While Cessna gained considerable attention last month for a possible new single-turboprop aircraft, the company maintains that such an aircraft likely will not be announced in the near future. 350CE, the experimental single-engine turboprop registered to Cessna Aircraft seen flying into and out of the company’s Pawnee facility at McConnell AFB, Kan., is not a proof-of-concept aircraft that will precede the launch of a Cessna single-engine turboprop, according to company officials.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America, a coalition formed in early 2007 to represent organizations and individuals with an interest in general aviation, has reached the 5,500-member mark. Members range from the Air Care Alliance and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to the National Grange and League of Rural Voters, among others. Membership also includes state and local officials.
Zurich-based corporate jet charter and management company Fly Comlux is hoping to open an air bridge between its Almaty, Kazakhstan, base and Beijing with its new partnership with Beijing Capital Airlines (formerly DeerJet). The partnership, formed earlier this year, is one of several steps Comlux has undertaken to expand its traffic in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Boca Aircraft Maintenance has received authorization from the Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation to maintain and repair aircraft registered in Bermuda. Boca operates out of a 15,000-sq.-ft. hangar at the Avitat Boca Raton fixed-base operation at Boca Raton Airport in Florida. The firm also recently attained European Aviation Safety Agency certification. The firm specializes in Falcon models and also is an authorized Gold Level Eclipse service center.
MIKE KRUCZYNSKI was named senior director of strategy and product management for Flexjet. Kruczynski is joining Flexjet from American Airlines, where he directed capacity planning. He will be responsible for leading the development of the operating strategic plan of Flexjet, including pricing of all products and services, and serving as the lead on all expansion activities.
BOMBARDIER-ROTAX Type 912 F, 912 S and 914 F engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0342; Directorate Identifier 2002-NE-08-AD; Amendment 39-16458; AD 2010-20-23] – This new AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2002-16-26), requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the engine crankcase for cracks and removal of an engine from service if any cracks are found, just as the earlier directive did.
CAE has sold a Learjet 85 7000 series simulator to Bombardier for training at its Montreal facility. The simulator will be delivered in 2012. In addition to training, the simulator will be used to support aircraft testing and certification in advance of the Learjet 85’s planned service entry in 2013.
Butler National Corporation is expanding its support capabilities with the acquisition of Kings Avionics. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The acquisition of Kings Avionics, which supports general aviation and business aircraft systems, will expand Butler’s maintenance, repair and overhaul market reach, Butler says, noting the company reported annual sales of $2.1 million with a backlog of $1 million.
Airservices Australia has won regulatory approval to use a multilateration surveillance system over Tasmania, the first time this technology has been deployed to separate aircraft in Australian airspace. The Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) system, manufactured by Sensis Corp., has received the all-clear by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is now in operation.
Alto Aviation was selected by Dassault Falcon to provide audio systems as standard equipment aboard new-production Falcon business jets. The Alto systems include amplifiers, high-frequency speakers, sub woofers and paging speakers. In addition, the systems are available for retrofit on in-service Falcon business jets. Owners can opt for a customized system or a surround-sound system.
Rockwell Collins has introduced a suite of flight support, maintenance and cabin services applications for business aviation. The new Ascend Flight Information Solutions, underpinned by Aircraft Information Manager (AIM), combines a dedicated onboard server with ground cellular and Wi-Fi links to deliver flight plans, database updates, entertainment content and other information to the aircraft on the ramp.
EMBRAER’s President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado stresses the importance of developing workable biofuels for aircraft, saying he believes their use “has probably the highest potential for material reductions of CO2 emissions, [and] at the same time it helps mitigate fuel price volatility and enhances energy supply security.” Embraer has experimented with a sugarcane ethanol using its crop duster Ipanema, he notes, saying the company now “is setting our sights much higher.” Embraer has helped found the Brazilian Alliance of Aviation Biofuel, working with Azul Airlines, G
ASH ELDIFRAWI has joined Aircell as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. ElDifrawi is responsible for sales, marketing, customer care and portal design. In addition, he directs Aircell initiatives including inflight eCommerce, content and advertising. He formerly served with online mass merchant retailer Hayneedle, where he led the rebranding of the company. He also has held leadership positions with Google, Wrigley and McKinsey.
The city of Riverside, Ohio, has joined the growing number of cities and states to formally recognize aviation. Riverside, home of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, declared November 2010 as General Aviation Appreciation Month and adopted a resolution calling general aviation a “strategic resource” for the community. The Alliance for Aviation Across America praised the recognition. “Riverside illustrates the vast impact general aviation has on towns and communities across Ohio” says Selena Shilad, executive director of the alliance.
Cessna is planning a series of furloughs for workers on its various production lines during the remainder of this year, as well as in 2011, the company confirmed. Cessna managers notified production workers early last week of the upcoming furloughs and are holding a series of meetings to further discuss the plans.
DENISE BELL was appointed manager, southeast U.S. for Bombardier Business Aircraft. Bell has 13 years of experience working with Bombardier aircraft, both with Bombardier Aircraft Services and with Comair. She has served with Bombardier since 2001, beginning as a customer support project analyst, and was appointed regional manager for central and south Florida in 2008. She is based in Florida.
Gulfstream Aerospace has rebranded its cost-per-hour program to PlaneParts and signed the launch customer, Winston-Salem-based Landmark Aviation. Formerly known as BudgetPlus, PlaneParts customers make monthly payments based on a 12-month, fixed cost per hour to receive qualifying components at no charge for both scheduled and non-scheduled events.
CESSNA LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1186; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-065-AD] – This supplemental proposed rulemaking would require operators to repetitively inspect the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets for cracking, deformation and discoloration, as was mandated by AD 2009-09-09, but would enable operators to terminate those inspections if they incorporate Modification Kit MK400-07-01A, per the instructions of Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SB09-27-01, Rev. 3 (dated July 20, 2010).
FAA is closing the comment period for its proposed flight- and duty-time regulations Nov. 15, but the agency has indicated it would take as many late comments as possible. FAA rejected requests for an extension, saying industry had opportunity to provide input through the Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee. While the proposal is for Part 121, FAA has stated the Part 135 community should expect to see a proposal that looks either similar to, “if not exactly like,” the Part 121 final rule (BA, Sept. 20/3).
FirstFlight, a charter, management and aviation services company based at Elmira Corning Regional Airport in New York, has successfully completed the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard audit, as well as achieved International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations registration. The approvals come as FirstFlight also has continued to comply with Wyvern and Argus audits.
Cessna’s new Citation “Ten” has captured considerable interest since its unveiling during last month’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta, says Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of Cessna parent Textron. While not an all-new aircraft, Donnelly stresses that the Ten is a fairly comprehensive upgrade of the Citation X. “Clearly, we have a number of new things in the pipeline that are other pretty significant refreshes, as well as clean-sheet aircraft,” he says.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1039; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-002-AD] – This proposed AD, which would retain the requirements of but supersede AD 2005-06-04, would mandate that operators conduct a detailed inspection for wear of the left and right engine throttle control gearboxes. If the wear value on the gearboxes exceeds certain limits, operators would need to replace the affected gearbox with a new or serviceable gearbox.
CESSNA Model 402C and 414A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1084; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-056-AD] – For certain aircraft modified under a supplemental type certificate currently held by Sierra Industries and formerly held by Robertson Aircraft Corporation, this proposed AD would require a complete inspection of the flap system, per the instructions of Sierra Industries, Ltd. Service Bulletin SI09-82 Series-1, Rev. IR (dated Sept. 8, 2010).
