Cessna Aircraft has delivered more than 30 Skycatchers to date and plans to ship a total of 150 models of the light sport aircraft this year, including the first versions featuring the McCauley two-blade, fixed-pitch composite propeller. In a report issued last week, Cessna says it has received more than 60 Skycatchers from China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which builds the airplanes and ships them to Yingling Aviation in Wichita for reassembly and subsequent distribution by Cessna.
The National Air Transportation Association has urged its members to lobby Congress in support of a letter circulating on Capitol Hill opposing the possibility of aviation user fees. House aviation subcommittee leaders Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) have begun soliciting signatures from their colleagues on a draft letter that urges President Barack Obama to avoid user fees in the upcoming Fiscal 2012 budget (BA, Jan. 10/1).
Dallas Jet International has tapped Aviation Business Consultants International (ABCI) as a marketing partner. “We recognized the need to communicate with our customers in new ways,” says DJI’s Brad Harris. “Most global Fortune 100 companies are using Twitter, Facebook LinkedIn and YouTube. More than half of NBAA members are using Facebook regularly. We are very interested in the powerful new tools that ABCI brings to the service we offer our clients.”
CESSNA (previously Columbia and Lancair) LC41-550FG and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1297; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-068-AD; Amendment 39-16569; AD 2010-26-54] – Operators are prohibited from operating these airplanes without written approval from the manager of FAA’s Wichita Aircraft Certification Office. This written approval must clearly state that operation is approved per emergency AD 2010-26-54.
Two former fixed-base operator executives are hoping to boost competition at Colorado’s Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and reduce the airfield’s carbon footprint by building a new FBO there. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is updating its master plan, which is expected to include an option for establishing a second FBO at the airport.
PIPER PA-46-310P (Malibu), PA-46-350P (Malibu Mirage) and PA-46R-350T (Matrix) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1295; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-060-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to calibrate their Lewis or Transicoil turbine inlet temperature (T.I.T.) systems, replace any system that fails the calibration test and repetitively replace the T.I.T. probe on certain PA-46-350P airplanes. In addition, operators of certain aircraft would need to insert a copy of this AD into the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH).
Aviation headset producer Sennheiser was selected to supply its HMEC 26 aviation noise-reduction headsets for Embraer Phenom, E-Jet and Lineage aircraft. The agreement covers both Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft, the Lineage 1000 and the E-Jet 170, 175, 190 and 195 series. The headsets employ Sennheiser’s NoiseGard technology, which can decrease residual noise by up to 90%, the company says.
The Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA) last week appealed to Gov. Rick Scott (R) to retain the state-owned aircraft or consider using charter. FATA notes that Scott is keeping a campaign promise by directing the Florida Department of Management Services to sell the state-owned King Air 350 and Cessna Citation Bravo.
Corporate Air of Pittsburgh has become the latest operator to join the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Registry. With the latest addition, the registry has grown to 23 operators. The ACSF developed the IAS to provide a standardized comprehensive audit standard for Part 135 and 91K operators. The program calls for an evaluation every 24 months.
At the request of FAA, the Federal Communications Commission last week formally halted a prohibition on the certification, manufacture, sale or use of emergency locator transmitters (ELT) that use the 121.5 MHz frequency. FCC had called for the prohibition after the international Cospas-Sarsat organization announced in 2000 that it planned to end satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5 MHz beacons beginning in 2009. The organization had urged users to switch to more reliable 406 MHz units.
Pratt & Whitney Canada has created the social media microsite PT6nation.com, which enables PT6 operators to share stories and keep up to date on developments regarding the engine. The microsite also is designed to bring brand awareness to potential customers and industry partners.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has formally launched its campaign to curtail illegal charter activity within Europe, the association announced last week. Operating without a valid air operator’s certificate has been a key concern for many within the business aviation community and has been among the top issues for the association over the past year, EBAA says.
