Associated Air Center (AAC) in Dallas recently expanded its facilities to accommodate its contracts to complete 747-8 and 787-8 wide-body aircraft. The expansions included the addition of a 7,200-sq.-ft. mobile tail enclosure that is 120 ft. wide, 60 ft. deep and nearly 76 ft. tall. Designed to be moved with existing aircraft tugs, the enclosure structure is equipped with fire protection system, fire alarm system, high bay lighting and low-volt electrical connections.
Lawmakers are heading toward the next significant budget debate as the Feb. 7 deadline for addressing the debt ceiling passed, forcing the Treasury Department to implement “extraordinary measures” to avoid a federal default. But, unlike most of the budget battles that have occurred over the past two years, it appears that discussions about raising taxes on business aircraft have been set aside, at least for now.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0679; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-015-AD; Amendment 39-17733; AD 2014-02-05] – requires measuring the distance between the end of the main rotor collective pitch lever, locking stud and the locking strip and repairing the locking stud if the clearance is insufficient.
LEARJET Model 60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0691; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-170-AD; Amendment 39-17678; AD 2013-24-04] – supersedes AD 2003-19-11, which required determining if a certain fuel crossflow tube is installed, and follow-on/corrective actions, as applicable. This new AD requires retaining all actions in AD 2003-19-11, and it also requires determining if a certain fuel crossflow tube is installed, performing repetitive measurements of the fuel crossflow tube and surrounding valves and cables, and doing corrective actions if necessary.
In a move that comes as Airbus puts a sharper focus on gaining market share in its Airbus Corporate Jets unit, the manufacturer has appointed Benoit Defforge as the unit’s new managing director. Defforge, who has headed the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC), succeeds Habib Fekih, who helped establish the corporate jets unit and has led it as president since 2011. Airbus credited Fekih with consolidating ACJ activities in recent years. He is moving on to new responsibilities within Airbus, the company says.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter France) Model EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2014-0038; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-023-AD] – proposes to require repetitive visual and tap test inspections of each main rotor blade leading edge stainless steel protective strip for a crack, cut, or blind or open debonding and taking approved corrective measures. If there is a crack or if there is debonding that exceeds acceptable limits, this AD would require, before further flight, repairing or replacing the blade with an airworthy part.
Dassault Aviation received European Aviation Safety Agency approval to operate as a Part 147 training center. The approval, the first to be granted to a business jet manufacturer, enables the company to comply with European requirements for technician training. Dassault will offer training at a new Dassault Training Academy in Merignac/Bordeaux, France, including two-week, model-specific courses. Dassault began offering practical training in April 2007 to complement theoretical instruction provided by CAE and FlightSafety International.
RHETT REAVIS has joined Dassault Falcon Jet as sale manager for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. states and eastern Canada. Reavis formerly was the Northeast regional sales manager for FlighSafety International. He has more than a decade of industry experience.
The U.S. Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General (IG) says the FAA will not likely be ready to mandate using automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) “In” by 2020, in parallel with the ADS-B “Out” mandate already in place.
LONDON — Air Greenland has canceled an order for two Airbus Helicopters EC225s because the offshore market around the island has not developed as expected. The company ordered the aircraft as part of a DKK380 million ($69 million) deal announced in December 2011. It planned to use them on search-and-rescue missions and passenger-carrying duties with an expected influx of oil and gas companies exploring for oil around the huge country.
EASA STC 10048929 was developed by MNG Jet together with S4A Solutions For Aviation SL which is an EASA Part 21 Design Organization from Spain, SATCOM and Honeywell.
Sabreliner Corporation’s business leaned heavily on military contracts that disappeared during sequestration, forcing the company into default on its bank loan and leading to the bank’s sale of the company to an investment firm.
Norway’s aviation accident investigation board (SHT) says mobile phones did not likely play a role in the 1988 crash of a Wideroe Dash-7 on approach to Bronnoysund airport.
Dassault's Falcon 2000S and 2000LXS twin jets have received approval to operate at one of the world's most challenging airports, London City, located in the heart of Europe's financial hub. Dassault is the only business jet manufacturer to have its entire current production fleet certified to operate at London City.
Boeing has todayannounced the launch of the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) MAX family of airplanes after receiving the first order from an undisclosed customer. The order is for a BBJ MAX 8, which is based on the 737 MAX 8 and the newest business jet to join the BBJ family.
Sabreliner Corporation’s business leaned heavily on military contracts that disappeared during sequestration, forcing the company into default on its bank loan and leading to the bank’s sale of the company to an investment firm.
Sabreliner Corporation’s business leaned heavily on military contracts that disappeared during sequestration, forcing the company into default on its bank loan and leading to the bank’s sale of the company to an investment firm. Sabreliner announced last week that its primary debt holder sold the company after it lost half of its business during last year’s sequestration budget cutting and was unable to make its debt payment.
Jet card sales continue to strengthen, reaching their highest point since the economic downturn began, both Sentient Jet and its new affiliate company Flexjet report. Key metrics in 2013 rose to levels “not seen since 2008,” Sentient says. The company, which has more than 4,000 clients, sold more than 32,000 jet card hours in 2013, which amounts to the equivalent of more than 1,300 25-Hour Jet Cards. This pushed the company’s revenue to more than $150 million on the year. Sentient sold more than 1,200 25-Hour Jet Cards in 2012.
CAE was named the exclusive Dassault-approved training provider for the French airframer’s recently launched Falcon 5X long-range business jet. The designation included advanced pilot, maintenance and cabin crew training for the Falcon 5X. CAE will build two Falcon 5X simulators and work with Dassault to determine where to base the first trainers. Other trainers are planned as the 5X fleet grows. CAE provides Falcon training around the world for the 7X, 2000, 2000 EX/EASy I & II, 900, 900B, 900 EX, 900 EX/EASy I & II, 50, 50EX, and 10.
Airbus Helicopters says issues with its EC225 and EC135 helicopters have “strengthened its determination in the area of safety.” The grounding of the EC225 from October 2012 to July 2013, followed by the November crash of an EC135T2 in Glasgow, Scotland, had a broad effect on public perception, but also caused new aircraft programs to be delayed and sales early in the year to slump. That prompted CEO Guillaume Faury to implement an action plan which he says has helped to recover sales and deliveries.
The Triumph Group has sold its Wichita business aircraft aerostructures business, Triumph Aerospace Systems-Wichita, back to its original owner, Jim Lee. Lee, who founded the business in 1989, continued to steer the company as president after he sold it to the Triumph Group in 2000. Lee is rebranding the company to its original name, Lee Aerospace. “The opportunity to reacquire the company presented itself late last year. We are excited to once again be a locally-owned and operated company,” Lee says.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-1003; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-17724; AD 2014-01-01] – requires a one-time inspection of the ejector assembly nozzle of an affected lubricating device and, if a discrepancy is found, removal and replacement with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by an inflight shutdown (IFSD) of an Arriel 1 engine. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the ejector assembly nozzle, which could lead to an IFSD of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter.
Civil Air Patrol – the U.S. Air Force auxiliary and the largest single operator of Cessna piston aircraft – is adjusting its annual aircraft buy to acquire 11 Turbo 206 aircraft after the airframer stopped producing avgas-fueled 182T Skylanes.
