The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA) has selected Wilson Air Center to manage a new fixed-base operation (FBO) at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA). The facility will be the fourth for Wilson Air Center, a family-owned, Tennessee-based company that also operates FBOs at Charlotte, Memphis and Houston Hobby.
Lufthansa and Netjets Europe are close to announcing a major cooperation deal, industry sources say. Under the deal, Netjets Europe would take over corporate jet flying as part of the Lufthansa Private Jet scheme in 2011, replacing Lufthansa’s own fleet of corporate aircraft. Neither Lufthansa nor Netjets Europe were prepared to comment at press time.
JUSTIN LADNER was appointed vice president and general manager of commercial and international for Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Ladner will focus on sales of the company’s special-mission line worldwide. He has 21 years of general aviation experience, joining Hawker Beechcraft in 2005. Most recently he was director for international special-mission programs.
TERRY HARRELL was named vice president and general manager of U.S. government and Department of Defense for Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Harrell will focus on sales of the company’s special-mission product line to the U.S. Defense Department and other government organizations. He has 30 years of experience in design and development of complex tactical aircraft, having held key positions with Lockheed Martin’s fighter aircraft development programs.
North Carolina Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue recently declared the week of Dec. 3 as “Aviation Appreciation Week” in her state. Her official proclamation notes the state’s rich heritage in aviation, beginning with Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first powered flight on the sands of Kitty Hawk, N.C. on Dec. 17, 1903. The proclamation also cites the state’s 74 publicly owned airports, more than 300 privately owned airports, 7,000 registered aircraft and more than 14,000 licensed pilots.
Flight Options reports that its Embraer Phenom 300 fractional program continues to grow steadily, with four deliveries that were scheduled for December and three already in the U.S. Flight Options has ordered 100 Phenom 300 executive jets, plus 50 options, and it expects to receive aircraft deliveries over the next 10 years. Company officials say they have pre-sold every Phenom 300 slated for delivery through early 2011.
PAT MARANO was named vice president of business development for JetFlite International. Marano will be responsible for business development in the eastern region of the U.S. He has more than 10 years of aviation industry experience, most recently as manager of business development for Key Air. He also has held client services and sales positions with Jet Aviation, Volo Aviation and Dassault Falcon Jet.
France’s Sky Aircraft has selected the main suppliers for its SK-105 Skylander twin-turboprop 19-seat passenger/freighter aircraft, and preparations are under way to build two flying prototypes. Sky Aircraft is a subsidiary of GECI Aviation, which also owns Reims Aviation Industries, producer of the smaller F406 twin-turboprop utility aircraft. All-metal airframe sections of the SK-105 will be fabricated by French suppliers Figeac Aero, Lauak, MASA and Mazair, as well as Romaero of Romania. Latecoere Group company Latecis will supply airframe equipment.
Two crew members were killed Dec. 19 when their Premier IA jet crashed into a “transformation” station on approach to St. Moritz-Samedan Airport (SMV) in Switzerland, according to information from the Flight Safety Foundation’s Air Safety Network. The aircraft, operated by Windrose Air Jetcharter, burst into flames and was destroyed. The Premier was on a flight from Zagreb-Pleso Airport (ZAG) in Croatia.
Saudi Aramco is the newest Embraer E170 operator, having taken delivery of its first 70-seat aircraft at the end of November. Additional Embraer 170s are to be delivered to the Saudi operator by yearend.
Jan. 20—The Wings Club Luncheon featuring Willie Walsh, CEO, British Airways, The Yale Club, New York, 212-867-1770, [email protected] 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
World Fuel Services Corporation (WFS) is poised to substantially increase its U.S. general aviation business under a definitive agreement to acquire The Hiller Group. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Company executives expect the deal to be completed in mid- to late January, subject to closing conditions.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has committed to stay in Wichita and employ at least 4,000 people there over the next 10 years. That promise was made after the airframer struck a deal with the state of Kansas that includes $45 million in state and local incentives, along with tuition assistance.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is investing more than $1 billion in research and development (R&D) over the next five years to develop the next generation of aircraft engines, the company says. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative program. The company is recruiting more than 200 engineers, which the company says will increase its engineering workforce to more than 1,500 in Canada.
