Although it once castigated the airplanes built there as symbols of excess, the Obama administration seems to be adjusting its view of Wichita, and is sending its transportation chief there to help rally hard-hit general aviation manufacturers and their current and furloughed employees.
Jet Aviation St. Louis has earned AS9110 approval, recognizing the facility’s quality management system. The AS9100 standard applies directly to the aerospace industry and includes a process approach for managing quality systems and maintaining aircraft safety. Organizations that achieve AS9100 status are listed in the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (OASIS), an international database that publishes all aerospace quality certifications. Jet Aviation St. Louis provides aircraft maintenance, modification and completion services.
Landmark Aviation has increased its fixed-base operation network to 47 locations with the acquisition of the assets of Odyssey Aviation. The acquisition includes facilities in Cincinnati (LUK); Columbus, Ohio (CMH); Chicago (MDW); Asheville, N.C. (AVL); Charleston, S.C. (CHS); Lafayette, La. (LFT); and New Orleans (NEW). Landmark says the acquisition complements its existing network, as well as its growth strategy.
Although the industry’s public image problems have been improving, the effects of the negative publicity in late 2008 and 2009 still linger, says Dassault Falcon President and CEO John Rosanvallon. Many Fortune 500 companies are “slow to go back” to the aircraft market to renew their fleet, he says.
Private aviation company Avolus has ended its partnership with business jet operator Eurojet Romania, including a VIP terminal project at Baneasa Airport in Bucharest. U.K.-based Avolus says it will focus on growing its charter, aircraft management and aircraft sales and acquisitions divisions.
CAE received a contract from the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) for a comprehensive flight safety laboratory. The laboratory will incorporate the CAE Flightscape Insight software suite, which is used by air safety investigators and aircraft manufacturers. The software will provide AIB with the capability to analyze aircraft flight-data records, cockpit voice records, quick-access recorders and radar data.
While the FBO market still primarily comprises “mom-and-pop” facilities, the increase in private-equity investment will continue to evolve the industry, says Michael Scheeringa, president of Signature Flight Support. “Economic forces are still going to bring a lot of consolidation,” he notes. (See article on Page 4).
MERIC REESE has joined Executive AirShare as director of scheduling. Reese will manage fractional and managed aircraft and flight crew scheduling for Executive AirShare’s subsidiary, Executive Flight Services, which operates flights for both companies. He formerly was charter sales manager for Reynolds Jet Management in Cincinnati.
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) is opposing a Securities and Exchange Commission proposal that would require appointed members of airport boards to register as municipal advisers. ACI-NA says the SEC proposal injects an artificial distinction between appointed and elected board members. It further says the function of board members does not relate to the definition of municipal adviser as defined in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Board members provide broad advice on all airport issues, including finance.
40 Years Ago Feb. 15, 1971 – Part 25 certification rules were extended to include aircraft with 10 or more passenger seats, regardless of weight. 30 Years Ago Feb. 16, 1981 – Santa Monica, Calif., city council votes to evict most of the fixed-base operators from Santa Monica Municipal Airport. 20 Years Ago Feb. 4, 1991 – Morgan Stanley predicts that the ongoing recession will lead to a drop in U.S. general aviation aircraft billings, from the $2 billion reported in 1990 to $1.955 billion in 1991.
The Lindbergh Foundation has created the Aviation Green Alliance, designed to bring stakeholders together to address the industry’s environmental challenges. The aviation industry has done quite a bit of good work to address environmental issues, including reusable packaging, reducing carbon footprints, Lindbergh Foundation Chairman Larry Williams says.
A strong market for large-cabin business jets and VIP airliners led business and general aviation manufacturers to their third-highest ever annual billings in 2010, even as overall shipments fell 11.4%, as largely expected, and piston deliveries reached their lowest total since the early 1990s, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Business and general aviation manufacturers worldwide shipped 2,015 airplanes last year, down from 2,274 in 2009. Billings, however, actually increased 1.2% to $19.7 billion in 2010.
Timco Aerosystems in Greensboro, N.C., has produced its first group of FeatherWeight 3500 aircraft seats. Designed for commercial aircraft, the seats are 25% lighter than standard seats. Timco says the seats were produced using lean manufacturing techniques.
Yingling Aviation of Wichita was named a Cessna sales team authorized representative (CSTAR) for single-engine piston aircraft, including the Skycatcher, Skyhawk, Skylane, Stationair and Corvalis. Yingling, which has been affiliated with Cessna since 1946, will serve as a CSTAR throughout Kansas, excluding Kansas City. Yingling also serves as a Skycatcher reassembly facility, is an authorized service center and a Cessna parts supplier.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1099; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-054-AD; Amendment 39-16610; AD 2011-05-01] – Incorporate a temporary change in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and Airplane Flight Manual prohibiting the carriage of certain tow bars or similar ferromagnetic masses in the baggage compartment. Also, install a limitation placard in the front of the baggage compartment door, per the instructions of Piaggio Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 80-0275, Rev. N. 0 (dated June 15, 2009).
Signature Flight Support President Michael Scheeringa has been encouraged by the efforts of top officials in the Transportation Security Administration to increase traffic into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). “Despite the castigation on Capitol Hill, [the TSA leaders] have embraced collaboration.” He says TSA Administrator John Pistole and Brian Delauter, the agency’s general aviation general manager, have been “very, very helpful.” He expressed confidence that their efforts, including those announced earlier this month (BA, Feb.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1038; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-250-AD; Amendment 39-16601; AD 2011-04-01] – Conduct a one-time detailed visual inspection of the main landing gear pistons, replacing any cracked piston and reporting the inspection findings to Fokker Services. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent a main landing gear failure and loss of airplane control during landing rollout. FAA estimates that this directive will affect six aircraft on the U.S.
The U.S. Senate late Feb. 17 passed its two-year FAA reauthorization bill by a vote of 87-8, after approving more than two dozen of the 107 amendments submitted covering a range of aviation and non-aviation related topics.
ExecuJet Europe has opened its fourth European fixed-base operation in Valencia, Spain. The company bought the assets of the facility from Spanish FBO chain Assistair. ExecuJet’s new FBO is located at the General Aviation Terminal at Valencia airport.
EMBRAER E170 and E190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0038; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-153-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a detailed inspection for drill marks at the left and right lower-ring region of the rear pressure bulkhead between the circumferential splice joint and rear skin between Stringers 12 and 13. If drill marks were found, operators would need to repair them before further flight, in accordance with Embraer Service Bulletin 170-53-0082 or 190-53-0042 (both Rev. 01 and dated April 28, 2010), as applicable.
Signature Flight Support has opened a Middle East sales office in Bahrain. Karl Bowles, a 24-year aviation veteran who formerly was director of business development-Middle East for Jet Support Services, will head the new office as sales manager-Middle East. The new office is co-located with BBA Aviation’s Engine Repair and Overhaul Middle East sales and services bases.
The Embraer Phenom 100 has received certification for a belted toilet, allowing the aircraft to carry up to seven passengers. The Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency and European Aviation Safety Agency issued the certificate last month, and FAA approval is expected soon.
FAA is proposing to expand an existing airworthiness directive (AD 2008-14-07) calling for repetitive inspections of certain Lycoming fuel-injected reciprocating engines. The proposed AD would expand the applicability to nearly 43,000 four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines installed on U.S.-registered Beech, Cessna, Mooney and Piper aircraft. The proposed requirements would include inspection, replacement if necessary and proper clamping of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines.
