ExecuJet Africa has teamed up with Acher Aviation to offer a range of services including helicopter management and charter, as well as specialised support to the oil, gas, mining and resource exploration sectors.
SIKROSKY Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M) and S-70C(M1) helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1182; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-062-AD; Amendment 39-17251; AD 2012-22-14] – supersedes an emergency AD for helicopters with a certain part-numbered intermediate gearbox (IGB). The existing AD requires a one-time inspection of the internal oil passages of the IGB for an obstruction. That AD was prompted by an accident that resulted from blockage of oil in the IGB by a plug that was inadvertently left in the IGB during the coating of the IGB housing.
SUNSHINE MCCARTHY joined Baldwin Aviation as director of training. McCarthy will be responsible for developing the product line, industry workshops and training events. She formerly served as vice president, facilitator and strategies for ServiceElements of Scottsdale, Ariz., and before that was vice president of commercial aviation for MedAire. She is also a former member of the National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers committee.
Embraer last week delivered its 200th Legacy, a Legacy 650 that was handed over to China’s Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (MSFL) in a ceremony held at the Brazilian manufacturer’s headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 650 is one of 13 that MSFL ordered in October 2011, and will be used by an unnamed Chinese customer. MSFL, one of the largest financial institutions providing executive jet leasing services in China, also has ordered three Lineage 1000 aircraft.
RICK JANUSZEWSKI was appointed King Air technical sales manager for West Star Aviation. Januszewski has 35 years of aviation industry experience. Most recently he was a sales manager at Safe Flight Instrument Corp. He is currently a pilot, mechanic and aircraft owner.
When President Barack Obama on Nov. 27 signed into law a bill that prohibits U.S. operators from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), environmental groups were quick to object. But industry officials say the action allows the issue to be decided by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is weighing its own plan for global market-based measures to combat greenhouse gas emissions. “With passage of this measure, the U.S.
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0216; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-025-AD; Amendment 39-17245; AD 2012-22-09] – requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) pylon for a loose or missing fastener, a crack, damage, or corrosion and adding an internal doubler to the aft shear deck tunnel assembly. This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in T/R pylons.
Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) praised the decision of a French appellate court to overturn manslaughter charges against Continental Airlines, saying prosecutorial and judicial interference not only harms the accident victims but can hurt safety efforts by hampering accident investigations. The court’s decision ends a long-running battle over culpability in the 2000 crash of an Air France Concorde near Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. A lower court had fined Continental €200,000 and ordered the U.S. carrier to pay Air France €1 million for the crash.
National Air Transportation Association is switching the manager of its Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program beginning Jan. 1 to Beacon Aviation Insurance Services, Inc. (BAIS). The change ends a more than 35-year partnership between NATA and the US Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG), which helped launch the program with NATA in 1975. NATA says the switch will enable the organization to reduce member operating costs and help expand its safety programs.
For the second time this year, the Hawthorne Global Aviation Services fixed-base operation facility at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW) is reopening following extensive repairs of damages caused by a hurricane. Hawthorne had owned the facility – formerly called AeroPremier Jet Center – for just a month when Hurricane Isaac struck in late August, causing significant damage.
BELL Model 412, 412EP and 412CF helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0530; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-075-AD; Amendment 39-17247; AD 2012-22-11] – requires a repetitive inspection of the collective lever for a crack, and if there is a crack, before further flight, replacement of the collective lever with an airworthy collective lever. This AD was prompted by a reported failure of a collective lever. The actions are intended to detect a crack in the collective lever, which could lead to failure of the collective lever and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Swiss-based VistaJet, already one of the fastest growing operators worldwide, took a step to significantly accelerate that growth with last week’s announced order for up to 142 Bombardier Global aircraft that have a potential value of $7.8 billion. The contract includes firm orders for a mix of 56 Global business jets valued at $3.1 billion, marking the largest single firm order that Bombardier has received for its business jet line to date.
