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.
Nav Canada has announced plans for a new series of flight trials aimed at reducing emissions and cutting fuel consumption in the busy transatlantic corridor. The project, titled Europe-North America Go ADS-B for a Greener Environment (ENGAGE), will involve the use of satellite-based surveillance to increase flight efficiency on North Atlantic routes. Trial flights are scheduled to begin in February and continue through the spring of 2011. Also involved are Air France and the U.K.’s National Air Traffic Services.
EtQ, which specializes in enterprise quality, environmental health and safety, and compliance management software, is hosting an Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) Summit Feb. 1 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe, Ariz. The free summit will discuss technologies available to automate SMS and how to bring quality and safety systems under a single platform.
With a significant overhang of used jets still available at attractive prices, overall demand remains anemic and backlogs, while shrinking, remain sizeable, according to the J.P.Morgan Aerospace and Defense Business Jet Monthly report for January. “We see this as the major question for the industry coming into the New Year,” writes J.P.Morgan analyst Joseph Nadol. “We see potential for further rate cuts if orders do not pick up. However, there are reasons for optimism.”
China Eastern Airlines Executive Air, a unit of the Chinese air carrier, is expected to soon launch business jet operations. The business aviation operator currently owns a Hawker 800, but hopes to expand the fleet to three business jets this year and then eventually to seven. The operation was established in 1995 as a ground handler in Shanghai, and has since provided services for more than 5,000 VIP, cargo, charter, air ambulance and other business jet flights.
Piper Aircraft is exiting its short-lived foray into the light-sport aircraft (LSA) market with the termination of its business relationship with Czech Republic-based Czech Sport Aircraft. The company announced plans in January 2010 to enhance and market Czech Sport Aircraft’s SportCruiser as the PiperSport, a two-place, visual flight rules-only aircraft priced at $139,900. But Piper last week cited “differences in business philosophies” in its decision to end the partnership.
The Cessna Pilots Association is offering a series of systems and procedures courses for various Cessna models. The courses will discuss the aircraft systems, problem areas, maintenance tips and safe operation. They also will cover powerplant management. Courses scheduled for the first half of this year include: 182R and earlier models on March 19-20; 210/T210/P210 on April 8-10; and 337 on May 13-15. The first three sessions are all to be held in Santa Maria, Calif. Tuition ranges from $495-$550. For more information, visit www.cessna.org or call (805) 937-0493.
Historically, total U.S. business aviation traffic drops off during the holidays, and Argus’ “TRAQPak” data shows that December followed the trend, with business aircraft activity down 3.2% from November. Part 135 charter activity saw a modest increase of 3% from November.
FAA is urging operators and aircraft maintenance professionals to ensure that tires on transport-category aircraft are properly inflated. On Jan. 6 the agency released a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) stressing the importance of properly inflated tires and warning of the “potential consequences improper tire pressure can have on the performance of aircraft operations during taxi, takeoff and landing.”
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne is protesting the use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to build a ramp for a new fixed-base operation at Tennessee’s Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) in direct competition with the existing operator.
Gulfstream Aerospace appears to have made history by becoming the first business aircraft manufacturer to fly a production fly-by-wire aircraft—the G650—using only a digitally controlled, electrically powered flight control system.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0805; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-042-AD; Amendment 39-16553; AD 2010-26-13] – Install a new aileron-input quadrant support bracket, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-57-43, Rev. B (dated Oct. 7, 2009). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by several cases of cracked aileron terminal quadrant support brackets. Investigations revealed that the support brackets failed due to fatigue.
Duncan Aviation’s Organization Designation Authorization has issued the first supplemental type certificate (STC) for Wide Area Augmentation System - Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (WAAS/LPV) in Dassault Falcon 900B aircraft. The STC involved a software upgrade to the Honeywell NZ-2000 flight management system and the installation of GPS WAAS/LPV receivers. Duncan Aviation completed a similar upgrade in a Challenger 601-3A in September.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0703; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-093-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a one-time detailed inspection of the torque link apex joint of the main landing gear shock strut assembly, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-32-019, Rev. A (dated Sept. 18, 2008). Operators would need to perform all applicable corrective actions before further flight. Also, operators would be required to replace or rework the apex nut.
KAREN TWITCHELL was named executive vice president and CFO for Landmark Aviation. Twitchell has more than 30 years of financial senior management experience, including 20 in manufacturing industries. Most recently, she was vice president and treasurer for the newly merged LyondellBasell Industries. She also has served with Kaiser Aluminum and Southdown. She earned an economics degree from Wellesley College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
While FAA has privately indicated that it has fully heard the opposition from the Part 135 community over its potential plan to apply new Part 121 flight, duty and request requirements to on-demand operations (BA, Nov. 29/1), the agency is proposing at least one change to Part 135 requirements that would mirror that of Part 121. The agency has issued a notice of proposed interpretation that would revise its approach that permits Part 135 operators to extend the duty day of pilots to up to 14 hr.
JetSelect Aviation has added two jets to its Part 135 certificate—a 2010 Cessna Citation XLS+ and a 2006 Learjet 60SE. Both aircraft are equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi.
