JEFF CHALUPA was named general manager of domestic operations for Nordam’s Transparency division. Chalupa oversees engineering, production, operations, supply chain and purchasing, maintenance, quality and customer program management. He joined Nordam in 2007 and most recently was senior director of global engineering and quality for the company’s Repair division in Tulsa, Okla. He has been a Six Sigma Black Belt leader for Honeywell and a principle engineer with Pratt & Whitney.
Blue Sky Network received supplemental type certification for use of its D1000 flight-tracking unit and ACH1000 communications control aboard Sikorsky S-92 helicopters. The D1000A uses built-in GPS position reporting combined with an Iridium satellite transceiver and telemetry data link to provide flight-tracking capability. The ACH1000 communications control head adds voice communication and two-way messaging connectivity between operators and the control center.
FAA is moving to establish a voluntary accreditation program for commercial air tour operators. The agency recently charged the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) with developing a comprehensive program for commercial air tour operators that are not required to maintain aircraft under a continuous airworthiness maintenance program. Part 135 requires operators of aircraft with 10 or more seats to establish a continuing analysis and surveillance system, but operators with smaller aircraft are exempt.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is teaming again with the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) to raise funds for their mission supporting U.S. combat wounded. VAC, a charitable organization, provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other purposes. NATA and VAC last year established the NATA Wings for Warriors fund for member contributions, and this year is expanding its effort throughout all of the association’s major 2012 events.
FAA issued Advisory Circular 90-114 to all operators regarding usage of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology in compliance with FAR 91.225 and 91.227. These new regulations require aircraft operating in designated classes of airspace to be equipped with ADS-B Out beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The circular contains guidance on compliance with the new rules including an overview of the ADS-B system, general operating procedures, and performance requirements.
Industry may be ready to sell UAVs for civilian use within the U.S., but that does not mean the machinery of government is prepared to regulate them. FAA is trying to ensure safety of the vehicles, which can be difficult for larger aircraft to see. But the process has been slow and already delayed. FAA was expected to release its notice of proposed rulemaking for small UAVs this month; now the notice is supposed to come sometime during the spring, according to FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette.
Daher-Socata delivered 36 TBM850 single-engine aircraft last year, equaling the total of the year before. Deliveries to buyers in the U.S. continued to dominate, with 84% of deliveries topping the 76% that found their way to the U.S. in 2010. Latin America was the second largest market, with Asia-Pacific and Europe following. Europe was the second largest market in 2010. Daher-Socata says it was the fourth best year for the TBM.
The international business aviation and helicopter community is releasing an amendment to the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) this month to include helicopter safety standards.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently approved a five-year extension of its partnership with National Air Transportation Association Compliance Services (NATACS) to provide a range of general aviation security programs. The partnership recognizes NATACS as a Trusted Fingerprint Facility to process biographical and biometric information. The partnership, established in 2002, has been extended through December 2016.
As the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) takes effect this month, the business aviation community is grappling with inconsistent paperwork requirements, potential operational changes and what it believes is a discriminatory implementation of the scheme. The European Business Aviation Association last week aired a number of concerns it has with the scheme, saying it is discriminatory toward business aviation and still needs substantial work to be viable.
In the face of strong opposition, the Obama administration is not backing off its support for a $100 per-flight user charge. “The administration is making tough choices across the federal budget and asking everyone to do their fair share,” says Dana Hyde, associate director for General Government Programs for the Office of Management and Budget.
It was a straight-in nighttime approach to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's Runway 9R. The Learjet was at 2,400 ft., 6 mi. out. That put the pilots below the glideslope, but with ceiling and visibility unrestricted, winds calm and all instruments in the green. Piece of cake. Unless, that is, you had never before been in a cockpit nor at the controls of any airplane. And the whole world was watching. Oh, and a million bucks were on the line.
Royal Jet, has been awarded an unprecedented fifth consecutive 'World's Leading Private Jet Charter' title at the prestigious World Travel Awards for 2011.
The world’s largest business association would like to see House Republican leadership cede on a labor issue that is preventing passage of the FAA reauthorization bill. In a State of American Business speech that called on Washington to confront its tough issues with “real leadership,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue said Congress needs to pass the FAA bill, which has been stalled for more than four years.
The EU Emissions Trading System discriminates against business aviation and still needs substantial work to be viable, the European Business Aviation Association says.
Community leaders in Wichita are assembling a task force that will develop some “fairly aggressive strategies” to boost the aviation industry as the city wrestles with last week’s announcement that Boeing will pull out of Wichita and lay off or relocate up to 2,100 workers, says Suzie Ahlstrand, interim president of the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC). Boeing on Jan. 4 said it would close its Defense, Space and Security operations in Wichita by the end of 2013 to lower costs and increase efficiencies.
JAY RANDALL was named Great Lakes regional sales manager for Constant Aviation, a Cleveland-based maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. Randall previously served with Dallas Airmotive, where he was responsible for the sale of engine maintenance services specializing in Pratt & Whitney Canada and Rolls-Royce engine services for customers in the Northeast and Great Lakes territories. He also has held sales positions with Flight Options and Bizjet International.
CONTINENTAL MOTORS TSIO-520, TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550K, and IO-550-N series reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-1341; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD; Amendment 39-16891; AD 2011-25-51] – adopts an emergency AD that requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters. This AD was prompted by five reports of fractures in starter adapter shaft gears in certain part number (P/N) CMI starter adapters. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the starter adapter gear shaft, leading to an inoperable oil scavenge pump and engine inflight shutdown.
Switzerland-based maintenance, repair and overhaul provider SR Technics has sold its 49% stake in a Shanghai-based line maintenance joint venture to Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (Haeco) and that company’s subsidiary, Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (Taeco). The venture has been renamed Shanghai Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Services Co. Ltd. The majority owner is Shanghai Foreign Aviation Service Corp. (Fasco).
Organizers of the National Championship Air Races are moving forward with the annual event in Reno, Nev., but have established a blue-ribbon panel to assess safety concerns that have arisen in the wake of the Sept. 16, 2011 crash of an experimental North America P-15D that killed the pilot and 10 others on the ground and injured 74 people.
The head of the Airports Council International for North America is urging lawmakers to pass a two-year extension of FAA’s operating authority – while negotiations continue on a long-term reauthorization bill. The current, 22nd extension expires Jan. 31. Lawmakers working to strike a deal have been haggling over several differences between the House and Senate versions of FAA reauthorization.
