FOKKER F.28 Mark 0100, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1114; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-206-AD; Amendment 39-16591; AD 2011-03-07] – Inspect to ensure that the correct Fuelling Control Panel (FCP) power switch cam is installed. If not, replace the installed cam with an improved part. Subsequently conduct repetitive functional checks of the cam and, if necessary, adjust it before further flight until the cam operates correctly.
All seven people aboard a Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 850XP were killed Feb. 4 when the aircraft crashed during its initial climb out from Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah International Airport (ISU), according to preliminary information on the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network. The aircraft, OD-SKY, was operated by Sky Lounge of Lebanon and carried three crew and four technicians and shareholders with the Iraqi mobile phone company Asiacell. The aircraft was on a flight to Ankara-Senoia Airport in Turkey. Weather was reported as heavy snow with 1,500 meters visibility.
Used business jet sales jumped 16% in 2010, compared with sales in 2009, and last year’s sales were up 4.8% compared with 2008, according to a new report from aviation consultancy Jetnet. Also, the percentage of business jets for sale dropped 1.5 points, from 16.3% in 2009 to 14.8% in 2010, says the report.
Limits to the Blocked Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program could be coming soon from the Department of Transportation, warns the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in a letter last week to its members. DOT is considering adding “onerous limitations” to the BARR program, starting as soon as Feb. 15, by implementing a security-related eligibility requirement for current participants and for those who may want to participate in the program in the future, NBAA warns in the letter.
Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Arrow Aircraft Sales and Charters Private Limited as an authorized independent sales representatives for India. Arrow Aircraft will work with Jason Akovenko, Gulfstream regional VP, Asia-Pacific, and Roger Sperry, Gulfstream regional senior VP, international sales. “Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America represent more than 40 percent of Gulfstream’s backlog,” Sperry says. “We need to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support this growing sales trend.
The National Park Service (NPS) is soliciting comments on a draft plan to address aircraft noise over Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). The plan calls for new limits on the number of air tour operations, hours of their flights and minimum altitudes. The plan also emphasizes the use of quiet technology. On Feb. 2 NPS released the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which covers air tour flights and calls for the “substantial restoration of natural quiet” over GCNP. The DEIS is open for public review and comments are due June 6.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) has established a Training Institute and a New Products and Technology group. Capt. James Hobart, VP of training programs, will head the Training Institute, which will offer courses in safety management systems, regulatory affairs, auditing, emergency response planning, advanced qualification programs and certification. VP William Norwood will lead the New Products and Technology group, which will provide a range of technology-based systems designed to improve airline safety and passenger comfort.
The Indian civil aviation authority has granted Russian Helicopters all-weather operational clearance for the Ka-32A11BC. India is only the latest in a long list of countries that have granted the certification, but it is a key market owing to the difficult operating conditions in the country and the large potential market size. Brazil also has begun the process of providing a type certificate for the coaxial rotor helicopter, the manufacturer says. India’s Global Vectra Helicorp plans to take delivery later this year of a Ka-32A11BC, a multi-role version of the Ka-32A.
ADRIAN MUNDAY was appointed director and general manager of a new TBM 850 sales and customer support organization in the U.K. and Ireland for Socata-Daher. Munday is based at new offices established at London Oxford Airport. Munday has 22 years of aviation industry experience, originally handling Rockwell/Gulfstream and Dornier 228 turboprop sales for the Alan Mann Group of Companies at Fairoaks Airport, Surrey. He also has worked as U.K. and Irish distributor for Agusta/Westland Helicopters, as well as for Harrods Aviation.
Macquarie Infrastructure Co.’s Atlantic Aviation subsidiary has sold its fixed-base operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Cleveland Cuyahoga County Airport. The Fresno facility was sold to a subsidiary of Ross Aviation. The Cleveland facility was sold to a subsidiary of The Cleveland Jet Center. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Cessna, which is still fighting through a slow business jet market, is using the excess capacity at its Wichita paint shop to bring new paint capabilities to its Citation Service Center in Wichita. The service center did not have paint facilities, but has encountered increasing demand for those services.
The Transportation Security Administration continues to tweak the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DAASP), with the latest changes slated to take effect March 1, Brian Delauter, TSA general manager of general aviation security, told the National Air Transportation Association’s FBO Leadership Conference last week. Delauter last year had stated his “open goal” of increasing flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and the agency since has made some small changes to the program.
