The Russian fleet of commercial helicopters is still a Soviet legacy, consisting mostly of outdated and aging models. Russian models will most likely continue to dominate the heavy-class category, but foreign rotorcraft manufacturers will gain market share with lighter models.
May 10, 2012, was a big night for Boeing, whose 787 Dreamliner was awarded the Collier trophy during a black-tie dinner at Reagan Washington National Airport where Signature Flight Support's hangar was transformed into a glittering, grand hall. The star of the evening was the 787 itself, which dominated the ramp in floodlit glory just beyond the open hangar doors.
Concerned about the growing influence of foreign business jet manufacturers, the U.S. Congress charged the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) with examining the status of what has been a U.S.-dominated business, albeit one suffering from a severe, years-long economic downturn. When disseminated recently, the resulting report surely brought relief to Embraer—which it detailed as a formidable, but fair, competitor—yet the document might give some would-be participants pause.
It is, without a doubt, a big win for an industry that has been waiting a long time for good news. In the largest business-jet order ever tendered, NetJets agreed to buy up to 425 new business jets from Bombardier and Cessna as part of a 10-year plan to overhaul its fleet. The value of the deals would reach $9.6 billion, if the world's largest fractional ownership operator exercises all of its options for Bombardier Challenger 300 series and 605s and Cessna Citation Latitudes.
Dubai-based Air Charter International (ACI), the aircraft charter and leasing company has reported a dramatic increase in the number of charters from Africa and notes a growing trend for charters involving unusual or complicated requirements.
Aviation services provider Air Works India Engineering (Air Works) today announced that it has made a strategic investment in Dubai based private aviation specialist, Empire Aviation Group (EAG).
Eclipse Aerospace has restarted production of its storied very-light jet (VLJ), but this time with more modest production goals. The original Eclipse Aviation was formed in 1998 with the vision of selling thousands of million-dollar jets into a booming air-taxi market. Instead, its biggest customer, unable to raise financing in an economic downturn, closed its doors in 2008, taking with it 1,400 of the 2,600 orders on the manufacturer’s books.
Rolls-Royce is buying out the 50% stake that Goodrich Corp. holds in the Aero Engine Controls (AEC) joint venture. United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which is in the process of acquiring Goodrich, has approved the divestiture, but completion of the transfer of AEC shares still awaits the closing of UTC’s Goodrich acquisition and its own antitrust review.
The tough budget environment on Capitol Hill makes it highly unlikely that Congress will provide assistance for NextGen equipage beyond the approval for FAA to create a public-private loan guarantee program, a Senate aide told attendees of the RTCA 2012 Symposium last week.
GULFSTREAM Model G-1159, G-1159A, and G-1159B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0494; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-088-AD; Amendment 39-17069; AD 2012-11-06] – requires, for certain airplanes, a measurement to determine the clearance (gap) of the exposed rounded portion of the doubler and clothespin fitting at the wing-to-fuselage attachment, and repair if necessary.
CHRISTOPHER BERO was named director of marketing for Flexjet. Bero joins Flexjet with more than 15 years of experience in brand marketing and communications. Most recently, he was responsible for strategic marketing activities and media initiatives at Samsung Mobile Electronics. In his new role, Bero will develop marketing plans and communication strategies for Flexjet.
The Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal is not expected to surface at all this year, and should it get released, it will likely be dramatically different and may carry a new name, industry groups believe. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials had hoped to release a supplemental LASP notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) this year. But given the presidential election season, the Office of Management and Budget is believed to have encouraged agencies to hold off on most non-congressionally mandated rulemakings.
New Zealand’s air force plans to lease five used Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft from Australian company Hawker Pacific to replace five King Air 200s it currently leases from another company. “We are currently in negotiations with Hawker Pacific to conclude a contract to lease five secondhand King Air 200s to replace the fleet currently leased from Aeromotive,” New Zealand’s air force chief, Air Vice Marshal Peter Stockwell says.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has begun certifying the initial aircraft models under new light sports aircraft (LSA) specifications. The agency recently granted approvals in the new LSA category – which applies to aircraft with no more than two seats and a mass of less than 600 kg – to the Czech Sport PS-28 Cruiser, Flight Design CTLS-ELA and Evektor SportStar RTC.
Aerion is beginning research with NASA on a computer code developed to perform aerodynamic design and analysis for high-speed aircraft, such as the company’s planned supersonic business jet. The latest research means to achieve efficient and stable supersonic inlet operation. The collaborative effort began this month and is expected to continue for a year.
StandardAero has delivered the 4,000th Rolls-Royce AE3007 engine that the company has worked on since the program began in 1997. StandardAero completed the work at its Maryville, Tenn., service center for longtime customer Aerolitoral, S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based regional airline. The 130,000-sq.-ft. center provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the AE3007, which powers Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets, the Embraer Legacy 600/650 and Cessna Citation X.
PIPER Models PA-31T and PA-31T1 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0251; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-002-AD; Amendment 39-17058; AD 2012-10-09] – supersedes an AD that currently requires correcting a model identification error on the aircraft data plate. Since FAA issued that AD, the agency became aware that some owner/operators of the affected airplanes modified the aircraft data plate in error because of confusion in the serial number applicability. Because of the confusion, the manufacturer has issued new service information to clarify affected airplane serial numbers.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0115; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-40-AD] –- proposes to supersede an existing AD that requirements accomplishment of a TU166 modification. Since FAA issued that AD, the agency became aware of an accident involving an engine inflight shutdown on a twin-engine helicopter powered by two Arriel 2S2 engines. This proposed AD would add the Arriel 2S2 engine to the applicability of engines requiring the TU166 modification with a different compliance time.
Edward King, an avionics pioneer and founder of King Radio, passed away June 3 at the age of 90. National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen calls King “one of the most important figures in the development of modern avionics. His vision and entrepreneurial spirit helped establish and advance the state of the art for onboard electronics.”
The National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) GA Desk was renamed NBAA Air Traffic Services, a change designed to emphasize its role in helping members with air traffic issues, NBAA says. The desk, established in August 2001, is based at FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center to represent general aviation interests. NBAA also launched a Twitter feed, www.twitter.com/NBAA_ATS, to share airspace alerts and other information.
