HondaJet received type inspection authorization (TIA) for its HondaJet, clearing the way for FAA to begin certification flight tests. The TIA award follows the certification of the GE Honda HF120 turbofan powering the new light jet. Honda President and CEO Michimasa Fujino calls the TIA a “significant step toward type certification … We are now ready to begin the final stage of certification flight testing.” Honda expects certification for the HondaJet in 2014.
FAA is holding off on its plan to require pilots and controllers with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more to undergo obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening, a move widely welcomed by aviation industry groups last week.
Avic has launched full-scale development of its MA700 78-seat turboprop airliner, aiming at a first flight in 2016 and first delivery in 2019. New details show the MA700’s cabin width has shrunk during pre-development. Adoption of a narrower fuselage and shorter wingspan than previously planned partly explain a reduction in what already looked like an aggressive weight target. Avic will choose an engine supplier within a few months, MA700 designer Dong Jianhong tells Aviation Week. Bids were due in June.
Industry leaders remain hopeful that the long overdue repair station security rule will finally shake free from its White House review in the next few weeks, but they are still calling on newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to make sure that happens.
Business aviation's most unique aircraft, both Italian, are progressing despite setbacks worthy of operatic treatment. After years of togetherness, the Bell/Agusta 609 was in 2011 spurned by its U.S. partner, whose commitment seemed to range from indifferent to obstreperous, casting further doubt on the long-delayed civil tiltrotor's future. In case you've lost track, the BA609 project began in the late 1990s with deliveries to begin in 2002. Needless to say, that deadline was missed, as has almost every one since.
Industry trade groups are urging the FAA to put the brakes on a well-intended guidance-streamlining effort that would result in mass cancellation of official agency interpretations that are not housed in one of three online repositories. The FAA’s move, outlined in a Dec. 3 memorandum from Flight Standards Service (FSS) Director John Duncan to all FSS employees, would cancel any guidance not found in the Flight Standards Information System, the Regulatory and Guidance Library, “or elsewhere on www.faa.gov,” effective January 14, 2014.
Global demand for agricultural aircraft is boosting sales, with Embraer forecasting an increase in Ipanema deliveries this year as it hands over its 1,300th aircraft to Rio Verde, Brazil-based Fort Aviacao Agricola. The Brazilian manufacturer expects to deliver 70 Ipanemas this year, up from 66 in 2012 and 58 a year earlier. The single-engine aircraft has been in production for more than 40 years.
LONDON — Bond Air Services has grounded its U.K. fleet of Eurocopter EC135 twin-engine light helicopters for precautionary testing. The company, which is part of the Avincis Group, grounded 22 aircraft in the U.K., affecting air ambulance and law enforcement operations around the country. According to Bond, the tests involved work on the function and accuracy of the fuel indicator system on the helicopter. The operator said it had identified a number of aircraft with a fuel indication anomaly.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has demonstrated a complete sense-and-avoid system on its Predator B unmanned aircraft, generating test data that will help the FAA and industry develop standards for integrating UAVs into civil airspace. The test demonstrated both the short-term collision avoidance and longer-term self-separation functions required of an unmanned-aircraft sense-and-avoid architecture, the company says.
Bemidji Aviation Services, Inc. (BASI) in Bemidji, Minn., has joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation. BASI provides fixed-base operation and charter services, specializing in cargo transportation using a fleet of piston and turboprops. The Air Charter Safety Foundation has more than 100 members.
Flights into Stansted Airport in the U.K. were disrupted on the morning of Dec. 10 after a Gulfstream G550 struck and damaged the airport’s instrument landing system (ILS) while landing in low visibility. The aircraft struck an ILS mast aerial on runway 04 at 3:30 a.m. local time on Dec. 10, putting the system out of service and disrupting inbound operations throughout the morning. A Stansted Airport spokesman confirmed that the G550 landed safely and taxied to stand under its own power, but there was “some damage” to the ILS system.