JEFFREY ANGELOS was appointed director of commercial sales for North America for Bell Helicopter. Angelos is responsible for planning and direction of sales, marketing and after-sales support for the North American region. He formerly spent 19 years with the FBI, most recently as section chief of the aviation branch. There, he managed all facets of the FBI’s aviation operations, including policies and procedures, strategic planning for foreign operations, program development and contract performance. He is an FAA commercial, instrument fixed-wing and rotor pilot.
The Clean Sky program has issued it largest call for proposals yet, in the Europe Union’s largest aviation research and development project. This is the eighth round of solicitations, with around €31.9 million ($43.1 million) in research funds up for grabs. Clean Sky managers are asking for ideas on 58 topics, with responses by companies, academic institutions or consortia due May 3.
General aviation recently received a strong endorsement from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his blog post entitled “General Aviation Pulling its Economic, Safety Weight; Building Aircraft Helps America.” The blog points to FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta’s recent visit to Wichita, saying he saw “general aviation is doing its part to get America’s economy back on track.” LaHood acknowledges the industry’s economic woes, but also that some of the jobs are starting to return.
MARGIE BRICKER was promoted to VP of finance for Arcadia Aviation. Bricker leads the accounting and human resource teams across Arcadia’s locations. She has more than 30 years of experience in accounting and management, and helped integrate the human resources and accounting functions of Wayfarer Aviation into Arcadia Aviation. She also has served as VP of finance for Bentley Graphic Communications.
Feb. 14-17—University of California Los Angeles Short Course: “Airframe Stress Analysis and Sizing,” UCLA Extension Building, www.uclaextension.edu/shortcourses Feb. 15-16—36th Annual FAA Aviation Forecast Conference, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., http://www.faa.gov/news/conferences_events/aviation_forecast_2011/ Feb. 17—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Boca Raton, Fla., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
GREG KINSELLA was promoted to chief operating officer for Arcadia Aviation. Kinsella formerly was co-president at Wayfarer Aviation and joined Arcadia through its acquisition of Wayfarer. He has a background in aviation sales, marketing, business development, charter/management operations, consulting and senior management positions, holding posts with companies including British Aerospace, Saab Aircraft, American Eagle, Fairchild Dornier, Flight Works, Vista Aviation Services and DeltaFox Aviation.
JetFlite International (JFI), the aircraft management and charter operation based in Long Beach, Calif., reports that charter revenues jumped 37% in 2010 over 2009. JFI believes revenues will grow another 30% this year. “Having major facilities now on both coasts and international flights accounting for nearly 55% of JFI’s total aircraft charter business has contributed to this growth,” says JFI President Albert Pod. The company opened a new operation at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y., basing a Gulfstream IV and Bombardier Challenger 601 there.
CESSNA LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1186; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-065-AD; Amendment 39-16588; AD 2011-03-04] – This new AD supersedes an existing directive (AD 2009-09-09), which requires repetitive inspections of the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets for cracking, deformation and discoloration, and replacement of any damaged components.
Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft and Embraer remain locked in competitive battles for the few new-aircraft orders that have surfaced in recent months, says aviation consultancy Rolland Vincent Associates, adding it is hopeful that the manufacturers will be able to work through their existing backlogs and “hold on” until the underlying economic fundamentals translate into signed orders. The picture, however, is brighter at the higher end of the market.
Industry analysts are becoming increasingly optimistic about the prospects for a business aviation recovery now that corporate profits are rebounding, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is flirting with 12,000 and pent-up demand may soon be released.
Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport reported a 36% increase in civil operations in 2010, compared with 2009. Officials credit the increase to their success in attracting corporate and VIP clients to the only business aviation airport in the region. “The year-end performance report for Al Bateen Executive Airport indicated that the airport registered 7,970 commercial aircraft movements in 2010,” says General Manager Steve Jones.
Sunday’s episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” was slated to have a complementary makeover target: an airplane. The home of the Hurston family of Cocoa, Fla., was selected for the makeover, as was their 1970 Cessna SkyMaster. In 1978 Joe Hurston, a pilot, founded Air Mobile Ministries, a volunteer group that transports medical supplies, food and clothing to disaster victims. Since 2004, the organization has been specializing in delivering water purifiers to devastated regions.
