While most of the prime and top-tier suppliers that head to Mexico export assemblies and finished products back to their home factories or to customers, an increasing number of specialty suppliers are shipping within the country.
One of Mexico's smallest states in area and population, Queretaro had a well-established industrial base in food processing, electronics, metals and automotive products in its eponymous capital city when the persistence of state officials caught the attention of Bombardier Aerospace in 2005.
Chihuahua, the capital of Mexico's largest state (also called Chihuahua), is a pioneer in aerospace manufacturing and a locus especially for general and business aviation original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). But in the past few years, growth has come courtesy of larger aircraft.
To counter the mounting number of cyberattacks, a group of senators led by Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are working on legislation urging the Pentagon to train members of the National Guard to respond to cyberthreats. The bill would establish Cyber Guard units in every state that could be activated by governors or the Defense Secretary and would draw on the private-sector information technology expertise of members of the National Guard. The bill is aimed at offsetting a shortage of cyberexperts across the government.
After more than decade planning it, seven years trying to achieve it and one failed attempt to do it, U.K. government officials have finally sealed a deal to harmonize the country's multiple search and rescue (SAR) helicopter operations under one agency.
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. The 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.
Bombardier Aerospace has announced that it will be extending the warranty of its Challenger 605 aircraft. Specifically, the basic warranty of its Challenger 605 business aircraft will be enhanced from the current three years or 3,000 hours to five years or 5,000 hours.
Eclipse Aerospace has received an amended Production Certificate authorizing the final assembly, test, and certification of the new production Eclipse 550 Twin-Engine Jet from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Russian Helicopters and Denel Aviation of South Africa have opened a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre in South Africa for Russian-built helicopters, strengthening Russian Helicopters' position in the African market.
Fly-by-wire has become the norm for the larger and more expensive commercial and business aircraft and helicopters, but airframers continue to say the cost-benefit analysis for the lower end of the market has not been favorable to introduce this safety-enhancing and weight-reducing technology.
The congressional mandate that has created a backlog of foreign repair station applications also has forced airlines to reconsider expansion and contract maintenance plans because desired locations do not have FAA-approved shops, industry executives report.
Pending partial furloughs will force FAA inspectors to prioritize current activities and put new projects on the back burner, says the agency’s administrator, Michael Huerta. Speaking to maintenance executives at the Aeronautical Repair Station Association’s annual symposium March 22, Huerta said that inspectors will focus on “the most pressing priorities” and that work on new projects will be very limited.
The FAA, releasing its final list of contract towers slated to close beginning April 7, shaved off 24 of the original air traffic control towers from the closure list and then postponed the closure of another 16 towers in the cost-share program until Sept. 30. But the remaining list of 149 contract towers still represents 60% of the entire contract tower program.
Solairus, the San Francisco Bay area-based charter and management firm, is continuing its East Coast expansion with the addition of three new members to its sales team. Solairus has added Brain Velelis and Tony Ciaravino in its Manhattan regional sales office, along with Lisa Deny in Washington, D.C. The newest members of the sales team will help expand the company’s national and international retail client base. The East Coast regions are among 25 locations for the growing operator.
Tom Hendricks, who took the reins at the National Air Transportation Association late last summer, outlined a vision for the association to serve as the “Chamber of Commerce” for businesses at airports with an expanded membership. Speaking to a group of aviation business leaders in Teterboro, N.J. last week, Hendricks says he hopes to change association restrictions on membership to include many more businesses at airports that currently do not fall under the association’s reach.
Honeywell is set to receive initial certification of a combined satellite-based communications and helicopter health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), which will send real-time alerts of exceedances and maintenance issues to ground personnel. The development, which will be offered initially as an option under a supplemental type certificate on the Sikorsky S-76C++, combines the company’s Zing HUMS and the latest Sky Connect III version of Honeywell ’s satcom and aircraft tracking system.
Anchorage-based avionics engineering and services firm One Sky Aviation is working with Astronics and the Pilatus authorized service center network to develop a supplemental type certificate (STC) package to install the Max-Viz 1500 enhanced vision system (EVS) on Pilatus PC-12 and PC-12NG aircraft.
The FAA, releasing its final list of contract towers slated to close beginning April 7, shaved off 24 of the original air traffic control towers from the closure list and then postponed the closure of another 16 towers in the cost-share program until Sept. 30. But the remaining list of 149 contract towers still represents 60% of the entire contract tower program.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0721; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-076-AD; Amendment 39-17356; AD 2013-03-22] – requires replacing the existing cargo compartment liners with liners that comply. This AD was prompted by reports that airplanes with a Class C cargo (baggage) compartment have liners that do not meet flammability requirements. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent inadequate fire protection in the cargo compartment and consequent uncontrolled fire.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week launched an investigation into the third Beechraft 390 Premier crash in a month. Two of four people aboard died in the March 17 crash, including former University of Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis. The aircraft, N26DK, crashed on approach to South Bend Regional, Indiana. According to initial information compiled by Flight Safety Foundation’s Aero-Safety Network, the pilot had reported electrical problems, made a number of attempts to approach and then stalled on the final approach attempt, crashing into a home.
SIKORSKY Model S-64F helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0689; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-065-AD; Amendment 39-17301; AD 2012-26-06] – supersedes an existing AD, which requires inspections, rework, and replacement, if necessary, of the main gearbox (MGB) second stage lower planetary plate (plate). Since FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer has conducted a configuration review and analysis, and a review of the service history of certain components.
DAVID BOWMAN was named vice president of operations for Constant Aviation’s Cleveland facilities. Bowman formerly spent more than 28 years with Honeywell in a number of senior roles. He most recently was senior business manager, site leader, responsible for multiple locations in the Aviation Electronics Aftermarket Repair and Overhaul business.
BAILEY SIEGFRIED was promoted to vice president, global marketing, and added to the board of directors for Nordam. Siegfried joined the sales team for the company’s Repair Division in 2008, and most recently was director, global marketing and customer service. Before joining Nordam, Siegfried worked with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s commercial risk management group.
