Sharjah's Gama Aviation has received approval from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority as one of the first UAE based business jet operators to achieve CAR Part M Continued Airworthiness Maintenance Management Organisation certification.
The nomination of Michael Huerta to a five-year term as FAA administrator took another step forward July 31 with unanimous approval by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), the committee’s top Republican, says some senators have not received answers to written questions to Huerta, who is currently the acting administrator, but the nomination proceeded regardless.
Transport Canada has granted a type certificate to Embraer for its Phenom 300 light jet. The Phenom 300, which was certified by U.S. and Brazilian aviation authorities in 2009, is now certificated in more than 40 countries. The move comes as the company adds a new seating configuration — with a two-place divan. Canada certificated Embraer's entry-level Phenom 100 in 2010. The Phenom 300 accommodates up to 11 occupants.
ACI Jet Centers began assessing a five cent fuel surcharge in July to offset costs of ongoing Proposition 65 litigation by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) over the sale and distribution of leaded aviation gasoline in California. ACI joins other fuel providers, including Signature Flight Support facilities, which have assessed the fuel surcharge. In addition, NATA also has appealed to members to fight the lawsuit filed against avgas providers last fall.
Transport and environmental ministers from several countries opposed to the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) will gather in Washington July 31-Aug. 1 for closed-door meetings on political strategies to challenge the bloc's carbon-trading system. The U.S. State and Transportation departments invited ministers and diplomats from up to 16 countries, several sources tell Aviation Week. Besides the U.S., countries that may participate include China, Russia, India and Brazil. The EU and its 27 member states have not been invited to the Washington meeting.
If Brazil's economy is the powerhouse of South America, then São Paulo is its spark plug: The city alone accounts for more than 13% of Brazil's gross domestic product, leads Latin American cities in GDP, and is 10th by GDP among all the world's cities. And by population — just under 20 million — São Paulo also ranks as the largest city in the entire Southern Hemisphere. No wonder this 458-year-old settlement's motto is “I am not led, I lead.”
I started to read “Commencement Exercise” (Viewpoint, June 2012, page 9) but stopped when it appeared you were going to divulge something that happened to Louis Zamperini that I hadn't gotten to yet in the book (and you're right, it is superb). I'm up to the 24th day at sea and after fending off shark attacks and machine gun attacks from a Japanese bomber, they are down to one raft and have just patched most of its holes. I'll get back to your commentary once I get past Zamperini as an “angry drunk” in the book.
Robert Baugniet (Commodore (ret.), Royal Canadian Navy )
If “Commencement Exercise” (June, page 7) provokes any negative reactions, it is obviously your fault. Any glowing tributes should be referred to my parents, in memoriam. Commodore (ret.), Royal Canadian Navy Savannah, Ga.
I had no idea. We knew you to be a mild mannered, gifted writer and possibly a tenacious editor. But imagining you with a chain saw in your mitts (Viewpoint, July 2012) really summons up an amusing picture. Despite my Dad making a decent enough living as a “tree man” to put me into college, I agree that the direction the airport is going seems mad. Why aren't there any arbitrators that can broker an agreement?
In the second quarter of 2012, Embraer delivered 35 jets to the commercial aviation market and 20 to executive aviation. Total deliveries for the first six months of the year are 56 commercial and 33 executive jets, 13 more than for the same period last year.
Piaggio is teaming with Saab to develop a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) based on a highly modified version of its P.180 Avanti II business turboprop. At Farnborough July 10, Piaggio Aero announced that it signed a contract with Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments, a subsidiary of Tawazun, covering the development of the aircraft and the construction of two prototypes. The first is to fly in 2014. The MPA platform will have a bigger wing than a standard P.180, a greater takeoff weight and more fuel capacity.
Effective Oct. 1, 2012, pilots must use FAA MedXPress to complete an electronic application for an Airman Medical Certificate. One of the significant enhancements will establish a tracking program so that pilots and AMEs can query the system electronically and determine the status of applications. Future enhancements will transition air traffic control specialists (ATCSs) to MedXPress.
After filing for bankruptcy protection, Hawker Beechcraft is currently in a 45-day period of court-authorized “exclusive negotiations” with a Chinese company, Superior Aviation Beijing Co., 40% privately owned and 60% backed by the city of Beijing. HBC formally sought court clearance to begin the negotiations after receiving a $1.79 billion proposal from the Chinese firm for all but the defense business. Despite concerns expressed by the machinists union, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of N.Y. approved the company's motion July 17.
Holland's ECA Program B.V. has finished the initial design review for an Airbus narrow-body VVIP jet conversion. The fractionally-owned aircraft fleet, configured for 19 passengers, will consist of three A319 aircraft and four A320 jets. The A320 is to be used for regional flights of less than 8 hr. and the A319 for intercontinental flights. The service will be operated by a new entity, operating under Dutch certification and regulations. The aircraft will operate globally with the main focus being Russia and the Middle Eastern markets.
View Operating Planning Guide Charts Aircraft operating costs are presented in a format that separates the data into seven separate areas: Mission Costs, Variable Costs, Fixed Annual Costs, Periodic Costs, Personnel Costs, Training Costs and Facilities Costs.
Landmark Aviation's charter department added a Gulfstream IV, a Hawker 400XP and a Falcon 7X to its managed fleet. The Gulfstream IV is based in Conroe, Texas (CXO) and can seat up to 14 passengers. The eight-passenger Hawker 400XP is based in Frederick, Md. (FDK). The DuPage, Ill. (DPA) based Falcon 7X also seats 14 and is one of only five available for charter in the U.S.
Honeywell aims to be the first avionics manufacturer to offer an advanced technology head-down display system that will enable operators to fly instrument approaches down to lower weather minimums than what's permitted with conventional primary flight instruments.
Baker Aviation Maintenance purchased AeroMech LLC. As part of the agreement, Baker will now operate at two locations: Meacham International Airport (KFTW) in Forth Worth and Addison Airport (ADS) in Dallas. Originally a mobile maintenance company, AeroMech was best known for its aircraft inspection/repair work and product knowledge gained over a 28-year span. Baker will retain all AeroMech employees.
There's a hot competition between Nextant Aerospace and Hawker Beechcraft to determine which firm can retrofit the largest number of Beechjet 400A and Hawker 400XP light jets with Williams International FJ44 turbofans to make them fly faster and farther, quieter and more economically. At stake: The two firms together might reap as much as $9-10 billion in sales revenues, assuming the retrofits attract one third of the combined fleet of nearly 590 aircraft.
