An upgraded Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft powered by the General Electric-developed M601-H80 turboprop was scheduled to make its public debut last week, just two weeks after completing its first flight from the airframe maker’s Albany, Ga. site.
The industry’s “No Plane No Gain” advocacy campaign has taken root since its launch nearly two years ago, says National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen, who provided an update last week on the program that NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association jointly unveiled in February 2009. The effort has been visible both inside and outside Washington, with the creation of House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses and proclamations supporting the industry by 18 state governors, he says.
BERNARD DELOUYE was named Dassault Falcon’s new customer service manager to support its customers in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. He will be based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Delouye has more than 24 years of experience in aeronautical maintenance, working on both helicopters and Dassault fighter jets.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0862; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-040-AD; Amendment 39-16518; AD 2010-23-28] – Insert Temporary Revision No. 3 (dated March 2009) into the “Emergency Procedures” and “Limitations” sections of the Pilot’s Operating Handbook. Also, replace the existing oxygen-generator release pin with an open pin, per the instructions of Daher-Socata TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-168 (dated December 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA330F, G and J; and AS332C, L, L1 and L2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0670; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-42-AD; Amendment 39-16513; AD 2010-23-23] – Inspect the positioning of each lower and upper door catch of the rear-hinged door. If any catch is improperly installed, replace the affected catch, adjust the micro-switches and conduct a functional test of the hinged-door indicating system before further flight.
Although just four years old, the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) can claim credit for helping save a key business airport from extinction. And it is now leading a fight to end the practice of “grey charter” by which operators essentially charter their private aircraft to friends, relatives and friends of friends.
Gulfstream will hit another key milestone in the development of the G650 this month when the fifth aircraft joins the flight test program. The ultra-long-range aircraft, which has accumulated more than 900 hr. of flight testing, remains on schedule for certification and initial deliveries in 2011, Jay Johnson, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told analysts at the Credit Suisse Group Aerospace and Defense Conference Dec. 2. Gulfstream plans to deliver 10-12 of the “initial phase” G650s next year, he says.
JOHN JARRELL was appointed vice president and general manager of the aviation business unit of EMS Technologies. Jarrell joins EMS from Sensis Corp., where he was vice president and general manager of Air Traffic Systems. He oversaw the company’s aviation business strategy, including leading the development of next-generation aviation data systems.
CHRIS LITTLE was promoted to engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Little will be responsible for sales of engine services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, JT15D, PW500 and PW306C engines in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He will be based in Texas.
FAA is providing more time for comments on a proposed rulemaking to require airport operators to establish safety management systems. The comment period, originally Jan. 5, has been extended to March 7 at the request of airports and other industry associations, including the Experimental Aircraft Association.
The first Legacy 650 in the Middle East has been delivered by Embraer to an undisclosed customer from Jordan during a recent ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Brazil. The aircraft will be managed by Jordan-based private jet charter operator Arab Wings.
Jet Aviation has won the first Boeing 747-8 cabin completions contract, and will outfit the aircraft at its Basel, Switzerland, center for a Middle East customer. The company’s in-house interior design studio also was contracted to design the cabin interior. The aircraft will arrive in Basel in early 2012, provided there are no more delays to the Boeing 747-8 program. Completion could take up to 24 months from then.
Despite Swearingen SJ30 owners Emivest Aerospace filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 20, insiders are saying the light business jet may have a bright future and that the program is definitely not dead. Executives at last week’s Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show say a strong potential investor with an aviation background is waiting in the wings to inject $200 million to achieve critical mass production for the first time in the aircraft’s history. Emivest must find a buyer for the company by Jan. 31 or face liquidation (BA, Nov. 1/6).
The National Transportation Safety Board and a helicopter services company remain at odds over the findings in an Aug. 5, 2008 crash of a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter in California that killed nine and injured four others. The safety board last week determined that a contractor’s improper actions and inadequate oversight by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and FAA led to the accident.
Fokker Services Asia (FSA) has broken ground on a new service facility located in Singapore’s new Seletar Aerospace Park and plans to move into the state-of-the-art facility early next year. The free-span hangar will be able to accommodate three regional aircraft or two narrow-body jetliners. With the move into the new quarters, FSA plans to add heavy maintenance capabilities for additional types of regional aircraft and anticipates doubling its work volume over the next five years.
ROBINSON R22 , R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0711; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-25-AD; Amendment 39-16521; AD 2010-24-03] – Visually inspect each tail-rotor control pedal bearing block support for cracks, measure the thickness of each support, install support safety tabs on certain supports, and replace supports of a certain thickness during the next 2,200-hr. overhaul.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking a Deputy Commissioner - Facilities to manage all physical plant facilities at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to: http://flychicago.com/BusinessInformation/Jobs/Default.aspx
The technology exists to produce a battery-powered Cessna 172 trainer, says George Bye, founder and CEO of Bye Energy. Bye says his company will have a battery-powered N-model Skyhawk flying out of Denver’s Centennial Airport by next spring. Cessna Aircraft is assisting in the project. Bye believes the training market is a primary target for his avgas-less aspirations.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230 and 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-1137; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-079-AD; Amendment 39-16523; AD 2010-19-51] – Inspect the main-rotor hydraulic servo actuator for certain deficiencies and replace any unairworthy parts before further flight. This emergency AD, which was prompted by a collective servo actuator malfunction, is intended to detect a corroded or nonconforming piston rod before it fails or causes the servo actuator to fail, which could lead to loss of control of the helicopter.
A Bell 429 helicopter has been added to the air ambulance fleet of San Juan Regional Medical Center. The light-twin helo will be used to support the medical center’s AirCare unit based in Farmington, N.M. Established in 1992, AirCare has transported nearly 10,000 patients using an airplane and a Bell 222, which has logged almost 13,000 flight hours.
Niki Lauda, the three-time Formula 1 World Champion, has placed an order for a Global 5000 through NL Holding GmbH. The aircraft, scheduled for delivery at the beginning of 2012, will be the first Global 5000 jet to be delivered with the new Global Vision flight deck. Lauda currently operates a Challenger 300, which he uses to travel to Formula 1 races around the world from his home base in Austria.
FlightSafety’s Bell 212 and 412 simulators have been approved by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) of Brazil. ANAC approved FlightSafety’s Bell 430 full-flight simulator in 2009. FlightSafety offers training programs and simulators for all three aircraft types at its center in Fort Worth and has provided factory authorized training for Bell Helicopter for more than 30 years.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-102 , -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -315, -401 and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1157; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-137-AD] – This proposal would require operators to install a drain system for the lower windshield frames. On Series 400 airplanes, operators also would need to inspect for corrosion of the window frame and its anchor nuts and replace any corroded nut with a new or serviceable nut.
Piaggio Aero has received both type and production certificates for its P.180 Avanti II from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). The ANAC type certificate confirms that the design of the twin-turboprop aircraft complies with Brazilian rules. The Avanti II previously gained EASA and FAA certification in 2005. The Avanti II can now be sold, registered and operated throughout Brazil.
