Cobham Commercial Systems in Mineral Wells, Texas, has received Civilian Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) supplemental type certification for the HeliSAS stability augmentation system and autopilot on the Bell 407 helicopter. Cobham says the CAAC approval clears the way for installation of the system on hundreds of 407s in the country. The system has been installed on more than 100 helicopters in the U.S., Australia and South America.
DASSAULT Mystere Falcon 900 and Falcon 900EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1322; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-155-AD] – require modifying the tail strobe power supply wire routing. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of chafing between the tail strobe power supply and a hydraulic line. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent chafing between the tail strobe power supply and a hydraulic line, which could result in hydraulic fluid leakage and possible fire due to arcing, and consequent loss of control of the airplane due to structural failure of the tail.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2D turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0940; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-26-AD; Amendment 39-17321; AD 2013-01-07] – requires replacing the hydromechanical metering unit (HMU) at a reduced life. This AD was prompted by a low fuel pressure event caused by deterioration and a loss of the low-pressure drive function within the HMU. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown of the engine and possible loss of the helicopter.
Pres Henne, who led the design of the Collier Trophy-winning Gulfstream V and G550 and oversaw development of the new G650, is set to retire from the business-jet manufacturer on March 31. Henne joined Gulfstream in 1994 from McDonnell Douglas (MDC), where he began his career in 1969. At MDC, Henne was responsible for the aerodynamic design of the C-17 wing, and was later vice president and general manager of the MD-90 program. At Gulfstream, he has overseen the introduction of six products and advances such as enhanced and synthetic vision displays.
Xojet promoted Bradley Stewart to CEO, succeeding Blair LaCorte, who will remain a member of the board of directors. Stewart, formerly an executive with Parthenon Capital Partners and McKinsey & Company, has served as president of Xojet since 2010. In addition to remaining on the Xojet board of directors, LaCorte will continue as senior advisor to Xojet investor TPG. “Blair is a true friend and mentor. We are fortunate that he will remain involved with the company and on its board,” Stewart says.
Importing business aircraft into India is becoming more difficult because of increased bureaucracy, a business aviation advocacy group says. As well as the monthly aircraft acquisition committee meeting, India’s civil aviation minister is now said to be scrutinizing every application personally. Rohit Kapur, president of the Business Aviation Operators Association of India (BAOA), says this has been going on for about five or six months and the backlog has reached around 40 aircraft.
California lawmakers reintroduced companion bills in the House and Senate to establish flight paths and minimum altitudes for helicopter operations in Los Angeles County. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Feb. 4 introduced a bill in the House, while Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) are pushing similar legislation in the Senate.
Embraer expects its 2013 delivery schedule to remain at about the same level as in 2012, but its mix will shift with growth in business jet deliveries. With an outlook for 195-215 deliveries this year, the Brazilian manufacturer expects rates to roughly match the 205 deliveries for 2012 reported in January. However, in contrast to last year, business jet deliveries in 2013 will exceed those of commercial jets.
Corporate Angel Network (CAN) recently transported its 42,000th patient, a milestone reached nearly 32 years after the organization flew its first patient. CAN arranges free flights using empty seats of corporate aircraft for cancer patients traveling to or from treatment. The 42,000th patient was 1-year-old Alexander Hopper, who was flown home to the Denver area after he received treatment for Retinoblastoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City. Hopper traveled with his mother, Andrea Reitzel.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0639; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-005-AD; Amendment 39-17329; AD 2013-02-08] – requires inspecting the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator (HSTA) trunnions and upper and lower pins for gouges, scratches, and corrosion, and replacing the trunnions if necessary; and adding serial numbers and new part numbers to certain trunnions, and upper and lower pins.
FAA is calling for horizontal stabilator control system inspections on more than 34,000 older Piper piston aircraft. In an airworthiness directive (AD) published in the Feb. 4 Federal Register, the agency is mandating inspections and repair or replacement of damaged or corroded control cable assembly parts on Piper PA-28, PA-32, PA-34 and PA-44 (Cherokees, Warriors, Archers, Lances, Saratogas, Senecas and Seminoles) that are 15 years old or older. The AD, which takes effect March 11, permits the work to be accomplished during the next annual inspection.
While not yet officially Beechcraft Corp., the newly forming company that is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this month already has received a rating on expected new debt. Moody’s Investor Service assigned a B1 corporate family rating to Beechcraft Holdings, LLC on a proposed $375 million term loan that will be used as part of its financing to exit from Chapter 11.
General aviation advocates are working with Congress to help grow membership in the General Aviation caucuses in both the House and Senate. The caucuses had grown to represent more than 40% of lawmakers on Capitol Hill (190 in the House and 39 in the Senate). But the caucuses have collectively lost roughly 40 members either through retirements or the outcome of specific elections last fall.
Duncan Aviation continues to expand its support network, partnering with Flightcraft to open a satellite base in Portland. The facility, which will specialize in avionics installation and repair, joins a network of 30 Duncan satellites throughout the U.S. Duncan says the move is part of an effort to expand its footprint in the Northwest to support its Provo, Utah base. Duncan is also expanding its capabilities for large-body aircraft services with the addition of an upgraded hydraulic Skydrol test bench.
SIDDHARTH BHARDWAJ was appointed director of flight operations for Rizon Jet. Bhardwaj has more than 14 years of aviation industry experience and more than 8,600 hr. of flight time. He has held a number of operations and management positions with a commercial airline and has served as a line training captain, crew resource management instructor, simulator instructor and customer acceptance/post maintenance test pilot.
Helicopter operator Bristow Group boosted its operating income in the third quarter of 2012 despite its European operations being hit by the grounding of the Eurocopter EC225. However, the company says that it is currently unable to determine whether the ditching incidents in May and October of last year and “the resulting actions taken by the CAAs [civil aviation authorities]” will have a material adverse effect on its “future business, financial condition or results of operations.”
LANCE HOMAN was promoted to vice president, sales for Transaero. Most recently director of life support and international sales, Homan joined Transaero in 2008 as program manager.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is renaming its annual convention to align the event with its growing international venues. Formerly the Annual Meeting & Convention, the event that draws about 25,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors each year will now be called the Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE). The annual show is the fifth largest of U.S. trade shows and has become so big that only a few cities – primarily Orlando, Fla., Las Vegas and Atlanta – can host it.
Reeder Flying Service in Twin Falls, Idaho, has come under new ownership. Idaho businessmen David Price, Jack Hunsaker and Alan Anderson purchased the 70-year-old facility, an Avfuel-branded fixed-base operation based at Magic Valley Regional Airport. The FBO staff will remain unchanged.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council President Roberto Kobeh González will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013), scheduled April 16-18 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.
BELL Model 412 and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0082; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-036-AD; Amendment 39-17318; AD 2013-01-04] – requires creating a component history card or equivalent record and begin counting and recording the number of accumulated landings for each high aft crosstube assembly. Also, this AD requires installing “caution’’ decals regarding towing of a helicopter at or above 8,900 lb. This AD also requires confirming the crosstube is within the horizontal deflection limits and replacing it if it is not.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is stepping into the fray over the dispute between FBO and charter operator Rizon Jet and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.
