The North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee’s Aviation Action Team (AAT) is preparing for an influx of approximately 1,000 business jets anticipated to arrive for this year’s season-ending professional football championship, scheduled for Feb. 6.
Fokker Services has introduced electronic flight bag hardware and a mounting product for the Apple iPad. The new product, which was developed in collaboration with flight operations software and services company Navtech, includes that firm’s charts library. Swedish cargo carrier Amapola was the first commercial carrier to use the Class 2B EFB product on its fleet of Fokker 50s. However, the low-cost, easy-to-install system, which has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency, also is available for Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier aircraft.
China’s Zhejiang Public Security Bureau has ordered two new AgustaWestland helicopters, a single-engine AW119Ke and a twin-engine AW139. The rotary wing aircraft will be used for law enforcement and firefighting duties. Meanwhile, AgustaWestland had delivered another emergency medical service AW109 Power to Turkey’s Koçoğlu Aviation, which now operates eight of the light, twin-engine rotorcraft, along with one AgustaWestland Grand.
Gulfstream Aerospace’s G650 certification program has entered the homestretch, with the fifth and last-planned test aircraft entering the flight-test program last week. The aircraft, Serial Number (S/N) 6005, completed a 2-hr., 46-min. flight on Jan. 24 from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of Mach 0.94 and an altitude of 51,000 ft.
Acknowledging the ambiguity and confusion surrounding public aircraft regulations, FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen says the agency is drafting new guidance that would direct inspectors to consider all contract aircraft operations as civil operations unless a government agency declares otherwise in writing. Speaking during a Helicopter Association International (HAI) forum on public aircraft last week, Allen says that confusion surrounding public aircraft oversight has long been an issue at the agency.
Mid-Continent Instruments has received TSO certification and started delivering two new instruments, the MD15 two-in. altimeter and the MD25 two-in. airspeed indicator. “The MD15 altimeter and MD25 airspeed indicator complement our 4200 electric attitude indicator and complete the two-in. standby package,” says Brett Williams, engineering manager for Mid-Continent. “Their small size saves space in crowded panels and provides either primary or standby instrumentation for any general aviation flight deck.”
Orlando, Fla.-based fixed-base operator Showalter Flying Service will hold a Bahamas Days event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 19 to offer information to pilots wanting to fly to the Caribbean island nation. Showalter is one of eight gateway FBOs that serve the Bahamas, says Brad Elliott, director of new business for the company. “The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is looking for easier ways to get pilots down there,” he explains.
Eurocopter will start development this year of an all-new replacement for its venerable 4-5-metric-ton Dauphin/Panther helicopter and is poised to launch a new hybrid helicopter model as well.
First Aviation Services in Teterboro, N.J., has won Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approval for direct flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) under the agency’s DCA Access Standard Security Program. First Aviation has designated a special, secure ramp area on its 24-acre facility to accommodate TSA clearance for DCA flights.
Elliott Aviation’s headquarters at Illinois’ Quad City International Airport (MLI) has earned ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100:2004 Rev. B certifications. The approvals acknowledge the aircraft support company’s total quality management systems for maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft, including fueling, paint refurbishments, modification, and design of avionics, structures and interiors. The International Organization for Standardization awarded the certifications to Elliott Aviation following an audit by Perry Johnson Registrars Inc. of Troy, Mich.
CESSNA 172 airplanes powered by Thielert engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-1243; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-058-AD] – This proposed AD would require installing a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, per the instructions of Thielert Aircraft Engines Service Bulletins TM TAE 601-0007, Rev. 8 and TM TAE 601-1001 P1, Rev. 8 (both dated Oct. 14, 2010). In addition, this proposal would require operators to replace the supplemental Pilot’s Operating Handbook and FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual.
JEFF MILLER was named general manager of Landmark Aviation’s facilities at Dallas Love Field (DAL), Addison Airport (ADS) and Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (SPS). Miller brings 30 years of aviation experience to his new role, beginning with the U.S. Air Force. He also served with Miller Aviation and Trajen Flight Support before becoming general manager of Atlantic Aviation’s facility in El Paso, Texas.
Correction: Charles Mayer was recently named vice president of marketing for Pilatus Business Aircraft (BA, Jan. 17/7). The Jan. 24 edition of BA incorrectly identified the company.
