Growth in European traffic in 2010 was driven in part by business aviation, which marked a 5.5% increase over 2009 operations. Business aviation’s increase was second only to low-cost carrier operations, which improved 6.9%. Traffic overall was up 0.8%, despite the economic downturn and weather and other natural disaster influences. “In 2010 we already saw the beginnings of growth and in 2011, we expect [a] further increase of at least 3.6% in the number of flights across Europe,” says David Marsh, head of forecasting at Eurocontrol.
Grand Junction, Colo.-based West Star Aviation is offering complete window repair from its in-house teams. Window repair is offered for most corporate aircraft, including Falcon, Hawker, Citation, Challenger, Learjet, Conquest, King Air, Embraer and Westwind.
The Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), a Bangalore, India-based joint venture of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and CAE, has received a cockpit simulator for HAL Dhruv helicopter training. The unit, designed and built by CAE in Montreal, is the second to arrive at the HATSOFF training center and is slated to become operational in May following Level D certification by India’s Directorate General Civil Agency.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is recommending changes to helicopter gearbox design and certification standards following the fatal March 2009 crash of a Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland. The TSB wants certification rules changed to require all S-92As to be able to fly for 30 min. after the loss of main gearbox oil, and for the FAA to assess whether a 30-min. run-dry requirement is adequate for rotorcraft operating in extreme environments.
DORNIER 228-100, -101, -200, -201, -202 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1152; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-026-AD; Amendment 39-16589; AD 2011-03-05] – Conduct recurrent visual inspections of fuselage Frame 19 for cracks, per the instructions of Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266 (dated Dec. 1, 2006). If any cracks are found, repair the airplane before further flight.
JIŘÍ MATOUŠEK has become chairman of the Central European Private Aviation (CEPA) organization. Matoušek replaces CEPA founder Dagmar Grossman, who has held the position since the organization was founded in November 2009. Grossman stepped down to focus on development of Grossman Jet Service. Matoušek has worked with Grossman on a variety of CEPA projects and has spent 16 years with SAS.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0036; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-230-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to implement a series of fuel system modifications to mitigate unsafe conditions that could result in potential ignition sources within the fuel system. This proposal resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 67 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $5.5 million, or $82,406 per airplane.
CHC Helicopter has signed a long-term agreement with Eurocopter that calls for the manufacturer to provide training at its new North Sea Service Center, which was inaugurated last week in Aberdeen, Scotland. The oil and gas sector remains a strong growth market for Eurocopter and an important business at a time of sustained weakness in the helicopter market in general. What’s more, the deal with CHC Helicopter underpins Eurocopter’s effort to generate revenue from services.
General aviation’s contribution to “saving thousands of lives in Haiti” and the Sikorsky X2 Technology Demonstrator team are among seven nominees announced by the National Aeronautic Association for the 100th presentation of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Other nominees are: Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System; Fighter Risk-Reduction Program team; MC-12W Project Liberty team; Orion Launch Abort System Development team; Boeing Company C-17A Globemaster III team; and X-51A WaveRider team.
Gulfstream Aerospace has begun a series of icing tests on its new Gulfstream G250 super mid-sized aircraft as the business jet approaches certification, which is expected later this year. Serial Number 2001, which first flew in December 2009, completed tests with simulated ice shapes applied to non-heated areas such as the nose, tail, winglets and engine pylon. Gulfstream says these tests evaluate handling, stability and control in icing conditions.
The National Business Aviation Association’s Corporate Aviation Management Committee has selected four recipients of the 2011 Corporate Aviation Management Scholarship. Each scholarship, valued at $1,650, will cover expenses associated with attendance at NBAA’s 2011 Leadership Conference Feb. 23-24 in San Diego. The conference promotes the professional development and leadership skills of individuals seeking careers in flight department management.
Aircell has raised another $35 million in new financing from its existing investors and management to fund its expansion in commercial and business aviation. “Since securing our exclusive spectrum license in 2006, we’ve raised more than $500 million,” says Aircell President and CEO Michael Small. The company’s most recent expansion included extended coverage of its Gogo Biz inflight high-speed Internet service to portions of Alaska. The coverage includes Alaska’s more populous regions, key en route segments, and arrival and departure corridors for key airports.
