U.K. air accident investigators have officially linked the inquiries into two controlled ditchings involving Eurocopter EC225 helicopters in the North Sea.
An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) group charged with creating a framework for market-based measures (MBM) to mitigate aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions will have its first meeting this week in Montreal. The council has selected 17 member states to send delegations to the high-level working group, which will meet Dec. 12-13. The delegations, which were selected on the basis of geography and size of their aviation market share, include Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Singapore, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K.
Fractional ownership provider Avantair has restructured some of its financing arrangements and raised $2.8 million in new capital through the issuance of senior secured convertible notes as the company makes strides toward its goal of reaching profitability next year. The financing restructuring and new capital come as the Clearwater, Fla., company continues to regain its footing after grounding its fleet for several weeks in late October and early November.
Hawker Beechcraft received formal bankruptcy court approval of the disclosure statement for its revised reorganization plan Dec. 5, putting the manufacturer on pace to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. The Wichita airframer filed a revised disclosure statement and amended joint plan of reorganization to incorporate certain changes that were requested by Judge Stuart Bernstein of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
CESSNA Model 402C and 414AA airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1084; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-056-AD; Amendment 39-17257; AD 2012-23-01] – requires, for aircraft modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA927NW or STCSA892NW, inspections of the flap control system and modification if necessary. This AD was prompted by report of a Cessna Model 414A airplane modified by STC SA892NW that experienced an asymmetrical flap condition causing an uncommanded roll when the pilot set the flaps to the approach position.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette ASTAZOU, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and SA 318 C-Alouette Astazou helicopters. [Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD; Amendment 39-17259; AD 2012-23-03] – requires inspecting the cage of the free-wheel assembly for the correct alignment of the roller drive pocket recesses and replacing the free-wheel cage with an airworthy free-wheel cage if a defect exists.
More than six dozen associations and companies from across a range of industries are pushing lawmakers to extend 50% bonus depreciation for capital equipment purchases before it expires at the end of the year. A letter sent to House and Senate leaders this week warns that overall U.S. investment has rapidly declined every quarter since the third quarter of 2011 and almost half of the nation’s largest investors are planning to curb capital expenses.
CESSNA Model 172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0846; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-021-AD; Amendment 39-17237; AD 2012-22-01] – requires inspection of the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replacement of the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; inspection of the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure; and adjustment as necessary.
Samuel Hill, a recent Honda Aircraft executive who founded Embraer’s corporate aircraft division, is taking over as CEO of Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft. The CEO role has been vacant at Quest since Paul Schaller transitioned out of the position in June 2011. Schaller, who had served as CEO with the company since late 2004, remained as a consultant through the end of 2011.
CitationAir, the former fractional aircraft program that has refocused on its charter, management and jet card programs, recently was awarded an Argus Platinum rating, the highest level of rating from the Cincinnati-based business aviation research and safety specialist. CitationAir is among 107 commercial operators to obtain such recognition.
Bell Helicopter’s new facility in Singapore has handed over it first Bell 429 to Indonesia operator PT Whitesky Aviation. Bell, along with its sister company Cessna Aircraft, jointly opened the center July 31 to expand their service capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. The 160,500-ft. facility, which includes hangars for both Cessna and Bell, is a regional sales hub and service center for both companies and provides customer training, completions, refurbishment, parts sales and maintenance. The center also provides sales support.
Transport Canada (TC) has ordered Bombardier Challenger operators to replace pitot tube drain bottles after the manufacturer pegged the parts as contributors to erroneous airspeed readings reported by operators. TC explains that it has received “a number of reports” of mismatched airspeed values on pilot and co-pilot airspeed indicators. The incidents happened either during or right after heavy rain. TC traced the problem to water blocking the pitot tube instead of flowing into the system’s drain bottles.
MARGRIET BREDEWOLD has joined Baldwin Aviation Safety & Compliance as European representative based in Basel, Switzerland. Bredewold formerly founded Co-Guard GmbH, which provided training and support in safety management systems, human factors and organizational development. Before that, she was a professional development coordinator and trainer at Jet Aviation’s Basel facility.
Swiss operator PrivatAir is hoping to begin regular service to Antarctica next year following the successful landing of a Boeing 737 on a blue glacial runway near the Troll Research Station. The flight, the first of its kind, was commissioned by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) in collaboration with Norwegian air charter broker Aircontact.
The U.S. Transportation Department is working with its counterparts in several Asia-Pacific countries to create a regulatory framework for business aviation, says Robert Letteney, deputy assistant secretary of transportation for aviation and international affairs. In most countries in the region, business aviation is regulated in the same way as scheduled commercial airlines, which means “business aircraft simply can’t fly when and where they want.” Vietnam is working with the U.S.
SIKORSKY Model S-70, S-70A and S-70C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1206; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-021-AD; Amendment 39-17269; AD 2012-23-13] – requires reducing or establishing life limits for certain listed helicopter parts. This AD is prompted by a review of the U.S. Army’s analysis of their Model UH-60 fleet (a variant of the S-70), which determined it necessary to establish or reduce the life limits of certain parts. The actions are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a part and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich issued a proclamation calling December “General Aviation Appreciation Month,” joining a long list of governors who have made similar proclamations. General aviation airports in Ohio are estimated to contribute more the $5.5 billion into the economy every year. “This proclamation will help to educate the public about the critical role of general aviation and community airports to the state of Ohio,” says Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
In a move that competes head on with growing San Francisco-based operator Xojet, Flexjet is rolling out a new Coastal Connect program that will provide special rates for travel between the East and West Coasts using Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft. Jet Solutions will operate the flights that will be offered through the Flexjet 25 card. Xojet offers a similar coast-to-coast program, using flat rate pricing and operating Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X aircraft.
Landmark Aviation has signed a purchase agreement to acquire First Aviation Services (FAS) at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, marking a return to the acquisition trail a little more than month after it came under new ownership. The acquisition is expected to close by year’s end. Landmark did not reveal terms of the agreement, but a spokeswoman says purchase details likely will be revealed once the acquisition closes.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-366G1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1214; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-071-AD] – proposes to require modifying the fuel tank draining system. This proposed AD is prompted by a closed fuel tank drain that, in the event of a fuel leak, could result in fuel accumulating in an area containing electrical equipment. The proposed actions are intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in an area with electrical equipment or other ignition source, which may lead to a fire.
Hawthorne Aviation Global Services in Islip, N.Y. was selected as a Honeywell avionics dealer. Under the recognition, the facility, located at Long Island MacArthur Airport, will install, sell and service a range of Honeywell avionics. Its first work includes the installation of a Honeywell AIS-2000 satellite TV system on a Gulfstream GV.
EDGAR MAIMON was appointed general manager of Elbit Systems EW and Sigint-Elisra Division. Maimon joined Elisra in 2004 and currently is vice president-markeitng.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1188; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-049-AD; Amendment 39-17254; AD 2012-10-53] – supersedes an earlier AD and requires, before further flight and at specified intervals, checking and inspecting the upper and lower main rotor hub (MRH) shaft flanges for a crack, and inspecting the lower hub-shaft flange bolt attachment areas for a crack.
ASHMITA SETHI was named communications director for India for The Boeing Company. She will act as the company’s principal spokesperson in India. She previously was vice president-communications and public affairs for the India region for Rolls-Royce.
