As the civil helicopter industry everywhere continues to expand and support economic growth, inconsistent safety methods and programs remain a stumbling block in many nations. Too often, growth in helicopter operations also means an increase in accidents.
Bombardier Aerospace has announced that Learjet has obtained the first flight test permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Learjet 85 aircraft Flight Test Vehicle 1 (FTV1). In addition, engine run testing and low-speed taxi testing have been successfully completed on the flight test vehicle.
Business jet deliveries, which will be formally detailed this week by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, were tracking down by low single digits (1-2%) in 2013 from 2012 levels, according to preliminary Aviation Week data. This does not come as a surprise; industry leaders expected a soft year given the fact that several aircraft programs were pushed back in 2013. But with recent certifications and additional certifications anticipated this year, most of the business jet manufacturers are forecasting improved deliveries in 2014.
TRACY BIEGLER was promoted to president and CEO of Enstrom Helicopter Corp., succeeding Jerry Mullins, who retired. Biegler has 26 years of aviation industry experience, 10 of which have been at Enstrom. He most recently was vice president of the company.
Bell Helicopter – which has a regional service center in Singapore that also does maintenance and reassembly of helicopters – is looking to expand its technical capability there by doing more complex customization work. C. M. Hwang, Bell Helicopter managing director of commercial sales for Asia Pacific, says the facility in Singapore already has the capability to do some customization, but he describes this as minor work, in which the team in Singapore works from kits sent from the factory in the U.S.
JAMES WALKER has joined Rockwell Collins as vice president and managing director of Asia Pacific. Walker brings more than 25 years of aerospace and defense industry experience to Rockwell Collins, including 15 years with the Royal Australian Air Force, where he was commanding officer joint communications and deputy director, space intelligence and communications. He also spent 10 years with Boeing Company in Australia and most recently was CEO of AutoCRC Ltd.
Cessna was awarded a contract to deliver three Citation CJ4 business jets to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) through its special mission affiliate Kanematsu Corporation of Japan. The deliveries will mark the first of the model to Japan. The aircraft will be equipped with flight inspection systems for use to confirm the accuracy of air navigation capabilities, air routes, and air traffic control facilities.
Flying Colours was approved as a China Civil Aviation Regulations 145 Maintenance Organization under China Civil Aviation regulations, clearing it to work on Chinese-registered aircraft in Canada. Flying Colours has completed 15 Bombardier Challenger 850s for Chinese customers since August 2008, and has been contracted to outfit and finish seven Bombardier CRJ700s with VIP+ airline interiors for another customer there.
AIR TRACTOR Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. AD 2010-17-18 R1 [Docket No. FAA-2014-0077; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-021-AD] – proposes to supersede AD 2010-17-18 R1, which currently requires repetitively inspecting (using the eddy current method) the two outboard fastener holes in both of the wing main spar lower caps at the center splice joint for cracks; repairing or replacing any cracked spar; changing the safe life for certain serial number ranges; and sending the inspection results, only if cracks are found, to the FAA.
The Cessna Citation fleet surpassed the 30 million flight-hour mark, a milestone that 6,600 Citations have collectively reached some 42 years after the first Citation entered service. Cessna notes that more Citations have been sold than any other business jet family. The original Citation aircraft flew for the first time in 1969 and entered service in 1972. The most recent Citations to join the fleet were the M2 and new Sovereign+, both of which reached the market in December. Next to come will be the new Citation X.
Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) are continuing their push for answers to why law enforcement, at the direction of Customs and Border Protection, has been detaining and searching general aviation aircraft flying within the U.S. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which had received more than 40 reports of such stops, turned to Congress for help on the issue after it received no response from government officials on why they were occurring.
Bombardier executives report that the first flight of the company’s all-new Learjet 85 is “very close,” but the manufacturer does not plan to determine a certification and delivery schedule until the aircraft has flown for a few months. While the company makes final preparations for the first flight, it continues to progress toward certification this year of the Challenger 350 and final designs for its top-of-the-line Global 7000 and 8000 programs.
Quest Aircraft Company appointed Quest Aircraft Do Brasil in Sao Jose dos Campos as its Kodiak dealer for Brazil. Quest delivered its first Brazilian-bound Kodiak to the dealer this month. The Kodiak will be used as a demonstrator. Quest obtained Brazilian certification for the aircraft in 2012. The aircraft is certified in 16 countries, and Quest says several other approvals are imminent. Quest sees substantial market potential for its single-turboprop utility aircraft in Latin America.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s (R-N.J.) bill to require FAA to conduct a formal rulemaking process before imposing sleep apnea testing requirements is heading to the Senate for consideration after the House passed the measure, H.R. 3578, by voice vote on Feb. 11. LoBiondo, who chairs the House aviation subcommittee, introduced the bill in November after FAA Federal Air Surgeon Frederick Tilton outlined plans to require pilots and air traffic controllers with a body mass index (BMI) to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Bombardier, which missed its targets for business jet deliveries in 2013 with the delays in the Learjet 70/75 program, is expecting those shipments to increase by more than 10% in 2014. Bombardier is forecasting that it will deliver 200 business jets in 2014, up from 180 in 2013.
Yasava will unveil in May the prototype of what it says is the first fully electric seat for business aircraft that is not adapted from a mechanical seat. The Swiss-based interiors design firm created the clean-sheet-design aïana seat, which includes wireless remote control and swivel and recline functionality. When in the full flatbed option, the bed measures 6.5 ft. (2 meters). The cocoon shape with surrounding shell also enables internal mood lighting.
BELL Model 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2014-0070; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-062-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the aft fuselage upper skin for a crack and the upper left longeron assembly for a crack, corrosion, or defect. This AD would require replacing or repairing a part or section, depending on the inspection’s outcome. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracks in the upper left-hand longeron.
AgustaWestland’s AW189 and the Airbus EC175 super-medium have been certified within days of each other. The 7.5-metric ton EC175 was the first to get EASA’s nod, receiving its certification two days after the company announced at its annual press conference on Jan. 28 that it completed the certification process. EASA awarded the documentation to the EC175 on Jan. 30.
BBA Aviation’s Asia-Pacific arm has been pursuing a strategic development plan to tap into what the company sees as strong growth potential in the region. One of its best known companies, Signature Flight Support (SFS), which has FBOs at 110 locations worldwide that are focused on regions with high business jet populations, has now opened a facility at Changi International Airport.
Embraer Executive Jets signed an agreement with Hawker Pacific for maintenance and support of Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region. Hawker Pacific joins a network of 21 repair stations authorized to work on the Embraer 500. Embraer has been building up its network in anticipation of the Legacy 500’s entry into service in the first half of this year, followed by the 450 a year later. Hawker Pacific has supported Embraer aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region since 2007.
Feb. 24-27, 2014—Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, Anaheim, Calif., www.rotor.org/Events/HELIEXPO2014.aspx Mar. 3, 2014—SpeedNews 28th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Beverly Hills, Calif., speednews.com/all/conference Mar. 4-5, 2014—Air Charter Safety Foundation’s 2014 Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, Va., www.acsf.aero Mar. 4-5, 2014—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Washington, D.C., www.aviationweek.com/events
COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNAM P2006T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0888; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-024-AD; Amendment 39-17735; AD 2014-02-07] – requires, for affected airplanes equipped with NLG lower link assembly P/N 26-8-1417-000, a one-time inspection of the NLG lower link and, depending on findings, accomplishment of the applicable corrective action. This AD also requires installation of the improved NLG lower link assembly P/N 26-8-8000-000.
