ADAM SMITH was named senior vice president for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) new Center to Advance the Pilot Community. The center will focus on stopping the steady decline in the number of U.S. pilots. He previously was vice president of membership for the Experimental Aircraft Association and oversaw the AirVenture air show. He also served as vice president of outreach for the EAA Aviation Foundation.
Boeing delivered the first Boeing Business Jet 747-8 with an Aeroloft installed. Installed by Boeing Global Transport & Executive Systems and designed and built by Greenpoint Technologies of Kirkland, Wash., the Aeroloft provides 393 sq. ft. of additional cabin space, bringing the total cabin space of the VIP-configured 747-8 to 5,179 sq. ft. Developed specifically for the BBJ 747-8, the Aeroloft is located above the main cabin between the upper deck and airplane tail, providing eight private sleeping berths and a changing room.
Beijing and Shanghai are likely to get dedicated airports for business aviation, boosting growth prospects for the industry while relieving commercial airports of the accompanying airspace congestion. The director-general of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Li Jiaxiang, says building the two airports will be part of a set of policies that the agency is working on for the promotion of business aviation.
At the Airex Istanbul 2012 exhibition Kaan Air signed a preliminary sales contract with AgustaWestland for two AW169 intermediate twin-engine helicopters and a contract for one AW139 medium twin engine helicopter plus further options for both types.
Gulfstream is celebrating its second certification success in a week as its flagship ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650 business-jet received its type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday.
The FAA plans to withdraw a recently issued engine component vibration testing rule change that has triggered sharp industry protest and a legal challenge from the Modification and Replacement Parts Association.
The growing number of Turkish business jet owners and operators are getting the chance to see one of the region's success stories first hand this weekend.
Bombardier's Global 6000 jet is set to make its African debut when it kicks off the continent's portion of its world tour in September, with a 16-city showcase across a total of 12 countries.
Plans for the second Abu Dhabi Air Expo – flagged as the only general aviation exhibition in the Middle East – are well underway with Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) named today as the first official partner of the show.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reinforced its commitment to African aviation and called on industry and government leaders in Central West Africa to work together to make aviation an even more integral part of African economic development and integration.
Bombardier Aerospace's Learjet 75 super-light business jet has hit another developmental milestone with the first powering up of the aircraft's electrical systems on the Wichita production line.
Boeing has delivered its first head-of-state Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 747-8 with a sleeping loft that taps space aft of the upper deck hump and above the main cabin. Called Aeroloft, the 383-sq.-ft. (35-sq.-meter) modular unit was designed and built by Greenpoint Technologies of Kirkland, Wash., a long-time Boeing collaborator on interiors for non-airline and head-of-state customers. Boeing’s Global Transport & Executive Systems in Wichita completed the installation.
The FAA has ordered Bombardier CRJ200 operators to remove certain Goodyear main landing gear tires from service because of a wear problem that could lead to failures. The order, delivered via an immediately adopted airworthiness directive (AD 2012-0881), affects new Goodyear tires made in Brazil. The tires are exhibiting tread separations and tread-area bulges due to low adhesion along the tire shoulders, or edges, the FAA says. Retreaded tires are not affected.
Aerovision International has acquired 10 Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft that have been in storage for two years, raising the possibility that some of them could be retired even though the oldest of the 50-seat regional jets.
Gulfstream's new super midsize business jet, the G280 aircraft has earned type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is the final step required ahead of delivery of the first fully outfitted G280 to a customer.
AMAC Aerospace, the Swiss-based provider of corporate aviation maintenance and completion services, is marking the launch of its new Istanbul-based office when it exhibits at Airex 2012, the international civil aviation and airports exhibition in Istanbul later this week.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model G58 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0829; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-024-AD] – proposes to require replacement of the incorrect gauge wiring with the correct wiring required by type design and the aircraft’s circuit protection. This proposed AD was prompted by notification from Hawker Beechcraft that certain affected aircraft were produced with the incorrect gauge wiring installed. FAA estimates the proposal affects 40 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $56,400, or $1,360 per aircraft.
Sept. 9-12—22nd Airports Council International World-North America Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Sept. 10-11—National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Events: Fall Committee Meetings, Wyndham Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Tex.(703) 845-8176, [email protected], www.nata.aero/Event.aspx?page=2075§ionid=1449 Sept. 11-13—Airline Engineering & Maintenance: Asia Pacific Conference, Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysa, www.airlineengineering-asiapacific.com/
SIKORSKY S-76A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0517; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-73-AD; Amendment 39-17137; AD 2012-15-08]—requires modifying the electric rotor brake (ERB) and inserting changes into the ``Normal Procedures’’ and ``Emergency Procedures’’ sections of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual. This AD was prompted by a fire in the main gearbox area as a result of a hot electric rotor brake (ERB).
The deadline for the FAA to start a pilot project to build six UAV test sites around the U.S. has passed, putting bidders around the country on hold. That includes places like Ohio, which is investing $1.5 million in hopes of capitalizing on the military and industrial resources of the state’s southwest corner. The Ohio Aircraft Systems Center and Test Complex will use a “military operating area” managed by the Air National Guard. The site is close to Wright Patterson AFB, where the Air Force Research Lab and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center are located.