Dassault Aviation recently performed a successful flight test to evaluate potential applications of a laminar wing for large business jets. The flight was performed with a Falcon 7X at Dassault’s Flight Test Center in Istres, France, and is part of the “Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft” program, one of the Integrated Technology Demonstrators of the European Clean Sky initiative.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0054; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-070-AD; Amendment 39-16582; AD 2011-01-53] – This emergency AD, which supersedes emergency AD 2011-01-51, requires operators to immediately conduct a functional test of the fuselage drain holes and send the test results to the FAA. This AD was issued to prevent water or fluid from accumulating and freezing in the belly of the fuselage, which could cause the flight controls to jam, with consequent loss of control. FAA estimates that this directive will affect 102 airplanes on the U.S.
The Karnataka government in India has cleared a proposal submitted by Mahindra Aerospace to set up an aerospace component manufacturing unit in Kolar, near Bengaluru, with an initial investment of Rs 284 crore ($63 million).
NetJets has begun filing for certification of a fractional operation in China, CEO David Sokol tells Aviation Week. Sokol estimates that the process should take between 12-16 months and that a fractional operation could be ready to go in late 2012. “NetJets people actually helped the Chinese write their private aviation rules back in the early 2000s,” Sokol notes, adding, “But it hasn’t been until the last two years that the opportunity to get really involved in private aviation has made sense.
DON HALOBURDO was named vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Flight Services, which is Jet Aviation’s aircraft management and charter division for the Americas. Haloburdo, a 10-year employee with Jet Aviation, has held managerial positions within the organization, serving as Gulfstream captain, chief pilot and most recently as vice president of flight for New World Jet Corporation.
DEBRA HIGGINS was appointed vice president of charter sales for Arcadia Aviation. Higgins has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience, most recently as vice president of sales for Capital Jet. She was also director of sales and marketing for the Aero Toy Store and director of charter sales at Private Jet Charters in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Air Partner has had its “royal warrant” as supplier of aircraft charter to Queen Elizabeth II renewed through winter 2013. The charter operator is the only aviation company to be designated as an official supplier to the royal family. Royal warrants are seen as highly coveted, globally recognized marks of excellence and are granted by the queen, her husband (the Duke of Edinburgh) or the Prince of Wales.
Bombardier has sold eight large cabin business jets to an unnamed buyer. The purchase of two Challengers and six Global jets is valued at about $383 million, based on 2010 list prices for typically equipped aircraft.
ARGUS has recognized nine charter operators that were awarded a Platinum rating, its highest level of safety, in the fourth quarter of 2010. They are: Airborne Inc. dba FirstFlight, Horseheads, N.Y.; Ameristar Air Cargo Inc., Addison, Texas; Commonwealth Aviation Service Inc. dba Million Air Richmond, Va.; Heritage Aviation Inc. dba Heritage Flight, Burlington, Vt.; Jet Select LLC, Columbus, Ohio; Priester Aviation LLC, Wheeling, Ill.; Universal Jet Aviation Inc., Boca Raton, Fla.; Western Airways Inc., Sugarland, Texas; and Worldwide Jet Charter LLC, Millville, N.J.
Piper Aircraft is ramping up work on the Altaire, its first jet, with some 160 engineers now assigned to the project and metal work on the first conforming aircraft underway. The company reported that it has 157 orders in hand for the $2.5 million aircraft. Jackie Carlon, director of marketing, says the engineering department has released more than 1,000 drawings for the aircraft and that first metal was recently cut for the initial unit. The PiperJet Altaire, which will seat up to seven, will feature a single Williams FJ44-3AP turbofan delivering 2,500 lb.
Hawker Beechcraft is forecasting strong growth in private aviation across the Middle East over the next few years. The company says one of its largest growth areas in the region is its special-mission applications, which range from maritime patrol and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, to commercial applications such as photographic, air ambulance, flight inspection, weather modifications and transportation for government officials.
The delivery of 15 Airbus corporate jets during 2010 was a single-year record for the European airframe manufacturer. The shipments, which were valued at more than $1.5 billion at list prices, included 13 A318 Elites, Airbus Corporate Jetliners and A320 Prestiges, plus two VIP versions of the wide-body A330 and A340. Airbus garnered eight corporate jet orders last year, increasing total orders for its VIP airliners to more than 170 aircraft.