B-N GROUP BN-2 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1255; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-059-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators, before further flight, to visually inspect the elevator tip assemblies (top and bottom surfaces) for deformation of shape and signs of concavity, per the instructions of Britten-Norman Aircraft Ltd. Service Bulletin Number BN-2/SB 313, Issue 3 (dated Feb. 24, 2009). If signs of deformation or concavity were found, operators would need to inspect for delamination of the elevator tip.
Cessna recently handed over two Grand Caravans to Russian operator AirGEO. The aircraft will be based at Krasnoyarsk Yemelyanovo Airport in Siberia and used for passenger, cargo and special-mission operations. The Caravans are the first fixed-wing aircraft in AirGEO’s fleet, which previously included only helicopters.
Weststar Aviation Services has taken delivery of its first AgustaWestland AW139. The Malaysian operator, the largest commercial customer for the AW139 in the Asia-Pacific region, is scheduled to accept a total of nine of the medium twin-engine helicopters for use in offshore oil and gas operations.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT B200, B200GT, B300 and B300C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1242; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-062-AD; Amendment 39-16542; AD 2010-26-03] – Fabricate and install a placard that limits operation of the aircraft when there is known or forecast icing. Also, replace the entire length of the pneumatic supply tube for the tail deice system with a new tube of a different material, per the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 30-3889, Rev. 1 (dated October 2010).
DOREEN GONZALEZ was named senior manager, G650 procurement, for Gulfstream Aerospace. Gonzalez will be responsible for procurement of materials used in the manufacturing of the Gulfstream G650 business jet. She joined Gulfstream in 1992, most recently as senior purchasing manager for Gulfstream’s aircraft completion facility in Savannah, Ga. She also managed the completion material contracts for the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System.
A rudder seized on a Cessna 560XL, N607QS, during landing Dec. 1 at Toledo Express Airport in Ohio. The aircraft had departed Monmouth Executive Airport near Belmar, N.J., carrying two crew and one passenger on a Part 135 flight. The aircraft landed without damage, and the occupants were not injured in the incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. After the aircraft had landed, ice was discovered around the rudder’s control cables and pulleys.
The Helicopter Association International is planning a forum on public-use aircraft Jan. 20 in Alexandria, Va. The forum is expected to include the participation of both FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, which recently called for greater oversight of public-use operations. The forum will discuss a list of questions to FAA on public-use issues. HAI will broadcast the forum via the Internet for interested parties unable to attend the event. Internet participants will have the opportunity to submit comments and questions electronically during the meeting.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1198; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-145-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct a detailed visual inspection for corrosion on the left-hand and right-hand horizontal stabilizer rear spar adjacent to the inboard elevator hinge. If corrosion were found, operators would need to make repairs before further flight, per the instructions of Saab Aerosystems Service Bulletin 2000-55-013 (dated July 6, 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA and EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-1228; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-12-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the cup springs and fan nut in the torque damping system of the starter-generator. Also, operators would need to test the damping system, and after the modification is performed, mark “004” on the identification plate of the starter-generator, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 80.00.07, Rev. 1 (dated Feb.
BOMBARDIER BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1200; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-136-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede but retain the mandates of an existing directive (AD 2010-10-18), would require operators to replace the cabin pressure-sensing port plug with a new gridless plug and reidentify the safety valves, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin A100-21-08 (dated June 18, 2009).
The First Lineage 1000 has been delivered to Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The charter company formally accepted the aircraft during the recent Middle East Business Aviation exhibition. The aircraft, which is certified to carry up to 19 passengers in five distinct cabin zones, is the first of two Lineage 1000 jets ordered by FAS.
