40 Years Ago Dec. 7, 1970—Belgian Congo operator Mibachats prepares to take delivery of the first Swearingen Aircraft Metro, a 20-seat twin-turboprop. 30 Years Ago Dec. 22, 1980—The transition team for President-elect Ronal Reagan recommends increases in general aviation user charges. 20 Years Ago Dec. 24, 1990—The National Air Transportation Association urges FAA to exclude Part 135 operators from pending regulations that lay the groundwork for passenger facility charges.
FAA is soliciting comments on draft guidance that would raise the threshold for conducting a benefit cost analyses (BCA) when applying for discretionary Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. Under the current threshold, applicants for AIP grants of at least $5 million must meet BCA requirements. The new guidance would change the threshold to $10 million. The $5 million threshold was set in 1997. But FAA says a $5 million construction project in 1997 would have been the equivalent of $9.8 million in 2008.
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20 and BR700-710C4-11 engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0614; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-24-AD; Amendment 39-16538; AD 2010-25-05] – Replace the high-pressure turbine (HPT) Stage 1 or Stage 2 discs with serviceable discs, per the instructions of Rolls-Royce Deutschland Service Bulletin SB-BR700-72-A900492 and SB-BR700-72-A900497 (both dated Feb. 12, 2010).
CitationAir by Cessna has launched Jet Access, a card program that gives customers a minimum commitment of 50 hr. annually on a Cessna Citation XLS or Sovereign without owning an aircraft. Customers receive simple pricing, with rates locked in for 36 months and a flexible fuel component, all with no long-term commitment or large capital requirement.
Less than two months after Aviation Partners Inc. (API) opened the order book for its new Dassault Falcon 900 series blended winglets, formal commitments have been signed for 10 shipsets, with more expected before year’s end. “The increased range afforded to the 900 series by blended winglets will be very attractive for aircraft in the Middle East, and we have already seen interest from several operators in the region,” says Gary Dunn, API vice president of sales. “This could quickly become our most successful business jet winglet program.
Embraer and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have signed a deal worth $338 million for eight new E195 jets. The new aircraft will be operated within the Lufthansa regional family serving national and European destinations.
Dassault executives visited China last week, in part to explore ways to increase the company’s presence there. About 10% of the company’s sales are expected to come from China in the next couple of years, and the French planemaker has set a goal of achieving a 40% market share in the nation. Dassault, which is increasing its support in the country with the addition of authorized service centers in Hong Kong and Shanghai planned for February, also is considering increased production possibilities through its ongoing cooperation with Avic.
BILL OTTE was appointed regional manager for Duncan Aviation. Otte will be based in Columbus, Ohio, and will be responsible for the central-eastern U.S. territory. He has a 30-year aviation background, previously serving with Classic Jet Center in Willoughby, Ohio, as maintenance director. He also spent 18 years as the chief of maintenance with National City Corp. in Cleveland.
Of the 1,000+ Pilatus PC12s delivered and operating around the world, none of the turboprop singles is based in the Middle East. The Stans, Switzerland-based planemaker would like to change that, which is why s/n 1256 was on display at the recent Middle East Business Aviation show. According to PC12 salesman Fred Muggli, part of the reason for the $4.5 million airplane’s absence from the region is the manufacturer’s lack of promotion here. “We haven’t done any marketing because there was no [aircraft] availability,” he says.
Two former longtime, senior-level NetJets employees have been tapped for key roles with other aviation companies. Richard Smith, a 31-year Executive Jet Aviation/NetJets employee, has joined the board of directors of Argus International. Smith began as a line pilot with Executive Jet Aviation and held positions of increasing responsibility, including executive vice president of NetJets Aviation. He oversaw the fractional ownership provider’s Columbus, Ohio, operations center.
Aircraft management and charter company Talon Air has obtained International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) registration. Based in Farmingdale, N.Y., Talon Air also has secured Wyvern Gold and Argus Platinum accreditations. “The successful audit and registration of IS-BAO for Talon Air further defines our commitment to safety,” says Vice President of Operations Jason Sanders.
