Executive Jet Management (EJM), one of the operators that helped shape and launch the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Registry, is renewing its registration status a little more than a year after the charter and management firm decided against participation.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1E2, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0681; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-13-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires a one-time inspection and torque check of a certain three-way union plug installed on all fuel control units (FCUs). Since FAA issued that AD, the applicability has been reduced to certain FCUs and the referenced service bulletin has been updated with additional detailed information to identify the noncompliant “red disk’’ plug.
JEREMY PROST was named sales manager for Asia for Piper Aircraft. Prost will be responsible for developing sales of Piper’s aircraft lines in China. He has a background of sales in China, formerly heading Diamond Aircraft’s Beijing office. He also held sales and customer support positions with BinAo Aircraft in China. He further has served with World Trading and Gold Sea International Trading Company.
FAA has temporarily suspended opposite direction operations at all commercial airports in the wake of a recent incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that brought three airplanes within close flying range. The suspension on such operations is in effect “until detailed procedures can be developed, trained and implemented,” Chief Operating Officer David Grizzle says in a memo to acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1A, 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E, 1E2, 1K, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0520; Directorate Identifier 2002-NE-43-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive visual inspections for erosion caused by dust ingestion and, if necessary, cleaning of the gas generator (module M03). Since FAA issued that AD, in-service experience has shown that dust inside the gas generator hollow shaft may be found when the axial compressor wheel has less erosion than initially assessed.
The National Business Aviation Association recently surpassed the 9,000-member mark thanks to a 25% growth rate in recent years. The association was founded in 1947 with 19 members.
Bombardier Aerospace expects to continue to ramp up deliveries of its Global aircraft in the second half of the year as the company sticks to estimates that it will deliver 180 business jets this year. At the same time, however, regional aircraft programs will continue to remain sluggish – with an anticipated 55 deliveries – as the Canadian conglomerate begins testing its new CSeries line in preparation for a first flight this year.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) Republican leaders are asking FAA to reconsider its recent rule to mandate what had been voluntary helicopter routes over Long Island, N.Y.
Debate over a potential $1 trillion government-wide budget reduction next year has largely focused on the defense industry. But during congressional testimony recently, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget opened what might be a new lobbying front in the fight over the penalty known as sequestration, saying the FAA’s operations account could be in line for “significant” reductions.
Western Jet Maintenance, a subsidiary of Western Air Charter that does business as Jet Edge International, was awarded an FAA Part 145 repair station certification. Based at Van Nuys Airport in California, the facility is cleared to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repairs and alterations on a number of aircraft models including Bombardier Challenger 300; Learjet 31, 35, and 36; Cessna Citation X; and Hawker 750, 800XP and 900XP. The operation shares a 150,000 sq.-ft.
Aug. 13-16—Airports Council International-North America, 2012 Public Safety & Security Fall Conference, Arlington, Va., www.aci-na.org/event/1753 Aug. 16—4th Annual BALA Summit, Business Aviation in Latin America, LABACE, Sao Paulo, Brazil, www.aeropodium.com/cp/bala.html Aug. 18-22—54th NEC/AAAE Annual Conference, Providence, Rhode Island, www.necconference.org Sept. 9-12—22nd Airports Council International World-North America Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, www.aci-na.org/conferences/
NetJets continues to improve on the earnings front, parent Berkshire Hathaway reports, saying it helped offset lower earnings from other businesses in its service group. Berkshire Hathaway notes the fractional ownership provider’s earnings in 2011 were held down by fees incurred from canceling certain aircraft purchases. The most recent quarter also benefited from more favorable foreign currency exchanges.
The business and general aviation market is gaining ground in 2012, with industry billings improving by double digits and business jet and turboprop deliveries both increasing, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Billings for the first half of 2012 reached $8.202 billion, a 13.2% increase from $7.246 billion in the first six months of 2011.
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put off, at least for a few more years, potential regulations on emissions from leaded aviation gasoline, the general aviation community has stepped up its efforts to look at alternatives – from new lines of diesel airplanes to replacement fuels and even lower octane fuels. But despite these efforts, the majority of industry leaders believe that leaded aviation gasoline will remain a fixture, at least in the U.S., for some time.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0724; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-043-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires a modification to trim the edge of the bumper plate, including performing an inspection for damage or cracks of the bumper plate and base fitting, and replacing any damaged or cracked part. That AD also currently requires, for certain airplanes, reidentifying the bumper plate.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350BA helicopters with certain AERAZUR emergency flotation gear container assemblies installed [Docket No. FAA-2012-0774; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-057-AD] – proposes to require replacing each affected emergency flotation gear container assembly at specified time limits based on the date of manufacture. This proposed AD is prompted by a recognition that container assemblies with an intended operating limitation of 10 years may not have been replaced because the limit is no longer recorded in the Maintenance Program.
FAA expects to publish minimum performance specifications for the tools that airports use to prevent vehicle incursions on runways in the fall. An agency draft advisory circular (AC) outlines the standards that runway incursion warnings system (RIWS) equipment must meet. Airports install the equipment, which alerts drivers traversing the airfield in ground vehicles, such as fire and catering trucks. GPS technology likely will provide vehicle location information for RIWS equipment, the circular says. But airports also can use radar, transponders or other tools.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK117 (all versions) and BO-105LS A-3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0704; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-040-AD; Amendment 39-17113; AD 2012-13-11] – requires inspecting the tail rotor pitch link spherical bearing for proper swaging. This AD is prompted by a report of a tail rotor pitch link with a spherical bearing that had migrated out of the bearing bore. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the tail rotor pitch link and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Signature Flight Support parent BBA Aviation is bracing for continued volatility in the market for the remainder of the year, but BBA CEO Simon Pryce maintains that “medium term” indicators look much stronger.
TIM BRADY , dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Fla. campus, has joined the board of directors of the National Association of Flight Instructors. Brady joined Embry-Riddle in 1998, and is responsible for the College of Aviation’s five academic departments: Aeronautical Science (Professional Pilot), Flight Training, Applied Aviation Sciences, Aviation Maintenance Science and Doctoral Studies.
Citing the potential effect on the relationship between maintenance, repair and overhaul providers and their customers, as well as the proposal’s overall scope, nine associations have asked the FAA for 90 more days to comment on the agency’s proposed repair station rule changes.
Today's top-of-the-line business jets represent the culmination of a century's worth of aeronautical, computational, propulsive and radio advancement. Their capabilities—New York to Beijing at near-Mach speed all the while gentled in the stratosphere—are undeniably extraordinary. But the experience they deliver is closer to teleportation than air transportation. Passengers are removed from the world whizzing by below, while the pilots monitor omnipotent digital systems that essentially control every aspect of their craft and its progress.
Bombardier Aerospace commercial deliveries continue to lag, down by almost half so far this year as the company begins testing on the new CSeries line in preparation for first flight this year.
Air New Zealand temporarily grounded its fleet of Beech 1900D turboprops for inspections on Aug. 7 after a hairline crack was found in the tail of an aircraft. The crack was discovered near the top of the vertical stabilizer of one 1900D during routine maintenance. The carrier decided to inspect all 18 aircraft, and of the first four examined, “three have been found to be affected.”
Satcom1 has announced that it has been successful in implementing aggregation of dual Inmarsat Swift Broadband (SBB) high speed streaming channels (officially released last month) making it possible to better accommodate video conferencing, surveillance and live video in the air.
