The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) founding members convened for the first of its biannual board meetings in Rabat, Morocco at the beginning of March, to discuss continued activity and strategic plans for 2013.
ROBINSON Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0159; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-010-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires inspecting each blade at the skin-to-spar line for debonding, corrosion, a separation, a gap, or a dent and replacing any damaged blade with an airworthy blade. Since FAA issued that AD, a terminating action for the inspection requirements of that AD has been developed.
Helicopter Association International (HAI) is mounting a legal challenge to what it sees as a potentially growing and unwarranted threat to airspace access for rotary craft over residential areas of the U.S.
AGUSTA Model 109E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0146; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-060-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires reducing the tail rotor (T/R) blade life limit, modifying a T/R hub and grip assembly, reidentifying two T/R assemblies, clarifying the never-exceed speed (Vne) limitation and reducing the inspection interval. Since FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer has redesigned a T/R grip bushing that reduces the loads, which caused the T/R cracking on the T/R blades.
Sam Aircraft’s Sam LS light-sport aircraft recently completed its first flight at Luchute Airport near Montreal. The Sam LS, powered by a 100-hp Rotax 921S engine, lifted off in about 300 ft., climbed at nearly 1,300 ft. per min. (fpm) and achieved its maximum speed of 127 mph. The tandem “retro-look” aircraft is fitted with a Sensenich ground-adjustable composite propeller. Sam is offering the aircraft in three configurations (short, long and standard wing). The aircraft will be available assembled or as a kit. Sam expects first kits to begin shipment by late summer.
GULFSTREAM 100 and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0093; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-109-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires amending the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to include additional procedures for verifying complete closure and locking of the main entry door (MED).
The FAA will ask its Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to look at engine bird ingestion requirements, a task it will describe in detail by mid-March in the Federal Register. Separately, the FAA will also ask ARAC to examine issues related to transport aircraft performance and handling characteristics. At an ARAC meeting March 5 in Washington, the panel also reported that a working group is nearing completion of proposals for rudder reversal training, but is still evaluating proposed rule changes for rudder-related aircraft structure and systems.
KEN ASO was appointed senior vice president, corporate strategy and customer development for Standard Aero. Aso will oversee long-term global strategic planning for the company’s products, services, customer support and sales support. He formerly has served with Oliver Wyman, a global management and strategy consulting firm. He also has held roles with Boston Scientific Corp., Bain & Company and Qwest Communications.
AgustaWestland is testing a fan-in-wing, tilt-rotor demonstrator as a technology incubator for advanced rotorcraft concepts. Measuring several meters in wingspan, the “Project Zero” subscale demonstrator has been developed and flown in secret since 2011 at AgustaWestland’s Cascina Costa facility in Italy. Revealing the initiative at Heli-Expo, newly-installed CEO Daniele Romiti says the unconventional vehicle represents how the manufacturer is “thinking today of how we could fly tomorrow.”
RICH BARLOW was named northeast region manager for Constant Aviation. Barlow joins Constant Aviation with more than 30 years of aviation experience, the majority spent in maintenance, repair and overhaul sales. He most recently served as regional sales manager for Hawker Beechcraft, where he was responsible for the Northeast region.
REIMS AVIATION Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1274; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-042-AD; Amendment 39-17359; AD 2013-04-02] – requires inspection of the nose landing gear (NLG) attachment bracket, and depending on the findings, replacement with a serviceable bracket made of steel. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites reports that some of the NLG attachment brackets were made of aluminum alloy instead of steel.
The Chinese parent of U.S. light helicopter company Enstrom is plowing $10 million into new infrastructure to help the manufacturer boost production levels.
Beechcraft has once again opted to protest its loss of the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract to a Sierra Nevada/ Embraer team. The LAS contract is worth up to $950 million. Once the protest is filed with the Government Accountability Office, auditors have up to 100 days to review the case and make a determination.
Despite broader economic woes and a continuing climate of fiscal uncertainty, this year’s Heli-Expo convention set another record for attendance with well more than 20,393 visitors at the show. The record marks the sixth consecutive year of growth. Matt Zuccaro, president of Heli-Expo organizer Helicopter Association International (HAI), says for the past five years “it has been trending up each year and exceeding attendance from the previous year.” Some 730 exhibitors booked 1 million sq. ft.
FAA is scaling back its long-term general aviation outlook, but still forecasting brisk industry growth that will be driven by higher corporate profits and increased worldwide gross domestic product.
IMP Group Limited (IMP), the Canadian conglomerate that owns Canjet, Innotech Aviation, Execaire and Pacific Avionics, among other companies, continues to expand its aviation portfolio with the acquisition of Toronto-based Image Air Charter. IMP purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of Image Air Charter. The company, which has 60 employees, manages a fleet of 20 aircraft. The acquisition will bolster Execaire’s charter and management services, the company says. Execaire employs 290 workers and has a managed fleet of 53 aircraft.
FAA is coming under increasing pressure to look for alternatives to its plan to implement rolling furloughs of its 47,000 workers and shutter nearly half of the nation’s air traffic control towers, with two key Republican lawmakers questioning whether the agency has explored all its options before “punishing employees and the traveling public.”
The Federal Communications Commission has extended until April 1 its request for comments period on potential plans to ban the production, sale and, eventually, use of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) that rely on the 121.5 MHz frequency. FCC in January released a proposal considering “whether to prohibit the certification, manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs, and, if so, under what timetable.” FCC solicited input from manufacturers, importers, sellers and users on the burdens of such actions.
Boosted by buoyant sales of the R44 and turbine-powered R66, Robinson is ramping up production to 13 helicopters per week at its Torrance, Calif. manufacturing site. The rate increase means overall annual production could come close to 600 in 2013, exceeding the record-setting 517 helicopters made in 2012. “The economy has been quite a challenge, but interestingly enough it hasn’t impacted us. We’re just carrying on doing our thing,” says company President Kurt Robinson.
Scott’s – Bell 47 (SB47), a Minnesota-based upgrade and modification specialist, has launched a program to restart production of an all-new variant of the venerable Bell 47 light utility helicopter.
FlightSafety International is teaming with National Airways Corp. in Johannesburg, South Africa, to offer Pratt & Whitney Canada engine maintenance training for technicians in South Africa and the surrounding regions.
AGUSTA Model AB412 and AB412 EP, and BELL Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters with certain Dart high gear aft crosstubes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0145; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-059-AD] – proposes to require adding a life limit of 10,000 landings to the crosstube and removing from service any crosstubes with more than 10,000 accumulated landings. This proposed AD is prompted by five separate reports of crosstube failures. The actions in this proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the crosstube and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.
