Dassault Falcon rolled out a revamped Regional Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Seminars program that will encompass nine cities on three continents. The seminar series has grown over the years as the Falcon fleet has surpassed the 2,000 aircraft mark with more than 1,200 operators. The format was expanded to a two-day event that will provide access to Dassault specialists, engineering teams, pilots, authorized service center representatives and suppliers. The seminars will cover both operational and technical issues. The series begins in Paris April 1-2.
Landmark Aviation is entering the Atlantic City, N.J., market with the acquisition of Midlantic Jet Aviation. The agreement, the latest in a string of acquisitions, includes both the Midlantic Jet Aviation fixed-base operation and the Midlantic Jet Charters, based at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) in New Jersey.
BRIAN ANDREWS has joined Duncan Aviation’s airframe service sales team, focusing on providing technical sales support for Embraer clients. He joined Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich., facility in 1998 as an airframe technician and in 2007 became a project manager, working with customers and service areas to ensure aircraft projects remained on time and on budget.
In 1966, shortly after the death of his wife's father, Laurent Beaudoin became president of the family business, a Canadian snowmobile company. Just 28 years old, he had to fill the big shoes left by the visionary Joseph-Armand Bombardier. Beaudoin would prove up to the task—and then some.
“USAF Prepares Industry for Cutbacks,” warned an Aviation Week & Space Technology headline, followed by a story that discussed the death of aircraft companies, shuttering of facilities, a Pentagon briefing to industry leaders with “a blunt warning of things to come” and a diminished role for manned aircraft in national defense. That article didn't appear recently, however. It was written in 1957—the first time the Laureate awards were presented.
Even as the Obama administration pushes to have the FAA fund itself with the traveler-paid Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the White House predicts the fund's balance will grow steadily over the next decade. White House budget documents lay out a road map to wean FAA from general-fund contributions. As of 2015, the FAA budget request would have the trust fund cover 93% of FAA's operations, as well as its Airport Improvement Program, facilities and equipment, and research, engineering and development accounts.
SpaceX delayed its third commercial cargo flight to the international space station (ISS) because of “payload contamination” problems in the unpressurized “trunk” of its Dragon spacecraft, but don't try to find out what those problems are. “We've had some issues with payload contamination that we will be addressing,” says Sam Scimemi, ISS program director at NASA headquarters, during a March 14 Space Transportation Association presentation. “We're going to have to assess that and replace some parts and get the rocket ready for launch again.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to annex the Crimean Peninsula is a “wake-up call,” says NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who urged Europe to increase defense spending—particularly in the missile defense, cyber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance arenas. “Developments in Ukraine are a stark reminder that security in Europe cannot be taken for granted,” he said last week. Russia's actions must have consequences, he warned.
General Electric has long been big in big engines, specializing in turbofans for airliners and fighters. But the company wants to compete across the power range, and the man leading its move into small engines is the 2014 laureate for business and general aviation.
The persistent drought in the western U.S. is very much part of the national consciousness; many are wondering about the impact on food pricing and availability. Rest assured that individuals like Robert Blair and Jim Hirsch will do their best to keep the ambered grain waving and the plains well fruited.
It will be summer before an FAA preliminary rule to upgrade full-motion simulators with extended models to handle full stall training hits the streets, and nearly five years before airlines have to officially put the updated machines to work. Despite the long grace period, the industry is taking a proactive stance on the safety improvements triggered by new flight-training rules, finalized in November and designed to help pilots recognize and recover from fully developed stalls and attitude upsets, often caused by stalls.
Flying Colours Corp. the Canadian headquartered MRO, completion and refurbishment specialist has announced delivery of a reconfigured Bombardier Challenger 604 destined for a Nigerian-based client.
AGUSTA Model A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0643; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-096-AD; Amendment 39-17773; AD 2014-04-14] – requires removing certain rod end assemblies from service. This AD was prompted by reports of fractures on the rod end assemblies that could damage the main rotor assembly and lead to loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the AD affect 91 helicopters on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $368,186 for the fleet or $4,046 per helicopter. The AD takes effect April 7.
Capitol Hill is ratcheting up pressure on FAA to act on a now-aging industry petition for relief from third-class medical requirements with the Senate introduction of the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act.
Stevens Aviation has permanently based a mobile maintenance unit at Centennial Airport in Colorado. Stationed at the Signature Flight Support hangar, the Stevens mobile unit provides remote maintenance for Hawker, King Air, Phenom, Citation, Beechjet and Learjet aircraft. Stevens mobile units have serviced customers throughout the region, including Wyoming, Idaho and Utah.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0555; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-047-AD; Amendment 39-17779; AD 2014-05-06] – requires inspecting the flight-control bearings repetitively, replacing any loose bearing with an airworthy flight-control bearing, and installing bushings and washers. This AD was prompted by the discovery during a routine inspection of loose flight control bearings because of incorrect installation.
While winter storms may have slowed business aviation traffic in the U.S. and Canada in February from January, the activity was still slightly ahead of February 2013, Argus reports. Last month’s business aircraft flights were up 0.5% from February 2013, with charter operations posting the greatest gain, up 6.8%, Argus says. Part 91 flights, however, were down 2% from a year ago and fractional flights, still reflecting the demise of Avantair, down 4.3%. Aside from Avantair, large cabin fractional flights were up 12.9% and small cabins 19.9%.
FAA remains positive about the long-term outlook for turbine business aircraft even as the agency continues to moderate its annual forecast and predicts a shrinking piston fleet. In the agency’s Aerospace Forecast for fiscal 2014-2034, FAA is predicting the general aviation fleet will increase at an average annual rate of 0.5%, from an estimated 202,865 aircraft in 2013 to 225,700 in 2034. The annual rate of growth matches that of last year’s forecast, but the total number of aircraft is down significantly.
BOB SANCHEZ has joined Universal Avionics as program development manager, military and government. Sanchez previously spent eight years with BAE Systems, where he oversaw business development for a range of military programs. Before that, he spent 15 years in the U.S. Air Force as an avionics flight test specialist.
Textron Friday closed on its acquisition of Beechcraft Corp. parent Beech Holdings, and said that with the deal complete it will combine Cessna, Beech and Hawker operations in a new segment—Textron Aviation—led by Cessna CEO Scott Ernest. Beech CEO Bill Boisture will not continue on in the new company, a Beech spokesman confirmed. “Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker will each remain distinct brands to preserve their rich histories and respective strengths in the marketplace,” Textron said in a prepared statement March 14.
The National Air Transportation Association, working with the Transportation Security Administration, is rolling out a Known Crewmember program that will expedite access to sterile areas of airports for Part 135 and 125 pilots. Known Crewmember, a risk-based screening system, has been in place for Part 121 pilots since 2011. NATA President Tom Hendricks helped develop the program during his tenure with Airlines For America (A4A), and worked with A4A and the Air Line Pilots Association to bring the program to on-demand pilots.