Embraer on Nov. 27 successfully completed the first flight of its Legacy 500 midsize business jet, but delays in the launch of the flight-test program have pushed the anticipated entry into service into 2014.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW206B, PW206B2, PW206C, PW207C, PW207D, PW207D1, PW207D2, and PW207E turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0942; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-AD] – proposes to require re-identification of the power turbine (PT) disk to a part number with a lower life limit. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery that certain PT disks were made to specific heat codes that may not achieve the maximum in-service life. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent possible uncontained PT disk failure and loss of helicopter control.
Cessna Aircraft firmed up its agreement with Avic’s China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (Caiga) to produce Caravans in China and opened the possibility to jointly design and develop new utility turboprop models there in the future. Cessna’s newly signed joint-venture contract with Caiga builds on an initial agreement that the two entities announced in May.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1181; Directorate Identifier 2003-CE-030-AD; Amendment 39-17249; AD 2003-17-03 R1] – revises an existing AD that currently requires replacement of any firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve with a serial number in a certain range even if it has been previously modified. The way the applicability was written includes valves that should not be affected and are not included in the referenced service information.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy believes FAA has significantly understated the costs associated with its proposed changes in the Part 145 rewrite and is suggesting that the agency conduct a supplemental regulatory analysis that includes less costly alternatives. The SBA Office of Advocacy, which hosted a meeting earlier this month on FAA ’s Part 145 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), expressed industry groups’ concerns that FAA ’s proposal omits a number of costs in its cost-benefit analysis .
Fadec International, a BAE Systems and Sagem engine control joint venture, has formed a new company with General Electric called Fadec Alliance to develop digital controllers for the CFM Leap and GE Passport engines. The Fadec Alliance will supply all the controllers for the Leap family which is in development for the Airbus A320NEO, Boeing 737 MAX and Comac C919, as well as the GE Passport, which is being developed for Bombardier’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets. The company will be responsible for the design, manufacture and aftermarket support of the system.
SIKORSKY Model S-76C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0340; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-073-AD; Amendment 39-17250; AD 2012-22-13] – requires installing an improved throttle stop and a wider trigger on the engine control levers (ECL). This AD was prompted by a bird-strike to the windshield that resulted in unintended movement of the engine control levers from the forward position and toward the flight-idle position, which reduced power on both engines.
An industry-based general aviation (GA) security working group is hoping to present a series of initial recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) early next year that will update airport and operational guidelines that are now almost 10 years old.
The Bristol Flying Center (BFC) Group, based in Southwest England, is on pace for significant growth with the ongoing expansion of its fixed-base operation and the award of two large handling contracts. The group, which includes aircraft operator Centrelineair based at Bristol Airport, recently signed a deal with bmi regional, along with another brand. Bristol estimates the two handling contracts will result in an exponential increase of passenger business. In addition, the company is doubling its facilities, including a 6,500- sq.-ft.
Hangar8 is expanding its international charter and management business with the acquisition of International JetClub for 1.1 million pounds (U.K.) ($1.76 million) and the issue of 500,000 ordinary shares. The acquisition increases Hangar8’s managed fleet from 40 to 50 aircraft, including four helicopters. Nearly half of the fleet are large-cabin, long-range jets. International JetClub founder and Chairman Murray Law will serve as vice chairman of the new combined company, responsible for management development systems and integration.
ROLLS-ROYCE BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines, and certain BR700-710C4-11 model engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1055; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-33-AD] – proposes to require reducing the life limits for certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and stage 2 discs. This proposed AD was prompted by RRD performing an evaluation that determined that certain HPT stage 1 and stage 2 discs from a specific supplier may contain steel inclusions that may cause the discs to fail before they reach their current life limits.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) lifted his objection to Michael Huerta’s elevation to the top spot at the FAA just weeks before a year-end deadline to confirm the acting administrator’s position. DeMint’s objection initially stemmed from concerns about the FAA’s labor policy. DeMint will lead Republicans on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in the Democrat-controlled Senate next year.
