Hawker Beechcraft is seeking court approval for a “distress termination” of two of its three pension plans, calling the move critical for the completion of its reorganization and emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Wichita airframer had reached an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to continue its pension plan covering hourly workers but ending plans covering salaried workers (salaried plan) and nonunion workers in the customer support segment (base plan).
December 2012 flight activity sees a slowdown over the holidays. Argus TRAQPak data shows that December 2012 flight activity levels decreased from November, finishing the month down 6.9% overall. The results by operational category saw very slight rise in fractional flight activity, up 0.1%. Part 91 and Part 135 flight activity finished the month down 11.2% and 2.2%, respectively. Aircraft category results were down across the board. Reviewing year- over-year activity (December 2012 vs. December 2011), TRAQPak data indicates an overall decrease of 2.0%.
I read with interest your “Viewpoint” about Al Ueltschi, particularly because a number of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting him and transacting some business. My experience reinforced the image you paint of him.
Just a quick note to mention I very much enjoyed “The Colorful Mr. Coyne” (Washington Watch, December 2012, page 70). Our company has been around since 1946 (we rebranded from Bridgeford Flying Services in 2011) and while I have not been around that long (although close), I can say my aviation experience spans a few decades back to the days when the DuPont family owned Atlantic Aviation. However that is a story over a glass of Napa wine perhaps someday.
The Fatigue Toolbox The FAA has created a one-stop source for your fatigue resource needs. The site has a comprehensive tool box with training programs, including the award-winning film “Grounded,” and tools such as the Return on Investment calculator, Fatigue Risk Assessment Tool, and newsletters with articles authored by industry leading scientists in the subject of fatigue. You can visit the site at: www.mxfatigue.com
Dec. 29, 2012 — About 1148 CST, a Bell 407 (N534MT) lost engine power and crashed while diverting to Reagan Municipal Airport (E41), Big Lake, Texas. The three crewmembers and one passenger received no injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Med-Trans Corporation as a Part 135 on-demand Emergency Medical Services operator. The aircraft received substantial damage. VFR conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company VFR flight plan. It originated from a hospital helipad in Ft.
Along about hour eight of your primary flight training, an instructor sat you down with Advisory Circular AC61-134 and told you to burn its words into your head and soul. Here's the pertinent section:
For general aviation, the return on investment in NextGen aircraft equipage may not be as apparent as it is for commercial air transport operators, an industry analyst says. The U.S. NextGen air traffic control modernization program could yield $281 billion through 2035, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's 2013 Global Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook. This includes fuel efficiency gains and reductions in weather-related and congestion delays.
The youngest member of the Aero Commander family, christened Grand Commander, is already the biggest of the clan. Six feet, 2 in. longer than current models, the big twin almost doubles baggage room and will accommodate nine passengers and two crew in separate compartments. It offers performance similar to that of the Commander 680F. It is now in the process of certification, with first deliveries scheduled for April 1963.
General aviation groups welcomed the confirmation of Michael Huerta as the next FAA administrator, saying permanent leadership at the agency's helm is particularly important as FAA must tackle key environmental, certification and NextGen issues while operating under the threat of substantial budget cuts. Confirmation of Huerta, who has been serving as acting administrator for more than a year, came during an unusual New Year's Day session in the Senate. President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Huerta in March.
Chinese interests continue to build up their aerospace portfolios with the purchase of light helicopter manufacturer Enstrom. The Michigan-based helicopter manufacturer, which has been producing helicopters since the late 1950s, was acquired by the Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co. (CQHIC). Enstrom hopes the move will enable it to expand its reach into China as well as permit the company to invest in its plant at Menominee to meet current and expected future demands. “This is a major step in moving Enstrom to a new level,” Enstrom President Jerry Mullins says.
More than one airline recommends that captains relinquish flying duties when faced with unexpected circumstances in order to promote optimum crew coordination and to minimize the potential for misunderstandings and errors. Anticipating that unforeseen emergencies can occur for which there are no published procedures, air carrier training departments often recommend guidelines for assignments of responsibilities.
Constant Aviation, which expanded into the Beechjet landing gear overhaul business last summer, has found demand for the service so strong that it is relocating the services from Birmingham Ala., to a larger facility near its Cleveland headquarters. The sister company of Flight Options and Nextant Aerospace, Constant in July announced the opening of a new landing gear repair and overhaul shop at its Birmingham service center.