ROBERT LEE has joined Million Air as general manager of its Houston facility. Lee has more than 20 years of management and aviation operations experience, most recently as general manager of Atlantic Aviation’s facility in Wheeling, Ill. He also has served as general manager for both Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation facilities, along with operations manager for University Air Center and director of marketing for Electronic Flight Solutions.
FAA last week formally kicked off the newest round of meetings of the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GA-JSC), which will take a data-driven approach to developing recommendations for improving the GA accident rate. GA industry leaders in 2009 committed to striving to achieve a rate of no more than one fatal accident per 100,000 flight hours by 2018. The GA-JSC will take an approach similar to that of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team, created as part of the “Safer Skies” initiative.
Former Hawker Beechcraft marketer Charles D. Mayer has joined Pilatus Business Aircraft as vice president of marketing. Mayer will be responsive for developing marketing strategies, branding initiatives and promotional activities for Pilatus products and services in the U.S. Mayer previously held the same title with Hawker Beechcraft, where he helped relaunch the brands worldwide. Before that he was director of marketing, media and advertising for Ferrari Maserati North America, where he helped lead the market launch of Maserati in the U.S.
The Canadian aerospace industry has witnessed impressive growth during the past few years, with a major contribution from the civil aviation segment, says a new report from India’s RNCOS, a market research and analysis company. The report, Canadian Aerospace Industry Future Outlook, foresees dynamic market developments in the civil and military aircraft and aircraft parts sector, which will help the market post a 6.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during 2010-2013.
Jan. 20-21—European Business Aviation Association Regional Forum “One Europe: A Roadmap for Aligning East and West,” Hilton Vienna, www.ebaa.org Feb. 7-8—National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference, Savannah, Ga., (703) 845-9000, www.nata.aero Feb. 9-11—National Business Aviation Association’s 22nd Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Savannah, Ga., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Feb. 17—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Boca Raton, Fla., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
Embraer has sold 10 E-190s to CDB Leasing Co. of China. The jets will be operated by China Southern, the country’s largest airline. The aircraft will be used to develop new markets, and the first delivery is expected during the second half of this year.
B/E AEROSPACE Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE) Part Number 119003-11 installed on various transport airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0797; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-141-AD; Amendment 39-16562; AD 2011-01-09] – Before further flight, replace certain PBE equipment with serviceable units. This AD, which was prompted by reports of potentially defective potassium superoxide canisters used in PBE units, was issued to prevent PBE units from igniting, which could result in a fire and possible injury to the flightcrew or other persons.
Rockwell Collins has acquired flight operations management specialist Computing Technologies for Aviation (CTA), a move that the company says will expand its Ascend flight information capabilities. Rockwell Collins unveiled the Ascent flight information product line during the National Business Aviation Association convention in October. Ascend provides a range of applications and services, including flight planning, weather updates, concierge services, automatic navigation data transfer, maintenance diagnostics, cabin entertainment packages and other capabilities.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that FAA require the retrofit of shoulder harnesses on all general aviation airplanes and also encourages the use of airbags. The safety board, which met last week to consider the findings of a study on airbags in general aviation airplanes, concluded that airbags provide additional protection to occupants in survivable accidents. But the safety board also notes concerns about potential installation issues or incorrect usage.
As the global market for new business jets has contracted in recent years, Asia-Pacific’s share has been increasing, growing from 7% of global deliveries in 2007 to 12% in 2009. As of August 2010, Asia-Pacific had 637 business aircraft, or 3.6% of the world fleet, according to JetNet. Within the region, the relatively mature market of Australia/Oceania remains the biggest, with 161 aircraft. However, India was second with 143 aircraft, followed by China with 114 and Southeast Asia with 110.
The National Business Aviation Association will present Wendi Gavigan of Citigroup with the 2011 Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award at its upcoming conference. The award recognizes individuals who have shared their outstanding business aviation industry expertise, provided extraordinary service, exhibited leadership and made significant contributions to the scheduling and dispatching function.
