Avic President Lin Zuoming said in April that the Chinese aeronautics group's first priority was engine development. As if to show that the boss was serious, group propulsion specialist Avic Engine unveiled two new turbofans at Airshow China here last week, one of them aimed at freeing the country from reliance on foreign engines—and therefore exposure to a foreign veto—in its quest to become a major military aircraft exporter.
Long ago I learned to be wary of words ending in “st” when describing a particular model of aircraft. Identify at your peril any as being the fastest, quietest, longest-ranging, widest, or for possessing the highest cruise altitude, largest storage capacity or lowest SFC. Inevitably, someone will point to a forgotten one-off or a footnote that will prove your remark not quite right.
Markus Bucher has been elected as the new CEO and chairman of the executive board with effect from 1.1.2013. He will take over from Oscar J. Schwenk, who will remain as chairman of the board of directors with responsibility for the strategic management of the company.
UAS FOCUS: Twenty aviation associations are cautioning FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta to protect airspace access and guard against manned-aircraft fleet modifications as unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations are introduced into the national airspace system (NAS). “For FAA to succeed, the agency must remain focused on safety rather than privacy issues, where FAA has no statutory standing or technical expertise,” say the associations, representing business and general aviation, airports, airlines, repair stations, and air traffic controllers, among others.
Lawmakers must find a solution to avoid massive federal budget cuts and their potentially debilitating effect on the NextGen air traffic modernization system, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) tells Aviation Week. LoBiondo, a contender to replace Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) as chairman of the House aviation subcommittee after Petri steps down at the end of the year, says Congress should work to resolve differences the way it did during disagreements over union rules and airport subsidies earlier this year.
ROBINSON Model R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1088; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-005-AD] – proposes to require, for helicopters equipped with emergency floats, replacing the inflation valve assembly. The proposed AD is prompted by failure of the emergency floats to deploy during a factory test because a needle was binding within the inflation valve assembly. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the failure of the floats to inflate during an emergency landing. FAA estimates that the proposed AD would affect 165 helicopters on the U.S.
Rockwell Collins’ Ascend Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) recently was certified for the Cessna Citation CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ4 and Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft. AIM, a secured data transfer and maintenance management system available for Pro Line 4, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line Fusion-equipped aircraft, uploads flight-critical database updates and downloads maintenance information post-flight using Wi-Fi or cellular lines. The information is transferred to the Ascend Data Center.
Jet Aviation’s facility in St. Louis has secured its first Boeing Business Jet project. The aircraft, owned by toy manufacturer and hotel owner Ty Warner, will arrive in April for maintenance and upgrades, including the installation of Boeing enhanced vision system service bulletins. Jet Aviation has expanded its facility in recent years to accommodate larger aircraft and has begun training technicians at Boeing, in addition to sending employees to its facility in Basel, Switzerland, to get hands-on experience on the larger aircraft.
BELL Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1127; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-035-AD] – proposes to require replacing certain components of the air data system. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery of incorrect indicated airspeed when the helicopter was tested to the cold temperature limits (minus 40 C) required for Category A operations. The proposed actions are intended to correct the published VNE and to correct the indicated airspeed. FAA estimates that the proposed AD would cover 52 helicopters on the U.S.
The U.S. House of Representatives as early as Nov. 13 could vote on a bill prohibiting operators from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS). The House could vote on the matter Tuesday under procedural rules that would limit debate on the bill and allow no amendments. The bill is the Senate’s version of the ETS prohibition that was passed in September. The Senate bill, co-sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), would require the U.S. transportation secretary to hold hearings to debate if a ban is in the public interest.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0588; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-017-AD; Amendment 39-17210; AD 2012-20-04] – requires inspecting the wire harness along the leading edge for chafing damage, and repair if necessary; and relocating and installing new anchor nuts. This AD was prompted by reports of chafing between the wire harness along the wing leading edge and the inboard end rib of the wing leading edge due to insufficient clearance.
NetJets has signed another agreement for its exclusive use of a fixed-base operation (FBO). The newest addition to an emerging NetJet’s FBO network is the Atlantic Aviation facility at Atlanta’s DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). The 2,800-sq.-ft. facility includes customer and crew lounges, a conference and business center and flight planning accommodations. Atlantic and NetJets plan to customize the facility for the NetJets clientele. NetJets says PDK is one of its most popular domestic destinations with about 4,000 flights annually.
Slow sales in the mid- and light segments are keeping business jet deliveries relatively flat for the year, but the market for turboprops has continued to gain momentum in 2012, according to the latest report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Manufacturers delivered 428 business jets through the first nine months of 2012, just one more compared with the same period in 2011. Turboprop deliveries, meanwhile, are up 10.5% to 368 units in 2012. Piston aircraft deliveries also inched up 3.5% to 597.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0755; Directorate Identifier 99-CE-65-AD; Amendment 39-17217; AD 2000-07-11 R1] – rescinds an AD calling for repetitive inspections of affected brake system rods and tubings. That AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy.
Hawker Beechcraft is beginning to hand out another round of layoff notices as the company finishes what is expected to be the last of its jet products and closes its Hawker Beechcraft Services facilities in Little Rock, Ark., Mesa, Ariz., and San Antonio, Texas. The latest moves affect 240 employees.
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) has flown a Dassault Falcon 20 with one engine burning 100% unblended biofuel produced from carinata, an inedible oil seed crop. Previous biojet flights have used a maximum 50% blend with conventional kerosene, but the fuel’s developers say its hydrocarbon makeup is almost indistinguishable from petroleum-based jet fuel.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation has doubled its membership since 2010 and now has 95 on-demand operators, fractional aircraft management companies, brokers, underwriters, consultants and aircraft OEMs as members. Founded in 2007, ACFS counted 40 members in November 2010, which had grown to 60 last year.
China’s Avic may be looking beyond Cessna for its planned business jet line in Chengdu. “We are in discussions with China, but also with IAI (Israeli Aircraft Industries) about manufacturing,” a senior Avic official tells Aviation Week. “We are not interested in the Westwind or Asta, but we are talking about newer jets like the Galaxy.”
KENG KUM YONG was appointed vice president and technical specialist, heading a newly opened Singapore office for Jetsolution International Services Limited. Yong has 15 years of aircraft maintenance, interior completions and evaluation service.
BENOIT BEAULIEU was named vice president, human resources for Esterline CMC Electronics. Beaulieu has more than 25 years of experience in human resources management, including 10 years in the aerospace industry. He previously served with L-3 Communications MAS (Canada), most recently as vice president of human resources, organizational effectiveness, information systems and technologies. Before that, he spent 15 years in the retail and food distribution industry, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in the management of human resources and operations.
Bombardier Aerospace’s backlog has jumped 18.6% this year, as the Canadian manufacturer continues to bring in major fleet orders for its Global long-range large business jets. Bombardier Business Aircraft reported 45 net firm orders during the third quarter, up 50% from the 30 firm orders in the same period last fiscal year. These orders included three multi-fleet contracts for 19 Globals valued at $1.2 billion.