Daniel Clare, who stepped in to take the reins of Jet Aviation in July 2011, is going back to Gulfstream as CFO after steering a restructuring that has returned the aviation services business to profitability. Clare, formerly CFO at Gulfstream, moved over to sister company Jet Aviation to succeed Peter Edwards amidst a management shake-up and realignment of facilities. Both Gulfstream and Jet Aviation are General Dynamics companies.
FAA and airport funding are already emerging as key issues as Congress begins initial preparations for the next FAA reauthorization bill. Airport groups are urging a $4 increase in the passenger facility charge (PFC), airlines are appealing to Congress to refrain from looking at them as a piggy bank and business aviation groups are stressing the importance of retaining current fuel taxes.
Two House General Aviation Caucus members are taking steps to ease medical certification requirements for recreational pilots, a move that comes after FAA failed to act on a nearly two-year-old petition from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) seeking relief from third-class medical certification requirements.
Textron’s low-cost, jack-of-many-trades Scorpion aircraft has made its first flight at McConnell AFB in Wichita. The company is promoting the 1.4-hr. milestone as “one of the fastest developments of a U.S.-built tactical jet.” The flight reached a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft., according to Textron. The flight included pitch, roll and yaw doublets; controllability evaluations at 20- and 30-deg. banks; evaluations of the aircraft’s sideslip characteristics; tests of single-engine operations; and evaluations of the aircraft’s controllability in its landing configuration.
Sabreliner is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the certification of the original Sabreliner business jet, the Model 40. The aircraft’s roots began as the Air Force T-39 aircraft, and incorporated many of the design standards to become the 40. Sabreliner subsequently delivered four additional models – the 60, 75, 75A/80 and 65. Production of the Sabreliners ended in 1982 after 631 were built. Of those, 232 are still in service, include 42 Sabre 40s. Sabreliner Corporation, which has facilities in Perryville and Ste.
DORNIER Model 228-212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0962; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-028-AD] – proposes to require a one-time inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) axle and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites a report of a MLG axle break during touchdown. The subsequent investigation revealed improper restoration of corrosion protection was the likely cause of the initial fatigue cracking.
Yankee Pacific Aerospace, a specialist in custom structures, components and systems to the VVIP and business aircraft markets, is being rebranded to Advent Aerospace, Inc., beginning Jan. 1. The company says the new name reflects its growing geographical reach, along with its emphasis on technology and product development.
THIELERT TAE125-01 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0561; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-17680; AD 2013-24-06] – requires applying sealant to close the engine clutch housing opening. This AD was prompted by a report of engine power loss due to engine coolant contaminating the engine clutch. The design of the engine allows the crankcase assembly opening to be susceptible to contamination from external sources. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent inflight engine power loss, which could result in loss of control of, and damage to, the airplane.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0523; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-091-AD; Amendment 39-17664; AD 2013-23-09] – requires, for helicopters with sliding doors (except those with modification AL.4262), removing from service certain part-numbered nuts and washers from the lower ball-joint bolt. This AD was prompted by a report of a sliding door detaching from the helicopter in flight.
Bell Helicopter is planning to build its SLS helicopter at a new facility in Lafayette, La. Bell CEO John Garrison jointly announced with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal plans for Bell to lease a newly built 82,300-sq.-ft., $26.3 million hangar facility at Lafayette Regional Airport. The facility, to be constructed on a 14.5-acre site, will be funded by the state of Louisiana.
Beechcraft Defense Company and FlightSafety International completed delivery of 131 T-6 aircraft training devices (ATDS) for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS). The last of the devices were delivered to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Beechcraft and FlightSafety began delivery the T-6A and T-6B training devices to U.S. Air Force bases in 2000 and then to the U.S. Navy. Beechcraft and FlightSafety also have delivered the ATDs to customers in Greece, Israel, Morocco and Iraq.
Business aviation advocates are anxiously watching European Parliament (EP) deliberations on the next iteration of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS), worried that as deliberations focus on the scope of EU-ETS, important reforms for business aircraft operators will be left behind.
