts deliveries of 775 business aircraft of all types in Latin America for the 10-year period covering 2010-2019.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0152; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-079-AD] – This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, would require operators to conduct a general visual inspection for damage to certain wiring bundles and feeders because of low clearance between the electrical wiring, hydraulic pipe and nearby structure. Interference or contact with structure could lead to electrical short circuits or fluid leakage, potentially resulting in loss of several functions essential for safe flight.
Piper Aircraft tapped National Airways Corp. (NAC) to serve as its authorized distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa, effective immediately. NAC, through its wholly owned subsidiary 43 Air School, is the largest Piper fleet operator in Africa. “NAC’s proven expertise with the Piper product line, its Piper fleet experience and proven aviation success in Africa makes its choice as our authorized distributor in the region a natural,” says Piper Executive VP Randy Groom. NAC was founded in 1946 as one of the first air charter services in South Africa.
A Congressional Budget Office report has listed the benefits of taxing companies expending large amounts of carbon-dioxide emissions, eliminating some airport funding and raising per-passenger security fees in a report to House and Senate budget committees. The March 10 report presents about 100 options for altering federal spending of all agencies, and includes a section on imposing a price on emissions of greenhouse gases. CBO also is suggesting to lawmakers that Airport Improvement Program funding could be eliminated for larger U.S.
Sikorsky’s S-76D is moving out of its protracted development phase and into certification flights and low-rate production. Initial certification is expected by year’s end, with deliveries in the first quarter of 2012. The D is a major upgrade to the S-76, more than 800 of which have been delivered since first flight in 1977. With PW210S engines, an improved rotor and integrated avionics, the S-76D combines the single-engine performance of the corporate-preferred S-76B, with the cruise fuel-efficiency of the offshore-favored S-76C.
A new annual client survey from Fort Worth, Texas-based aviation employment consultancy JSfirm finds that nearly 90% of the 328 aviation companies it surveyed expect to hire in 2011. Almost 60% of companies (194) say they did not cut jobs in 2010, according to the report. Another 32% (106 companies) hired one to five workers, while another 60 companies hired between six and 10 workers. The top companies surveyed say they plan to hire pilots, maintenance technicians and specialists involved in avionics, sheetmetal/structures/composites and quality assurance.
Avinode Charter Price Comparisons—North America Avinode Charter Price Comparisons—North America Aircraft Today 3 Months Ago 6 Months Ago Light Citation II $2,024 $2,026 $1,994 Hawker
March 14-18—Structural Integrity of New and Aging Metallic Aircraft, UCLA Extension Building, www.uclaextension.edu/shortcourses March 15–16—The Air Charter Safety Foundation Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn Va., www.acsf.aero/symposium 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
Hainan Airlines owner HNA Group is expanding the long-established Deerjet management company under the new name Capital Airlines. Capital says it will have 141 business aircraft by 2015. The company announced the signing for five Dassault 7Xs, four Gulfstream 550s and one Gulstream 450 at Asian Aerospace on March 8.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking a Director of Project Development to direct the implementation and evaluation of planning, engineering, and environmental 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
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT DA42, DA42 NG, and DA42 M-NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0185; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-002-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the rear passenger door retaining bracket with an improved-design bracket and incorporate Diamond Aircraft Temporary Revision TR-MÄM 42-443, pages 3-55a and 3-55b (dated June 17, 2010) into the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual.
RICK DUSTE was promoted to director, branded sales – general aviation for ConocoPhillips. Duste previously was director, programs development – general aviation for the oil company. He previously has managed sales and business development for some of general aviation’s largest brands, including Phillips 66, Chevron and BP Castrol.
