TONY GRINDBERG has joined Appareo Systems as aviation business unit manager. Grindberg has more than 20 years of business development and aviation experience. Most recently, he launched the NDSU Research & Technology Park, Inc. as a startup entity, where he steered $70 million in private investment that created nearly 900 jobs.
Hawker Beechcraft, which originally expected to receive U.S. Bankruptcy Court consideration on Nov. 15 for its disclosure statement on the amended joint plan of reorganization, has rescheduled that court date for Nov. 29. But the Wichita airframer last week filed a motion formally seeking court approval to cut off warranty support for Hawker 4000 and Premier business aircraft. That motion also is expected to come under court consideration on Nov. 29.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association appointed Steve Hedges director of media relations. Hedges has 20 years of media experience, covering national security, foreign, domestic, and aviation issues. He also has managed public affairs and media relations for a number of clients in Washington, D.C.
West Star Aviation in East Alton, Ill., installed the first set of Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) blended winglets on a Dassault Falcon 50EX. API received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for the winglets in September 2012, and European Aviation Safety Agency approval is pending. West Star has completed a number of API winglet installations on Falcon aircraft and also has installed spiroid winglets on a Falcon 50 as a research project. The blended winglets reduce wingtip vortex, resulting in less drag, lower fuel burn and improved climb and cruise.
WAYNE THOMSON has joined BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) as regional field service engineer in the Asia Pacific region. Thomson previously spent 14 years at Pratt & Whitney Canada in Brisbane, Australia, where he was a mobile repair lead technician. In his new role, he will be based in Brisbane to support regional field service efforts integrated with ERO’s Singapore-based First Support service.
SCOTT MCDONALD is joining West Star Aviation as director of sales. McDonald has more than 20 years of aviation experience, holding mechanic, planning, scheduling and regional sales manager roles. Most recently, he was director of sales for Gulfstream Product Support.
Piaggio’s P.180 Avanti II aircraft has entered service in China. Piaggio, and its dealer in China, CAEA (Beijing) Aviation Investment Co., last week formally handed over the first P.180 Avanti II aircraft registered in China, S/N 1228, to Free Sky Aviation. Piaggio obtained Chinese CAAC certification for the aircraft in October 2011. Piaggio anticipates delivering a second Avanti to Free Sky next month for use in a new private aircraft club for Chinese business aviation travelers.
Bombardier’s Learjet workers in Wichita last week ended a month-long strike after 70% of the voting members of the International Association of Machines and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 639 voted on Nov. 10 in favor of the newest contract proposal. The strike affected 825 workers, or more than 25% of the 3,000 employees at Bombardier’s Wichita plant.
Airbus received an order for the ACJ319 with the Sharklet winglet option from a Chinese customer. The order is the first for that version of the ACJ319, but is among about 25 orders Airbus has received from customers in greater China for ACJs. ACJs are flying with operators including BAA Jet Management, Beijing Airlines, China Eastern Executive Aviation, Comlux Asia, Deer Jet, Hong Kong Jet and TAG Aviation.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0342; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-028-AD; Amendment 39-17216; AD 2012-21-01] – supersedes an existing AD that requires a visual inspection, and if necessary, an eddy current inspection of the main rotor lower hub assembly for a crack. If a crack exists, the AD requires replacing the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub before further flight. Because that AD was immediately effective, FAA declined to require certain long-term actions prior to public comment.
Gulfstream’s new G280 super midsized business jet is entering service after the Savannah, Ga., manufacturer last week delivered the first aircraft to a U.S.-based company. Delivery of the first aircraft comes a little more than 10 weeks after Gulfstream secured full U.S. FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Israel type certification. Gulfstream had received provisional certification for the aircraft late last year.
TREVOR VAN ROOYEN was appointed regional sales manager for sub-Saharan Africa for BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO). Van Rooyen, known for his technical expertise in the ERO field, will be based at Lanseria Airport in South Africa.
GAL Aviation, based in St. Joseph, Quebec, received Transport Canada recognition as an approved maintenance organization, authorizing the firm to repair and modify business aircraft interiors. The authorization covers both green and in-service aircraft. GAL Aviation has applied for similar recognition from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The firm also has FAA approval under a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada. GAL, which operates from a 40,000-sq.-ft.
DIAMOND Models DA 42, DA 42 M-NG, and DA 42 NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1148; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-039-AD] – requires modification of the affected main landing gear (MLG) leg shock absorber, P/N D60-3277-10-00. This AD also prohibits installation of unmodified P/N D60-3277-10-00 MLG leg shock absorbers.
PILATUS Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0732; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-022-AD] – proposes to require several revisions of the Structural and Component Airworthiness Limitations, including an inspection of the wing main spar fastener holes and follow-on actions, if necessary.
AGUSTA Model A109S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0448; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-016-AD; Amendment 39-17223; AD 2012-21-07] – requires modifying the electrical power distribution system to carry a higher electrical load.
Van Nuys, Calif.-based Jet Edge recently strengthened its partnership with Hong Kong-based Asia Jet and completed another round of funding as the rapidly growing aircraft and management firm expands into Asia and adds 14 aircraft to its fleet this year. Asia Jet, appointed the exclusive sales and marketing partner in Asia for Jet Edge, also has become a shareholding partner with Jet Edge. Asia Jet CEO Mike Walsh joined the Jet Edge board of directors.
EADS CASA Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1102; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-062-AD] – proposes to require a one-time inspection to identify the correct polarity for each pair of electrical connectors on each engine fire extinguisher cartridge, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of incorrect electrical polarity connections on engine fire extinguishing discharge cartridges.
Aircraft movements for Shanghai Hawker Pacific show double-digit growth so far this year, which the business aviation services company regards as indicating steady expansion for the whole industry in China and the rest of Asia. “The business aviation community in China is finding its feet and step-by-step, support infrastructure is appearing at key locations and that will definitely enable continued expansion of the fleet,” says Shanghai Hawker Pacific General Manager Carey Matthews.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PT6C-67C turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD] – proposes to require initial and repetitive borescope inspections to verify the presence of a retaining ring securing the PT baffle located near the second stage PT disk. If the engine fails the inspection, this proposed AD also would require removing the engine from service before further flight. This proposed AD was prompted by five reported incidents of second stage power turbine (PT) disk damage.
Jeppesen cleared European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Operations Evaluation Board (OEB) review for use of its Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro and Jeppesen Mobile TC Pro applications on the iPad. Jeppesen notes the evaluation report is the first that EASA has ever granted for mobile electronic flight bag (EFB) with navigation charting.
Decisions that determine whether a program can be successful are often made before the contract is even won. But conceptual design is still more art than science, practiced by talented engineers without the sophisticated, integrated tools available for development and manufacturing.
Even a careful observer could be forgiven for losing count of China's general aviation aircraft projects. Maybe Avic itself has lost count. So here are the latest. Cessna, already negotiating to assemble one or two business jet types at Chengdu, has concluded an almost definitive agreement to assemble the Citation XLS+ jointly with Avic's general-aviation subsidiary, Caiga.
