What has become of the TSA's controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) for FAR Part 91 operators? The initial proposal met with such fierce resistance from the business aviation community that it was withdrawn for further revisions. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a kinder, gentler LASP II was slated for release in the September 2012 time frame. But now, word has it that because of the presidential election cycle, the NPRM will be delayed until next year — perhaps as late as spring 2013.
NetJets announced the next phase of its fleet refresh plan, placing orders for as many as 425 midsize Bombardier Challenger 300s and 605s and Cessna Citation Latitudes. The order breaks out into 75 firm orders and 125 options for the Challenger 300 series with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2014. The Bombardier contract order also includes 25 firm orders and 50 options for Challenger 605s, with deliveries to begin in 2015. NetJets Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell valued the Bombardier portion of the newest order at $7.3 billion.
Bell Helicopter plans to open its first company-authorized flight training school in China. Bell Helicopter and Guanchen Aviation have signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect. Eric Cardinali, executive vice president, customer support and services for Bell Helicopter, said, “Partnering with Guanchen Aviation to provide a high-quality, local flight training solution is an important first step in meeting our customer needs in the region. . . .
Reflecting sour European market conditions, Jet Aviation is restructuring its Basel, Switzerland, location into two independently managed maintenance and completion business units, each reporting directly to Dan Clare, president of General Dynamics' Jet Aviation Group. Neil Boyle has been appointed vice president of completions and Johannes Turzer is vice president of maintenance at Basel.
The FAA has issued a revised Advisory Circular, AC 120-76B, that provides guidelines on the certification, airworthiness and operational approval of electronic flight bags (EFB). While the information contained in the revised AC is consistent with previous FAA information on this subject, the NBAA has pointed out some new terms and concepts introduced in the revision. The main difference is specific guidance for FAR Part 91F (large and turbine-powered multiengine aircraft) operators that goes beyond the guidance for other Part 91 operators.
Satcom Direct opened a new domestic office in Savannah, Ga. located in the general aviation area of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Suite 101E of the Sheltair Aviation Services building. The facility includes a business office and a satellite testing and integration lab. Customers who visit the location have access to Satcom Direct's avionics and testing lab, training facility and support services.
The TSA and its Cabinet-level parent, the Department of Homeland Security, rose from the ashes of the World Trade Center and serve as a constant reminder of the terrorist attacks that felled those buildings a decade ago.
Eclipse is starting production of its Eclipse 550 very light jet model with initial deliveries planned for 2013. On June 1, Eclipse dealers representing more than 30 countries attended the first international Eclipse dealer sales conference at the company's headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., and signed agreements to purchase new Eclipse 550 Jets for delivery in 2014 and early 2015.
A recently created FAA/industry committee is planning to develop recommendations by year-end on how to improve the FAA's ongoing problem with a lack of consistency between its various Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and Aircraft Certification Offices (ACOs). The Aviation Rulemaking Committee, co-chaired by Flight Standards Director John Allen and NATA Vice President Eric Byer, met for the first time June 1 to begin tackling the standardization problems that have plagued the agency for years.
Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) has established helicopter operations at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, which is a 10-min. flight to Manhattan aboard one of the company 's Sikorsky S-76 helicopters. AAG operates a fleet of S-76 helicopters in both fractional and full management programs with bases in the New York and Philadelphia areas.
Nav Canada and Iridium are partnering on a project that will bring Iridium satellite-based air traffic surveillance to areas of the globe with no coverage, starting with crucial North Atlantic routes. The two companies are forming a joint venture called Aireon, which will provide surveillance data from a new constellation of satellites being launched by Iridium Communications. ADS-B receivers will be a hosted payload on Iridium's NEXT communications satellites. Desch says Iridium has invested about $3 billion in the constellation of 66 satellites. Harris Corp.
If FAR Part 135 is meeting the same security requirements as the airlines — crew and passenger screening, baggage inspections, secured facilities and aircraft, etc. — why aren't charter operators conferred the same access to presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)?
