Beechcraft is approaching initial deliveries of the Hawker 400XPR-upgraded aircraft, with the first three undergoing final airframe modifications. The upgrades involve new avionics, engines and/or winglets, among other improvements of the original Hawker/Beechjet 400 aircraft. The first of the three aircraft already had a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite installed last year. That aircraft recently returned for installation of the Hawker winglets and the Williams International FJ44-4A-32 engines.
CHRIS CANNADY was named OEM sales manager for Universal Avionics. Cannady will develop and maintain sales of the company’s products to original equipment manufacturers in the U.S. Cannady has more than 24 years of industry experience, previously holding engineering, management and technical sales positions with Boeing Military Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, Bombardier Learjet and Gulfstream Aerospace.
FAA’s limited resources and cumbersome approval processes are costing small businesses thousands and hamstringing growth of the general aviation industry, general aviation business leaders tell lawmakers.
Bell Helicopter received a contract from the New York Police Department (NYPD) for four Bell 429 helicopters. The NYPD will use the helicopters for airborne law enforcement patrol over New York City and surrounding jurisdictions. The helicopters will join a fleet that also includes three Bell 412EPs. Those helicopters are used in a range of missions, including search and rescue at sea, intelligence gathering and anti-terrorism efforts. Delivery of the new 429s is expected to be completed in 2015.
Epic Aircraft has begun production of its first conforming Epic E1000 six-place single turboprop aircraft and hopes to begin certification flight trials this summer, keeping it on pace for certification by mid-2015.
DARREL DAVIES was appointed regional representative for Canada for Southeast Aerospace (SEA). Davies will help expand SEA’s services in the Canadian helicopter market. He has more than 25 years of aircraft parts distribution experience in the Canadian market, previously serving with Pacific Avionics, Van Isle Avionics, and Acro Aerospace.
KRISTEN KRUEGER was named sales manager in the Pacific Northwestern U.S. for Dassault Falcon Jet. Krueger previously served as Dassault Falcon Jet’s inside sales manager for the Western U.S. and Western Canada. She has 13 years of industry experience, including as regional vice president of fractional aircraft sales for NetJets.
FAA, which has faced substantial criticism over its lengthy certification processes, released guidance to simplify approvals for a key safety instrument for general aviation aircraft. The new streamlined procedures for angle of attack (AOA) indicators are part of a multi-faceted effort by FAA and the general aviation community to improve general aviation safety. The units, which are not required equipment on general aviation aircraft, measure the angle between the wing and oncoming air, providing a warning of low airspeed and potential for stall.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2014-0034; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-006-AD] – proposes to supersede AD 2012-10-53, which currently 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.
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.
