Safety in numbers could be the catchphrase of the aviation industry as it pursues alternative fuels. The more feedstock-to-fuel pathways that are developed and commercialized, the more chances aviation has of securing lower-emission jet fuels at prices competitive with petroleum.
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Ajit Hari Gadre has become CEO of the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying, Bengaluru, India. He was director-general of army aviation of India.
Larry Lawson has been named executive VP for the aeronautics business at the Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md., succeeding Ralph D. Heath, who plans to retire April 1. Lawson is VP and general manager for the F-35 program and will be succeeded by Orlando Carvalho. Lorraine Martin will follow Carvalho as VP and deputy for the program.
Gene L. Stygles and Renee D. Palyo have been appointed chief and deputy chief, respectively, of the Facilities Div. at the NASAGlenn Research Center in Cleveland. Stygles worked on the advanced solid rocket motor program, and Palyo was head of the division's Program Management Office.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association of Atlanta has presented the Archie League Medal of Safety to controllers Kristina Kurtz, Anchorage Tracon; Todd Mariani, Kansas City Center; Matt Reed, Potomac Tracon; Guy Lieser and Steve McGreevy, Chicago Center; Chris Henchey and Ryan Workman, Boston Center; Charlie Rohrer, Denver Center; Ken Greenwood, Josh Haviland and Ryan Herrick, Seattle Tracon; Alvin Kent, Atlanta Center; Frank Fisher and Greg Fleetwood, Corpus Christi Tower/Tracon; and Kevin McLaughlin, Southern California Tracon.
Jeff Chalupa (see photo) has been named general manager-domestic operations for Tulsa, Okla.-based Nordam's transparency division. He was senior director-global engineering and quality for the repair division.
Richard DeFatta has joined Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in San Diego, as VP-engineering support services for the Madison Research Business Unit of the Weapon Systems Solution Div. He was VP of Teledyne Solutions.
Michelle A. Scarpella and Stephen D. Hogan (see photos) have been appointed Falls Church, Va.-based VPs for the F-35 and F/A-18 programs, respectively, for the Northrop Grumman Corp. Scarpella has worked on the B-2, Joint Stars and E-2C Hawkeye programs, and Hogan was EA-18G and EA-6B program director.
R. Scott Rettig has been named chairman and CEO of OTO Melara North America in Washington, succeeding U.S. Navy Adm. (ret.) James Amerault, who will retire. Rettig was chairman and CEO of AgustaWestland North America.
He was an executive at Pan Am and American Airlines before becoming Lufthansa's president. Later as boss of Delta Air Lines, he created “Song.” After that he was the founding CEO of Virgin America, exiting in 2007. So, what's Fred Reid (top, third column), a man skilled at moving masses through hubs, up to now?
Dallas – Boosted by military training contracts, light piston and turbine helicopter maker Enstrom is ramping up production as it looks to rack up back-to-back record years. “We are making a dent in the industry” says Jerry Mullins, president/CEO of the Michigan-based manufacturer. Although a relatively small player compared with other manufacturers competing in the training market, Enstrom is riding a building wave which shows signs of swelling throughout the business.
DALLAS — French engine maker Turbomeca is seeing a rebound in business and predicts a buoyant 2012-2013 on the back of new sales and increased production. “The trough is behind us and the market is picking up again,” says Turbomeca chairman and CEO Olivier Andries. Engine deliveries climbed to 950 in 2011, a 20% increase over 2010. “We also repaired 1,450 engines, which is 10% higher than 2010.”
The Obama administration’s fiscal 2013 budget proposal is not making U.S. airlines and airports happy, even with its proposed 11% increase in funding for the NextGen air traffic control system. The reason for discontent among airlines is that the administration is sticking with its proposal for a $100-per-flight surcharge for commercial airline and business jet operators for using the air traffic control system, and to as much as triple the security fee on airline passengers.
Business jet manufacturer Dassault announced today that it is now offering a Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) service designed and tailored specifically for Falcon operators. The system has been shown to improve safety of flight and has become standard for commercial airlines.
Qatar Airways' corporate jet division, Qatar Executive, is showcasing its Bombardier Global 5000 business jet at this week's Singapore Airshow, the largest aerospace event in Asia.
Operators of about 9,000 business aircraft and commercial airliners must upgrade the software on Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS) traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) units by March 13, 2015, under an airworthiness directive (AD) issued last week.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is proposing to alter the review procedures for FAA enforcement applications and to facilitate electronic filings. The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), published in the Feb. 9 Federal Register, follows a December 2010 advanced NPRM that covered the standard of review for emergency determinations, discovery and information exchange, and electronic filing of documents.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank is vowing to better facilitate sales of business aircraft and helicopters, after a long period in which commercial aircraft were at the forefront. The “golden age” of Ex-Im Bank’s support of commercial aircraft is over, but “the golden age for export credit for business aircraft and helicopters is ahead,” says Ex-Im Bank's VP- transport, Bob Morin. Last year, Ex-Im Bank provided $11.75 billion in aviation-related financing support, $11.5 billion for commercial aircraft and the rest for business aircraft and helicopters.
Gulfstream Aerospace donated $50,000 to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a charitable organization that arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using empty seats aboard corporate jets. Gulfstream was one of the first corporate flight departments to join as a CAN participant in 1982. Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, aerospace for Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, serves on the CAN board of directors. CAN has facilitated the transport of nearly 40,000 patients over the last 30 years.
CHRIS BOTT has joined PATS Aircraft Systems as certification manager. Bott will oversee certification efforts for PATS and Hollingsead International-designed and manufactured products. He is an FAA designated engineering representative with more than 35 years of aviation experience.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank is vowing to better facilitate sales of business aircraft and helicopters, after a long period in which commercial aircraft were at the forefront. The “golden age” of Ex-Im’s support of commercial aircraft is over, but “the golden age for export credit for business aircraft and helicopters is ahead,” says Ex-Im’s vice president for transport, Bob Morin. Last year, Ex-Im provided $11.75 billion in aviation-related financing support, $11.5 billion for commercial aircraft and the rest for business aircraft and helicopters.
LYCOMING Model TIO-540-A [Docket No. FAA–2011–0691; Directorate Identifier 2011–NE–26–AD; Amendment 39– 16909; AD 71–13–01R1] – rescinds an AD (AD 71–13–01) that requires a on-time visual inspection of external fuel injector lines for fuel stains, cracks, dents and bend radii under 5/8 in., and replacement, if necessary. The AD was prompted by a report of a failed fuel injector tube assembly. Since FAA issued AD 71–13–01, the agency became aware that Lycoming Engines no longer supports Service Bulletin (SB) No. 335A, which was incorporated by reference in AD 71–13–01.
AERONAUTICAL ACCESSORIES high landing gear aft crosstube assembly [Docket No. FAA-2012-0083; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-022-AD] – proposes to require certain recurring visual, dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of each aft crosstube and replacement if necessary. The AD applies to assemblies installed in certain Bell and Agusta helicopters. This proposed AD is prompted by three reports of failed crosstubes because of cracks.
SureFlight has opened a new aircraft completion center in Coatesville, Pa. The center will enable the company to expand its completion capabilities, including both interior and exterior services. The company added Andy Waynick as manager of interior completions to lead the team at the new center. He previously has held interiors management roles with West Star, Atlantic Aero and StandardAero.
