It turns out that Christina Macfarland and I share a favorite place. By way of background, she is the great-great granddaughter of Henry Flagler, a founder of Standard Oil, and the man who created modern Florida by building The Breakers and other resorts, along with the railroad to bring yesteryear's snowbirds south.
Greenpoint Technologies, Kirkland, Wash., announced that Chairman Jon Buccola was named Executive of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance, a non-profit organization geared toward growth and success of the aviation industry in the region.
Embraer, Sao Paulo, Brazil, appointed Peter Griffith vice president, sales and marketing for Europe and Africa, for the company's Executive Jets unit. Griffith has had sales positions with Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna and Honda, among others. Peter Walker was named vice president sales and marketing for the Middle East and Asia Pacific. He has served as a chief pilot and has had sales roles for Hawker Beechcraft and Nextant.
P180 Avanti and Avanti II aircraft are the flying Ferraris in a turboprop world awash in airborne Fiats and Fords. They soar as high as FL 410, fly as fast as 400 KTAS and sip jet fuel. Their cabins provide midsize jet passenger comfort and interior sound levels are as low as some older light jets. They can fly six passengers 1,300 nm in less than four hours and consume less fuel than any other pressurized, twin-turbine aircraft.
Business jet operations last year topped 4 million, an activity level not seen since 2008, according to preliminary FAA data. The 4.072 million operations recorded in 2013, represented a 2.26% increase over 2012. Since the data is preliminary, this is likely to increase slightly once FAA finalizes December operations. Business jet operations peaked at 4.825 million in 2007 before falling 11% in 2008 to 4.291 million. Operations plunged almost 20% the following year to a decade-low 3.449 million. They have been on the rise every year since, but recovery has been slow.
MyTurbine is a mobile app from Dallas Airmotive designed to easily connect customers anywhere in the world with information about engines being serviced, AOG support and much more. Convenient icons allow for quick navigation to the services most used by customers such as the company's First Support global customers. Users can check cost estimates and completions dates on engines in process, find service locations and contact sales reps among others features.
Correction: Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., hired Kevin Brink and Scott Clarey as sales directors for North America. Kevin Dutton's name was misspelled under his photo in the February “On Duty” section.
It turns out 2013 was even harder for Sabreliner Corporation, which lost half of its business as a result of military budget cutting and defaulted on its bank loan. That, in turn, led to its sale to a Sabreliner Services LLC, which was reportedly formed recently by Innovative Capital Holdings LLC, a Florida investment firm. An investment group that included company Chairman F. Holmes Lamoreux previously had owned the company. As a result of the sale, Lamoreux is exiting, along with President Susan Aselage.
Dassault Falcon Jet, Teterboro, N.J., named Kristen Krueger sales manager for the Pacific Northwest. She has 13 years of industry experience, including as a regional ice president for sales at Netjets. Rhett Reavis is the new sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic and eastern Canada. He was formerly a regional sales manager for FlightSafety International.
Commercial helicopter operators will purchase between 4,800 and 5,500 helicopters during 2014-2018, according to a survey and market forecast by Honeywell.
Cessna hit another key milestone in its busy development schedule with the first flight of its new Citation Latitude midsize business jet. The aircraft, which was recently rolled out quietly before employees, flew a little more than three years after Cessna unveiled its first all-new Latitude during the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention, keeping it on schedule for a 2015 certification.
Bombardier Aerospace received the first flight test permit from FAA for its Learjet 85 aircraft Flight Test Vehicle, clearing the way for the manufacturer to begin the long-awaited flight test program. The company is finalizing configuration of the aircraft and conducting further engine runs and high-speed taxi tests in preparation for the first flight, now expected within the next couple of weeks. The company reported earlier this month that the airplane had completed initial auxiliary power unit and engine runs, along with low-speed taxiing tests.
GROB-WERKE Models G115EG and G120A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0092; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-002-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections of both elevator flanges on an airplane to detect any crack, and, depending on findings, replacement of the affected part. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites reports of cracks found in the left hand elevator flange. FAA estimates that this AD will affect six aircraft on the U.S.
JASON MILLER has joined Sierra Industries as president. Miller will lead the company’s growing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul organization. Miller formerly served with StandardAero as vice president/general manager of StandardAero’s Houston business unit. He also served as finance manager for StandardAero. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he led and flew more than 70 air combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning six Air Medals. He retired with the rank of major.
In a move designed to stem a spike in helicopter accidents that occurred over the past couple of decades, FAA on Feb. 20 released a comprehensive final rule that imposes a series of equipment, training and operational requirements on helicopters flown in Part 135 generally and in air ambulance missions specifically.
Landmark Aviation added a significant anchor in the Northwest with its acquisition of Galvin Flying Services, one of the oldest fixed-base operations in the region.
BELL Model 204B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD; Amendment 39-17748; AD 2014-03-11] – requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body. This AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in the body cavity. These actions are intended to prevent disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Duncan Aviation was recently named an authorized service center for Bombardier Learjet 70 and 75 aircraft. The agreement expands Duncan’s existing authorized service center status with Bombardier. With the latest authorization, Duncan Aviation’s full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Mich., Lincoln, Neb., and Provo, Utah, are authorized centers for the Learjet 40, 45, 60, 70 and 75.
Quest Aircraft received FAA approval for a 565-lb. increase in the Kodiak’s maximum landing weight to 7,255 lb. – the same as the single-turboprop aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight. The increase is standard on new Kodiaks and available as an option to existing Kodiaks, the company says. The company has issued a service notice on the increase, saying no structural upgrade is required.
TREG MANNING was named vice president of sales and marketing for Airbus Helicopters. In this role, Manning is responsible for U.S. sales and marketing efforts for both the commercial and military markets, including sales of aftermarket services and products. Manning, who has been vice president of commercial sales since 2011, has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0054; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-001-AD; Amendment 39-17754; AD 2014-03-17] – requires repetitive inspections for fractured or incorrectly oriented fasteners on the inboard flap hinge-box forward fittings on both wings, and fastener replacement if necessary. This AD was prompted by two reports of fractured fastener heads found on the inboard flap hinge-box forward fitting.