ExecuJet Middle East and ExecuJet Europe have added seven new aircraft to their managed fleets, with a further four aircraft scheduled to arrive in the next few months. The newest addition will be a Challenger 605 that will join the ExecuJet Middle East fleet in January. The Challenger will be used for both private and commercial operations.
VIKING AIR LIMITED (Bombardier) DHC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0699; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-236-AD; Amendment 39-16510; AD 2010-23-21] – Revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was issued following a system safety review of the aircraft fuel system.
JIM SLATON was named senior manager of parts sales for Piper Aircraft. Slaton joined Piper in 1997 and has worked in various capacities in production, technical support and warranty. Most recently he was manager of warranty.
Rizon Jet, a business aviation services provider with bases in the Middle East and Europe, has signed a deal that names New Zealand company Private Flight Global as its preferred inflight catering partner. Private Flight, which has a background in business aircraft aviation cabin management, has worked with catering partners in Europe and the Middle East.
The fate of FAA reauthorization remained unclear Dec. 17 after the Senate abandoned an omnibus funding bill. The House of Representatives a week earlier had passed a nine-month extension of FAA’s authorization in a bill that also would have funded most of the federal government through Fiscal 2011. But the Senate last week was unable to reach agreement on the bill and is expected to pass a new, possibly shorter-term extension of government funding. This could impact the length of the extension of FAA authorization, Washington insiders believe.
FAA is funding university projects that will test the tapping of heat sources in the Earth and from the sun for use in keeping snow and ice off of airport pavements. Binghamton University, a part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, has completed the design phase of a project to use geothermal heat and a system of heat exchangers to warm pavement near the terminal at Greater Binghamton Airport. The project, funded by a $374,000 grant, is “ready to roll,” says William Ziegler, a professor in the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared his solidarity with a federal advisory committee’s emphasis on accelerating and providing more funding for the NextGen air traffic control system as he received the committee’s full list of recommendations Dec. 15.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Jetstream Series 3101 and 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0942; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-049-AD; Amendment 39-16535; AD 2010-25-02] – Establish the number of landings accumulated since installation of each main landing gear radius-rod mounting shaft assembly, per the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 05-JA090143 (dated April 30, 2009).
A Reuters report set off a flurry of speculation that Dubai Aerospace Enterprise might sell StandardAero, which “is not on the auction block, per se,” says Mike Turner, StandardAero’s director-marketing and corporate communications. He says Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has not told the company it plans to sell the large independent engine MRO, which generated revenues of about $1.4 billion in 2008 and 2009. Turner says 2010 “has been a very solid year for us” in revenue, which should be about the same as the last two years and which is above many of its industry peers.
VINCENT ZARRELLA was named director of customer service for Piper Aircraft. Zarrella, who has nearly 25 years of aircraft support experience, has held positions of increasing responsibility at Piper over the past eight years. Most recently he was senior manager of Piper customer operations.
Jet Works Air Center of Denton, Texas, has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to convert an MD-87 airliner into a 24-seat luxury VIP aircraft for a Middle Eastern client. “It will feature a luxurious cabin with a leading-edge entertainment system and Wi-Fi Internet access,” says President Trey Bryson. The aircraft, the first of the type converted by Jet Works, will arrive at the completions center at the end of January.
ANDREW BOCK has rejoined Pacific Precision Products in Irvine, Calif., as sales and engineering solutions manager. Bock also has held positions with Goodrich Aerospace and AVOX Systems.
Aviation group Rizon is progressing with the development of its new MRO facility and fixed-base operator terminal in Doha, Qatar, expected to open in January. Rizon opened a similar $32 million maintenance facility at London Biggin Hill Airport in September, but its passenger terminal opening has been delayed until April 1 because of late delivery of special internal fittings. Both FBO passenger terminals will have a Middle Eastern flavor.
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) is adding a Bombardier Challenger 604 simulator to its facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The CAE 7000 Series Level D full-flight simulator will be ready for training in the first half of 2012, according to officials of the Emirates Group and CAE joint venture. Dassault Falcon 900EX/2000EX EASy and Falcon 7X simulators are to be ready for training in Dubai during 2011.
