The UAE and Bahrain have restructured airspace between the two countries in a bid to ease congestion as the number of aircraft movements continues to grow.
Pilatus Aircraft ended 2012 with its lowest sales total in at least five years, but a series of contracts for its military, trainer and special mission aircraft propelled the company to its strongest year ever in order intake and positions the Swiss airframer for growth. The company reported 2012 at 593 million CHF ($625 million U.S.), down from 781 million a year earlier and 688 million CHF in 2010. At the same time, though, orders totaled 2.67 billion CHF on the year, more than six times the 416 million CHF taken in during 2011.
A report prepared for the U.S. Congress reveals key direct and indirect consequences that could arise from the FAA’s closing of 149 contract tower airports, starting April 7. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, issued March 26, predicts a slight increase in accidents at the airports over a 15-year period as well as possible economic and delay impacts caused by airlines and business operators moving services from non-towered facilities to more congested airports with towers.
The Texas Transportation Commission on April 4 has scheduled a special meeting to consider funding, at least temporarily, for 13 contract air traffic control towers that are slated to lose federal funding over the next month. The 13 towers are among 149 contract towers that are slated to lose federal funding as part of the FAA’s attempt to meet mandatory budget cuts under sequestration.
Saab Sensis has won a contract from NASA to develop scenario-based verification and validation methods for researchers developing new automated systems for the aviation industry. The work is part of a broader effort within NASA’s Aviation Safety Program and the aerospace industry to develop tools to assess the safety of automated systems in air traffic control and in cockpits for both current and future operational concepts.
Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) has been selected by Avjet Routing, the Sharjah, United Arab Emirates-based aviation business services company, to serve as its preferred ground handler in Nigeria with principal services being provided at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
As the aviation community braces for a wave of contract air traffic control tower closings beginning next month, key House and Senate Republican lawmakers are questioning the decisions behind the closures.
The FAA’s sequester-driven move to close 149 airport towers likely will delay some 1,500 scheduled weekly flights at 55 airports nationwide, slamming regional flights operated by the big U.S. majors and many others. A new study from masFlight, the aviation operations-data specialist, concludes that some 22 airports could see 10 or more flights per hour affected at peak times, with arrival and departure delays likely, especially in bad weather, as regional air traffic control centers struggle to sequence and meter clearances to maintain aircraft separation.
A. U.S. District Court ruling this week supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s stance that it is not yet ready to issue a finding that lead emissions from general aviation may endanger public health. EPA last summer denied a 2006 petition from the Friends of the Earth (FOE) to issue an endangerment finding and propose standards regulating the use of leaded aviation gasoline, saying it needed to gather more evidence. EPA contended that such a finding could not be made until the second half of 2015.
DAVID WELCH was named vice president of sales for SkyWay Aero. Welch, who has more than 25 years of aviation experience, joined the company in January 2009. Before that he served as an aviation researcher for Gantt Aviation, aircraft sales manager for West Air and regional sales member for Texas Piper. He also launched Intgrity Aero in 2000, selling the firm in 2008.
General aviation supporters on Capitol Hill are renewing their opposition to White House proposals to impose air traffic control user fees. The Obama administration will unveil its budget April 10, and general aviation advocates are preparing for a return of past efforts to impose a $100-per-flight air traffic control user charge. GA Caucus members have drafted a letter in the House once again expressing opposition to user fees. The letter, addressed to President Obama, calls the fees the “wrong approach” and asks him to abandon the idea.
April 16–18—Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013), Shanghai, China, (703) 783-9000, www.abace.aero April 16-18—Aviation Week MRO Americas 2013 Conference & Exhibition, George World Congress Center, Atlanta, www.aviationweek.com/events April 22-23—National Air Transportation Association Aviation Business and Legislative Conference, Renaissance Capital View, Arlington, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero April 29-30—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Munich, Germany, www.aea.net/events.asp
Seven years after it set out to transfer the U.K.’s search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter service from the Royal Air Force to a commercial contractor, the government has awarded Bristow Group a £1.6 billion ($2.4 billion) contract to operate 22 helicopters from 10 bases across the country. U.K. subsidiary Bristow Helicopters will operate a mix of AgustaWestland AW139s and Sikorsky S-92s, replacing RAF Westland Sea Kings and AW139s and S-92s operated by Bristow and CHC Helicopter for the U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Garmin, which expanded into the Part 25 market in 2010, is widening its reach at the smaller end of market with a range of new products for experimental and light-sport aircraft. Garmin unveiled its first seven products targeted for the experimental market that were designed by a dedicated engineering team – many of whose members are pilots and home builders.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0641; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-17378; AD 2013-05-06] – requires modifying the left-hand engine upper core-cowl. This AD was prompted by reports of jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) opened a new satellite service station in Van Nuys, Calif. to provide inspections, troubleshooting and line maintenance for all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series models, along with the Falcon 7X. “Our new satellite service station in Van Nuys is ideally positioned to serve the high concentration of Falcon operators based there, as well as the significant volume of transient traffic that comes through the area,” says Bob Sundin, senior vice president and COO of Dassault Aircraft Services.
NetJets reached Level IV of FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) pilot program, becoming the first private aviation/ Part 135/91K operator to reach the level. The SMS pilot involves a four-level system that recognizes the development and extent of the program. To reach Level IV, NetJets conducted thousands of hours of additional safety training for its employee group and created new management review procedures.
Airport executives are looking at their internal budgets hoping to come up with money to save 149 contract air traffic control towers that are slated to close beginning next month, but officials fear that few individual airports have the resources necessary to privatize the towers. FAA on March 22 announced plans to shutter about 60% of the contract towers as part of its effort to make requisite cuts under sequestration.
Eclipse Aerospace moved closer to bringing its Eclipse 550 very light jet to market with the receipt of an amended production certificate (PC) covering final assembly, test and certification.
Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is joining other lawmakers in drafting legislation to protect U.S. citizens from being watched by loitering UAVs. “The only way to truly embrace these innovative, job-creating technologies is to assure the public that these technologies will not compromise Coloradans’ basic privacy rights,” says Udall, who is supportive of a bid from his home state to become one of six test sites for civilian-use UAVs.
Cessna Aircraft last week rolled out the 400th production CJ3 from its facility in Wichita. The milestone comes nine years after the light jet entered the market.
JOHN VAN MAREN was promoted to vice president, simulation for FlightSafety International. He will lead the company’s design, manufacturing, support and sales activities for flight simulators, visual systems and displays in Tulsa, Okla., St. Louis and Austin, Texas. He joined the company in 1984 and most recently was director of programs and customer support.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT Models DA 42 M-NG and DA 42 NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0247; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-001-AD; Amendment 39-17397; AD 2013-06-02] – requires revision of the aircraft airplane flight manual to incorporate updated Normal and Abnormal Operating procedures for alternate air valve operation during suspected rain, snow or visible moisture conditions. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Safety Agency, citing reports that the engine air inlet filter is subject to icing.
