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.
Dubai-based Alpha Global Industries has signed an agreement with Empire Aviation Group to buy two Vigiplane systems, a new aircraft security system that provides round-the-clock camera surveillance of aircraft on the ground. Surveillance footage can be monitored in real time anywhere in the world through advanced tracking, GPS and satellite communications.
AgustaWestland is launching the 8-10 passenger AW169 twin to compete directly with Eurocopter’s AS365/EC155 Dauphin in the 4.5-metric-ton class. The joint Italian/U.K. development could rack up sales of close to 1,000 helicopters worldwide, AgustaWestland believes, which would require at least two production lines.
Even though the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) is a year away, the co-organizers are pleased with the progress being made in promoting the event. ABACE, the brainchild of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), was canceled in 2009, due to the effects of the global recession (BA Feb. 5, 2009/17). But at the 2010 NBAA annual convention in October, the partners announced ABACE would be held in Shanghai in 2012.
HANNAH MITCHISON has joined BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Group (ERO) as regional sales manager, covering the U.K., Ireland, Spain and Portugal. Mitchison will be responsible for sales of engine and accessory repair and overhaul services for all product lines offered by ERO. She most recently worked at Orange Aero, a company specializing in selling Rolls-Royce RB211 reconditioned piece parts.
The U.S. State Department Friday issued an alert advising against non-essential travel to Japan after an earthquake measuring 8.9 magnitude struck the northern part of the country. The travel alert, in effect through April 1, warns that airports may be closed or have restricted access. Tokyo’s Narita Airport shut down for much of Friday and flooding closed the airport at Sendai. Haneda Airport’s operations also were curtailed severely.
Phoenix-based Cutter Aviation has implemented an FBO-integrated safety management system (SMS) designed to cover its line service/ground handling operations and its aircraft technical services.
CHUCK WOODS was named president of Asia-Pacific region for Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). He comes from Jet Asia, where he served as CEO. He also serves as chairman of the Asian Business Aviation Association, which is dedicated to the growth and expansion of business aviation throughout Asia.
Cessna Aircraft will debut the next-generation Corvalis during the Sun ’N Fun International Fly-In & Expo later this month in Lakeland, Fla. Although the piston-aircraft niche has been lagging behind the economic recovery, Cessna is moving forward with the new product. The new Corvalis TT, a fixed-gear, single-engine piston, is designed to fly at speeds up to 235 kt. and up to 25,000 ft. Cessna added the Corvalis to its product line through its acquisition of Columbia Aircraft in late 2007.
For the second time in as many years, the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association (PNBAA) is fighting the Washington State Legislature over a proposed 0.5% aircraft tax designed to help close the state’s $4.6 billion budget gap. The proposal was thwarted in 2010 after an effort led by PNBAA with the National Business Aviation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and state business aviation groups.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Friday reiterated its strong opposition to FAA’s plan to limit participation in the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, saying the actions represent unwarranted invasion of privacy for aircraft owners and operators, a threat to U.S. competitiveness and a potential security risk for passengers aboard aircraft.
Mesa, Ariz.-based Phoenix Heliparts reached a settlement with FAA that will enable the company to begin a recertification process six months ahead of an FAA order. The agency in August revoked the repair station’s certificate, citing a failure to comply with recommendations to address maintenance problems and recordkeeping lapses.
London Oxford Airport is offering enhanced operational performance for aircraft after the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority gave approval to permit a 21% (896 ft./273 m) increase in the declared takeoff distance from its runway. These new takeoff distances enable more business aircraft types to achieve maximum takeoff weight or near maximum performance from the airport.
The Boise City Council in Idaho has unanimously voted to change the name of an airport road in honor of the late Ed Stimpson, a long-time president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. South Ulm Street, which connects Gowen Road to the new Boise Airport control tower, was renamed Ed Stimpson Way. “The aviation industry never had a better friend than Ed Stimpson, and neither did our city,” Mayor David Bieter says.
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
CHRISTOPHER BROWN was appointed vice president legislative and regulatory policy for the Air Transport Association. Brown has more than 15 years of experience in aviation policy and government affairs. He will join ATA on March 14 from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where he has been senior counsel of the Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group and served as senior congressional affairs advisor to the firm’s client, United Airlines.