Waterford, Mich.-based Pentastar Aviation has acquired Aviation Interior Solutions, also of Waterford, to strengthen its interoir refurbishment and completion offerings. At the same time Pentastar's Oxford, Conn. facility has recieved Part 145 Satellite Repair Station certification. The company also said it would exit its Van Nuys, Calif. FBO and service facillity to focus on its Eastern U.S. customers.
For about $9 million, you can by a new or nearly new super-midsize Hawker 4000 that can fly eight passengers 3,000+ nm at Mach 0.80 and land with 200 nm NBAA IFR reserves. Inspired by the systems architecture of the Gulfstream GIV, this is the only aircraft in its class to have standard dual Honeywell IRSes, dual ACM packs, auto-throttles, an AC electrical generation system and a standard hydraulically powered, emergency AC electrical generator. The aircraft has a flat floor, aft lavatory and inflight access to the aft baggage compartment.
The FAA is defining noise regulations in readiness for the introduction of civilian tiltrotor aircraft. While the first civilian tiltrotor, the AgustaWestland AW609, is not expected to be certified until the end of 2016, the FAA’s rules aim to establish noise limits for the new aircraft type and harmonize U.S. rules in line with those of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Bombardier Aerospace has increased its aftermarket service network for business aircraft customers with the addition of a line maintenance facility (LMF) in Nigeria.
HBC REORG: Hawker Beechcraft is hoping to receive U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmation of a reorganization plan to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week after receiving approval from key creditors. The company announced Jan. 25 that the key creditors have overwhelmingly approved the proposed joint plan for reorganization, and that the confirmation hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 on May 3, hopes to exit bankruptcy protection in the second half of February.
Gulfstream, planning a double-digit ramp up in deliveries in 2013, expects to take a year to iron out a “disequilibrium” between initial production and completion G650 work in part caused by the lengthy certification process, says Phebe Novakovic, the new chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics.
Business aircraft flight activity continues to put a damper on any significant market rebound, remaining relatively flat overall in 2012, according to statistics from industry market analyst and safety expert Argus. Argus, which tracks business aircraft operations in the U.S. and Canada through its TRAQPak data, found that flight activity was up just 0.3% over 2011. Small business jet activity was up slightly, 1%, for the year, marking the strongest performance of any aircraft category. Turboprop activity also improved 0.7% in 2012.
BELL Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1188; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-46-AD; Amendment 39-17171; AD 2012-17-08] – supersedes an AD requiring inspections and life limits on the main rotor yoke. This AD increases the inspection frequency for certain yokes and expands the inspections and retirement lives to other yokes. This AD is prompted by past reports of cracks in the yoke, another recent report of a cracked yoke, and the decision that other yokes need to be subject to the same inspection requirements and retirement lives.
VARIOUS AIRCRAFT equipped with wing struts [Docket No. FAA-2013-0023; Directorate Identifier 96-CE-072-AD] – proposes to revise an existing AD that currently requires repetitively inspecting the wing lift struts for corrosion; repetitively inspecting the wing lift strut forks for cracks; replacing any corroded wing lift strut; replacing any cracked wing lift strut fork; and repetitively replacing the wing lift strut forks at a specified time for certain airplanes. The existing AD also currently requires incorporating a “NO STEP’’ placard on the wing lift strut.
FAA has released a special airworthiness information bulletin (SAIB) warning about the potential for turbine helicopters to lose power from ice and/or snow ingestion. Ice and snow can accumulate around the airframe engine inlet while the aircraft is on the ground, the SAIB notes. The agency says the issue does not warrant an airworthiness directive, but the SAIB outlines procedures to guard against engine inflight shutdown. The SAIB also stresses that most helicopters are not approved or equipped for flight in icing conditions.
A 77% jump in operations in the second half of 2012 led Xojet, the San Francisco-based “closed fleet” on-demand carrier, to reach its target of 50,000 flight hours for the year. This is up from 30,000 in 2011 and comes as the carrier has grown into one of the larger operators in the country. The increase in operations comes as Xojet has increased its fleet to more than 50 aircraft – up from a little more than 40 a year ago. The company last year added a fleet of Hawker 800s as a third type, joining Citation Xs and Challenger 300s.