The Alakai Technologies’ digital flight data monitoring (FDM) system and wireless Internet units have been certified for installation aboard Eurocopter AS350 and EC130 helicopters. California-based GA-FDM will offer the systems to operators, analyzing the data produced from each flight to help operators identify accident precursors, reduce risks, improve training and reduce operator costs, Alakai says. Operators will receive detailed reports covering aircraft and pilot performance, along with suggestions for preventative and corrective measures.
The National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University has expanded its partnership with Dassault Systemes Solutions to further research and education at the university regarding the advanced use of composite materials. NIAR’s CAD/CAM Laboratory is providing hands-on instruction using Dassault Systemes modeling systems, including CATIA for composites, SIMULIA for simulation and DELMIA for digital manufacturing. “For more than a century, metal parts have been the de facto standard in the aerospace industry.
XoJet, the San Francisco-based charter operation founded in 2006, is continuing its rapid expansion with new offices in New York, a partnership with Heliflite to add helicopter service, and a new “Coast2Coast” program for specific flight profiles.
FlightSafety International will offer Bombardier Challenger 605 training to customers in Europe through the company’s London Farnborough facility in the U.K. Training is slated to begin early next year using a new FlightSafety-built full-flight simulator. FlightSafety provides a range of Bombardier Learjet, Challenger, Global, CRJ and Dash series training using more than 60 flight simulators and other training devices installed at 15 learning centers in Asia, Europe, South Africa and North America.
The Senate later this week is expected to vote on passage of a two-year FAA reauthorization bill, S.223, while the House aviation subcommittee plans to consider its own four-year reauthorization package, HR.658, which was introduced Friday.
Snecma subsidiary SMA won European Aviation Safety Agency approval for its 230-shp SR305-230E diesel engine. The Jan. 24 certification followed 2,500 hr. of ground and flight testing. U.S. FAA certification is expected shortly. Designed for single- or twin-engine light aircraft, the SR305-230E uses Jet A fuel. SMA says the engine is scheduled for entry into service in early 2012.
President Barack Obama, speaking last week before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reiterated his administration’s commitment to extending high-speed Internet service across the U.S. But this may come at the cost of possibly disastrous “overload jamming” of GPS signals.
Dubai-based private aviation company Empire Aviation Group has partnered with RMSI, the Dubai-based medevac, emergency medical services and clinical services specialist, to launch a new intensive-care air ambulance service. Under the deal, Empire will manage and operate a Dubai-based Hawker 800XP business jet that has been converted to an air ambulance configuration for RMSI.
FAA has granted operational certification for the Dassault Falcon 7X enhanced vision system (EVS). The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified EVS in July 2010. The system shows an image on the head-up display (HUD) and flight deck displays, enabling pilots to see the terrain and airport environment in low-visibility situations such as fog, haze, snow or at night. The system incorporates LCD HUD technology.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1109; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-155-AD; Amendment 39-16597; AD 2011-03-13] – Perform a detailed inspection of the Rudder Travel Limiter (RTL) for broken return springs and damage through the casing, or chafing of the casing of the primary actuator, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-27-055, Rev. A (dated Aug. 6, 2010). Before further flight, replace any broken return springs with new springs, and repair or replace any chafed or damaged primary actuator.
FAA’s recent proposal to strengthen airport standards is raising concerns among airport managers, who fear that it may prove costly and conflict with another proposal mandating safety management systems. On Feb. 1 FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to require a series of new standards for Part 139-certified airports, including mandates to train personnel who access airport ramps and aprons, conduct pavement surface evaluations and set up a Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS) for low-visibility operations (BA, Feb. 7/6).
BOMBARDIER CL-215, CL-215T and CL-415 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1108; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-151-AD; Amendment 39-16592; AD 2011-03-08] – Conduct repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the hydraulic accumulators for cracks and replace any accumulator in which a crack is detected. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent hydraulic accumulator screw cap or end cap failures from resulting in loss of the associated hydraulic system and high-energy impact damage to adjacent systems and structure.
