Asset Insight has developed an aircraft grading system to help buyers, sellers and financial services companies evaluate an aircraft’s maintenance condition. The Asset Grading System Process provides an index to evaluate and compare technical conditions of different aircraft. The process analyzes age, hours, cycles on airframe, engines, propellers, auxiliary power unit, paint and interior, along with cost to repair or replace parts with no defined life.
New FAA rules are simplifying the process of obtaining certification for significant changes to products that are already type certified. A final rule published this month narrows the scope of the certification requirements to require that only areas affected by changes meet the latest airworthiness standards. This revises regulations adopted in 2000 that requires a certification applicant demonstrates that the entire “changed product” comply with “applicable” airworthiness standards.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski ( D-Md.) will lead the Senate Appropriations Committee, replacing Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat who died earlier last week of respiratory complications. She picks up the gavel after Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who was next in line in terms of seniority, opted to remain the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Garmin has expanded its international charting options with the release European VFR and IFR charts for the aera 795/796 aviation portable GPS. The VFR data is sourced directly from Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS). “Pilots have flown behind DFS paper charts for years, but the ability to display the charts electronically is something our European customers have been asking for,” says Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. Garmin earlier this year introduced European VFR terminal charts, or Bottlang charts, from Jeppesen for the aera 795/796.
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) high-level working group on climate change, which met this month in Montreal, will reconvene in January, several months earlier than previously expected. At the first round of meetings, the high-level group established an agenda to combat aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering, the parent company of ST Aerospace, has entered into an agreement to buy Volant Aerospace, a company headquartered in Burlington, Wash., that specializes in aircraft interiors. The agreement stipulates that ST Engineering will buy 100% of Volant for $13.1 million, “subject to post-closing adjustments,” says ST Engineering, adding that it hopes to complete the transaction by the end of this month. Following the acquisition, Volant will become a subsidiary of ST Engineering’s VT Aerospace, a U.S.
Gulfstream has begun delivery of the first completed G650 aircraft. Deliveries began as Gulfstream received the production certificate and European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the aircraft.
Jet Aviation Basel recently installed a Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management and high-definition (HD) entertainment system on an Airbus A319 CJ. The installations include HD monitors and digital audio throughout the aircraft for Blu-Ray and other high-resolution content, including flight information from Rockwell Collins’ Airshow 3D Moving Map. Venue has been installed on more than 17 business aircraft.
EMBRAER Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0590; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-112-AD; Amendment 39-17265; AD 2012-23-09] – supersedes an AD that requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate modifications in the Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of the Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR). This new AD requires revising the maintenance program to include new inspection tasks and their respective thresholds and intervals.
AGUSTA Model A109E and A109S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0501; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-083-AD; Amendment 39-17258; AD 2012-23-02] – requires, for helicopters with certain lower semichannel assemblies installed, a one-time inspection of the lower semichannel assemblies to determine if metallic spacers are installed. If the metallic spacers are installed, this AD requires an inspection for the correct installation of the metallic spacers on the semichannels and for the correct seating of the gaskets.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-8C and CF34-8E turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1288; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-37-AD] – proposes to require, for engines with certain part numbers (P/N) of operability bleed valves (OBV) installed, removal and replacement of affected OBVs. This proposed AD was prompted by three failure events of ring lock fuel fittings on the OBV. Two of those events led to an engine fire. This proposed AD would require the affected OBVs be removed from service and replaced with OBVs eligible for installation.
Universal Avionics is opening a satellite office in Singapore early next year. The Asia Pacific office will support Universal’s customer base throughout the region, including Thailand, Japan and Australia, where the company says numerous flight deck retrofit projects are in the works. The office will include both local sales and support representatives.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is implementing changes to air traffic management and other aspects of operations at Singapore’s Changi Airport, in an effort to increase aircraft movements to 430,000 per year. The CAAS commissioned the consultancy arm of the U.K.’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to conduct a study that would help the CAAS find ways to increase the airport’s throughput.
As the first wave of age 65 pilot retirements begins this month, a coalition of industry, academic and government officials are pushing for an in-depth study to highlight what they fear is a looming pilot shortage.
ROB LEWIS was named vice president for global business aviation, helicopter and maintenance training for CAE. Lewis formerly served as president and CEO of Pentastar Aviation. He also has served as president of Everest Fuel Management and vice president of supply for Sentient Jet.
KEVIN HIATT was promoted to president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). Hiatt takes over for longtime CEO Bill Voss, who is returning to FAA as an aviation safety official. Hiatt has been COO at FSF since 2010, and before that was vice president for corporate safety and security for World Airways. He also spent 26 years with Delta Air Lines.
Piper reached agreement with local authorities on a plan that will enable it to retain $4 million in incentive awards as long as the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer maintains employment at 600 people. The agreement follows a similar deal that Piper arranged with state officials after it became clear that the company could not meet previous employment obligations.
Boeing and Embraer have revealed plans to co-develop new pilot procedures, training aids and flight deck technology to reduce runway excursions–one of the top three contributors to aircraft accidents. The flight safety initiative is the latest venture to emerge from the two companies following the signing of a co-operative agreement in April. The two have signed up to collaborate on Embraer’s KC-390 tanker-airlifter and Super Tucano aircraft programs, as well as on the development of sustainable aviation biofuels made from sugarcane.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1131; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-34-AD] – proposes to require daily post-flight checks of the engine tachometer’s unit cycle counting feature. This proposed AD also would require ground-run functional checks within every 1,000 operating hours. This proposed AD was prompted by a finding that the engine’s tachometer unit cycle counting feature is unreliable. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent uncontained engine failure and damage to the helicopter.
Dec. 11, 1972 — Falcon Jet Corp., the new joint venture between Pan Am and Avions Marcel Dassault, officially opens its doors at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Dec. 20, 1982 — Cessna begins flight tests of the Caravan single-engine, turboprop utility aircraft that Chairman Russ Meyer says would “open up a completely new marketplace for Cessna.” Dec. 14, 1992 — The Department of Transportation calls for mandatory alcohol testing of transportation workers in safety-sensitive positions.
AGUSTA Model AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1135; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-097-AD; Amendment 39-17281; AD 2012-21-52] – requires inspecting the pilot’s and co-pilot’s collective and cyclic control sticks for correctly installed attaching hardware. This AD is prompted by a report of an incorrectly installed pilot’s collective stick, pilot’s cyclic stick, and co-pilot’s cyclic stick. These actions are intended to prevent detachment of the cyclic or collective control stick, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
SAAB Model 340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0672; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-261-AD; Amendment 39-17276; AD 2012-24-06] – This AD requires replacing the stall warning computer (SWC) with a new SWC, which provides an artificial stall warning in icing conditions, and modifying the airplane for the replacement of the SWC. This AD was prompted by reports of stall events during icing conditions where the natural stall warning (buffet) was not identified.