The bottom in used business jet pricing “remains elusive,” says JPMorgan analyst Joseph Nadol. Average asking price fell 0.9% last month, with heavy jets down 1.5% and light jets down 0.3%. This brought May to “a new low for the cycle,” Nadol says. But medium jet prices inched up 0.6%. And, with soft prices, inventory continues to shrink, down 10 bps in May. Used inventory of in-production models is now 10.6%, down from 11.1% in February, Nadol says.
The FAA's Flight Standard Service is hoping to have guidance in place by October that would change the approach that inspectors take toward addressing minor compliance issues. Flight Standards Director John Allen said earlier this year that the agency's officials were “trying to change a culture within the Flight Standards Service” to encourage inspectors to work out minor issues with operators before immediately jumping to enforcement action.
Hawker Beechcraft Services has opened a new full-service MRO facility offering airframe, engine, avionics and mobile support for the company's entire product line on the New Castle airport in Wilmington, Del. The facility includes maintenance hangar and back shop space, customer reception and break areas, a customer lounge and two fully-equipped customer offices.
The FAA notes that while the number of fatal general aviation accidents over the last decade has gone down, so have flight hours due to economic factors. The general aviation fatal accident rate has remained static, despite the reduced flying activity. In FY 2011, there were 457 fatalities in 271 fatal GA accidents. In 2010, there were 457 fatalities in 270 fatal GA accidents. The accident rate for 2011 was 1.13 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown and was 1.10 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown in 2010.
In 2010 NBAA presented Wendi Gavigan with its Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award for having shared her industry expertise while making “significant contributions to the scheduling and dispatching function.” Beginning with this presentation in our Schedulers and Dispatchers quarterly, Gavigan, whose day job is vice president and manager of flight operations for Citigroup Corporate Aviation, continues to lead and share with this the first in a series of discussions with S&D professionals about their work, challenges, solutions and aspirations.
One of the many highlights at this year's MMC was the chance for participants to support the NBAA Maintenance Committee's Technical Reward and Career Scholarship (TRACS) program. These scholarships are designed to help jump start the career of technicians who are either completing their A&P training or aspire to advance a business aviation career already begun. Earning an A&P license gets you into the hangar, but further training and experience are necessary to advance beyond entry level. The TRACS program is designed to serve both categories.
A Secret Service-imposed TFR that shut down New Jersey's Teterboro Airport May 14 with little advance notice is raising fears over airspace restrictions on the horizon as the presidential election season ramps up. The TFR shut down Teterboro for nearly 5 hr. on a Monday, when the airport — the nation's busiest general aviation facility — typically experiences peak traffic. The TFR was issued just before it took effect, causing the rerouting of dozens of aircraft.
I read Capt. Enderle's letter (Readers' Feeback, June 2012, page 11) and the accompanying comments with great interest. While there is a plethora of woulda's, coulda's and shoulda's therein, there are but three positive conclusions that can be drawn at this point in the investigation:
The two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 engines that power the Global 5000 and 6000 are 4.2:1 bypass ratio, conventional axial flow, two-shaft designs with a single 48-in. front fan powered by a two-stage low-pressure turbine and a 10-stage high-pressure compressor driven by a two-stage high-pressure turbine. They are rated at 14,750 lb. thrust for takeoff up to ISA+20C. An aft-mounted, deep-fluted forced mixer nozzle both reduces noise and improves high-altitude cruise thrust output.
A Gulfstream G280 recently set an unconfirmed city-pair speed record from Paris to White Plains, N.Y., making the flight in 7 hr., 40 min. NAA record certification is pending. The G280, took off from Paris Le Bourget Airport on May 17 and flew nonstop to Westchester County Airport at an average speed of Mach 0.80 against an average 32-kt. headwind. At maximum takeoff weight, the aircraft climbed to 43,000 ft. in 22 min.
I'm a tad behind in my reading and just now finished “Studebaker Time,” the Viewpoint in my June 2010 BCA. As always, excellent. I have but one complaint . . . Where were you when I needed you?
