CESSNA Model 172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0846; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-021-AD; Amendment 39-17237; AD 2012-22-01] – requires inspection of the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replacement of the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; inspection of the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure; and adjustment as necessary.
Bell Helicopter’s new facility in Singapore has handed over it first Bell 429 to Indonesia operator PT Whitesky Aviation. Bell, along with its sister company Cessna Aircraft, jointly opened the center July 31 to expand their service capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. The 160,500-ft. facility, which includes hangars for both Cessna and Bell, is a regional sales hub and service center for both companies and provides customer training, completions, refurbishment, parts sales and maintenance. The center also provides sales support.
Swiss operator PrivatAir is hoping to begin regular service to Antarctica next year following the successful landing of a Boeing 737 on a blue glacial runway near the Troll Research Station. The flight, the first of its kind, was commissioned by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) in collaboration with Norwegian air charter broker Aircontact.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich issued a proclamation calling December “General Aviation Appreciation Month,” joining a long list of governors who have made similar proclamations. General aviation airports in Ohio are estimated to contribute more the $5.5 billion into the economy every year. “This proclamation will help to educate the public about the critical role of general aviation and community airports to the state of Ohio,” says Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1188; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-049-AD; Amendment 39-17254; AD 2012-10-53] – supersedes an earlier AD and requires, before further flight and at specified intervals, checking and inspecting the upper and lower main rotor hub (MRH) shaft flanges for a crack, and inspecting the lower hub-shaft flange bolt attachment areas for a crack.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17261; AD 2012-23-05] – requires, for helicopters with certain generator control units (GCU) installed, replacing the GCUs. This AD was prompted by reports of internal short circuits in certain GCUs. These actions are intended to prevent a short circuit, which could result in a loss of electrical generating power, loss of systems required for continued safe flight and landing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
CHERYLE JACKSON was elected to the Aerospace Industries Association Board of Governors. Jackson is vice president, government affairs and corporate development for AAR.
Aviation groups are concerned that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will fail to issue foreign repair station certification rules by the year’s end target the agency once projected. Both the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) could seek a legislative fix if the TSA does not issue the security rules, first mandated by Congress for delivery in August 2004.
Fractional ownership provider Avantair has restructured some of its financing arrangements and raised $2.8 million in new capital through the issuance of senior secured convertible notes as the company makes strides toward its goal of reaching profitability next year. The financing restructuring and new capital come as the Clearwater, Fla., company continues to regain its footing after grounding its fleet for several weeks in late October and early November.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette ASTAZOU, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and SA 318 C-Alouette Astazou helicopters. [Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD; Amendment 39-17259; AD 2012-23-03] – requires inspecting the cage of the free-wheel assembly for the correct alignment of the roller drive pocket recesses and replacing the free-wheel cage with an airworthy free-wheel cage if a defect exists.
Samuel Hill, a recent Honda Aircraft executive who founded Embraer’s corporate aircraft division, is taking over as CEO of Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft. The CEO role has been vacant at Quest since Paul Schaller transitioned out of the position in June 2011. Schaller, who had served as CEO with the company since late 2004, remained as a consultant through the end of 2011.
Transport Canada (TC) has ordered Bombardier Challenger operators to replace pitot tube drain bottles after the manufacturer pegged the parts as contributors to erroneous airspeed readings reported by operators. TC explains that it has received “a number of reports” of mismatched airspeed values on pilot and co-pilot airspeed indicators. The incidents happened either during or right after heavy rain. TC traced the problem to water blocking the pitot tube instead of flowing into the system’s drain bottles.
The U.S. Transportation Department is working with its counterparts in several Asia-Pacific countries to create a regulatory framework for business aviation, says Robert Letteney, deputy assistant secretary of transportation for aviation and international affairs. In most countries in the region, business aviation is regulated in the same way as scheduled commercial airlines, which means “business aircraft simply can’t fly when and where they want.” Vietnam is working with the U.S.
In a move that competes head on with growing San Francisco-based operator Xojet, Flexjet is rolling out a new Coastal Connect program that will provide special rates for travel between the East and West Coasts using Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft. Jet Solutions will operate the flights that will be offered through the Flexjet 25 card. Xojet offers a similar coast-to-coast program, using flat rate pricing and operating Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X aircraft.
Hawthorne Aviation Global Services in Islip, N.Y. was selected as a Honeywell avionics dealer. Under the recognition, the facility, located at Long Island MacArthur Airport, will install, sell and service a range of Honeywell avionics. Its first work includes the installation of a Honeywell AIS-2000 satellite TV system on a Gulfstream GV.
Hourly cost maintenance program specialist Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is reorganizing its leadership, naming Louis Seno as chairman emeritus and special advisor to the board of directors. Neil Book remains president, but will take over Seno’s role as CEO. Robert Book assume Seno’s other duties as chairman of the board of directors. Meanwhile, Bryan Moss and Joe DaGrosa both will serve as vice chairmen, and Susan Marr continues as a board member, general counsel and chief administrative officer.
Signature Flight Support added another fixed-base operation to its Signature Select program, which participates in Signature customer loyalty programs and receives Signature marketing and other support. The newest addition is Jet Air Group of Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wis.
With less than a month to go before the budget penalty known as sequestration could kick in, the Obama administration has dropped another edict on the table: everyone start planning now. Administration officials maintain that the goal is unchanged, and sequestration should be avoided. But in the absence of an agreement, it has released a directive to start detailed planning. How sequestration would affect FAA and its programs remains unclear, except that it could mean $1 billion in cuts. Whether it will be avoided is equally unclear.
U.K. air accident investigators have officially linked the inquiries into two controlled ditchings involving Eurocopter EC225 helicopters in the North Sea.
Qatar Airways' luxury jet arm Qatar Executive is showing its state-of-the-art Bombardier Global 5000 on static display at the 5th annual Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) air show being held at the new Al Maktoum International Airport Dubai World Central from tomorrow until Thursday 13 December.
Airbus will display two corporate jets at the MEBA show, giving visitors an opportunity to see the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet in three different arrangements.
Plans call for Dassault to deliver six Falcons to Middle East customers over the next 18 months, growing its fleet by 10%. More than 60 Falcon business jets already operate in the region.
