Spirit AeroSystems is “deep” into the process of selling its Tulsa, Okla. production facility, a move that should mean significant bottom-line improvement as the supplier shifts focus to growing airliner programs and tackles issues uncovered in a sweeping strategic review, say analysts at Canaccord Genuity.
Business aviation groups are encouraging the Department of Transportation to establish a registry for air charter brokers as part of a larger regulation to improve air charter consumer protections.
FAA is advising operators of various Hawker 750s, 800s, 900s and 1000s to check the aircraft aileron and aileron tab assemblies for potential problems that could cause oscillations at high altitudes. The agency issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in late November encouraging the checks, saying it had received reports of wing/aileron oscillations from operators of Hawker 800XP and 850XP airplanes at altitudes above 33,000 ft. and at speeds of more than 0.73 Mach.
Turbomeca and China’s Avic Engine have completed the first test bench runs of the new Ardiden 3C turboshaft that is destined for use on the Chinese version of the Eurocopter EC175. The tests, completed at Turbomeca’s Bordes facility in France, confirmed what the company called “good aeromechanical behavior and performance,” and allow the manufacturer to proceed to the test and certification phase of the engine’s development program. The trial is a major milestone in the development of the Ardiden 3C, which will be called the WZ16 by Avic.
NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association CFS: Communicating For Safety National Aviation Leaders Come Together Join Aviation leaders at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, March 24-26, 2014 for Communicating for Safety. Hosted annually by the national Air Traffic Controllers Association, this three-day conference focuses on safety, technology and building industry relationships.
Dec. 9-11—2013 ACI-NA/ACC Airport Planning & NEPA Workshop, Washington, D.C., www.aci-na.org/event/1039 Dec. 9-13—ICAO Air Services Negotiation Conference, Durbana International Convention Center, and Arena, Durban, South Africa , http://www.icao.int/Meetings/ICAN2013/Pages/default.aspx Jan. 14-17, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, New Orleans, La., www.nbaa.org Jan. 21-22, 2014—MRO Latin America, Windsor Atlantica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, www.aviationweek.com/events
RAYMOND JONES was named senior vice president, sales, marketing and asset management for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Jones was previously vice president, worldwide strategic accounts for Bombardier Business Aircraft. He has spent the past 10 years in business jet sales for Bombardier, also holding the titles of regional vice president for Europe and vice president of international sales.
ALAIN CHAMPONNOIS was appointed vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia. In his new role, Champonnois will oversee fixed-base operations and line maintenance operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, Saudi Arabia, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Hardy Butschi, who was recently named vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai. Champonnois has 20 years of industry experience, most recently serving as vice president of sales and business development for Skyservice Business Aviation.
Shell has become the latest company, and the first of the major oil companies, to declare it has developed an unleaded replacement for aviation gasoline. The launch of the formula follows a 10-year research and development program that included testing of Lycoming engines and a recent test flight of a Piper Saratoga. Shell must still undergo a testing program to obtain regulatory approvals from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency, along with ASTM specification for the fuel.
BELL Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, and 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0481; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-003-AD; Amendment 39-17653; AD 2013-22-21] – requires, for helicopters with Apical emergency float kit installed, inspecting, labeling, and replacing the float inflation hoses. This AD was prompted by an incident in which the floats installed on a helicopter failed to deploy. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the emergency flotation gear to deploy during an emergency event.
Cessna Aircraft received approval from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil for its new TTx single-piston aircraft. Cessna began shipping the aircraft to customers in Brazil last month. Brazilian approval follows U.S. FAA type certification in June, which marked the return of a new, improved version of the original Corvalis after a more than two-year hiatus. The newly improved TTx incorporates a touchscreen Garmin G2000 Intrinzic flight deck. It is also offered with an optional flight into known icing system.
Directional Aviation Capital completed its acquisition of Dallas-based fractional ownership provider Flexjet from Bombardier for about $195 million and an agreement to buy up to $5.6 billion in Bombardier business jets. The deal closed a little less than three months after the companies announced plans for Bombardier to sell its homegrown fractional ownership business.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0967; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-042-AD] – proposes to supersede an AD requiring repetitive functional tests of the nose landing gear (NLG) steering manifold, and if a discrepancy in movement is found, replacement of the NLG steering manifold. This AD retains the requirements, but requires improved procedures for the functional tests. This AD also introduces an optional modification, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive functional checks required by this AD.
Rockwell Collins is rolling out a series of upgrades to its Pro Line Fusion avionics suite to improve cockpit capabilities and prepare the systems for the latest Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programs.
The America Association of Airport Executives, under the leadership of new President and CEO Todd Hauptli, has unveiled a new executive management team, comprising a core of veteran AAAE executives. Spencer Dickerson, who has been with the association for 33 years, is senior executive vice president, global operations and secretary to the board of directors. He will also continue to lead the U.S. Contract Tower Association and International Association of Airport Executive programs.
DASSAULT Model Fan Jet Falcon; Model Mystere-Falcon 200 airplanes; and Model Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0626; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-180-AD; Amendment 39-17642; AD 2013-22-10] – requires checking manufacturing references of pyrotechnical cartridges for batch number and date, repetitive checking of cartridges for electrical continuity, and replacing defective pyrotechnical cartridges, if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of defective fire extinguisher bottle cartridges.
DON MILUM was named avionics sales director for Hawker Beechcraft Services. Milum will oversee global avionics sales efforts within the company’s network of factory owned service centers. A 25-year industry veteran, he spent 21 years with Honeywell, most recently as a senior sales manager. He has also served with Midcoast Aviation and Atlantic Aviation.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2D turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0940; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-26-AD; Amendment 39-17654; AD 2013-22-22] – supersedes an existing AD that required replacing the hydromechanical metering unit (HMU) at a reduced life. This AD maintains that requirement and also requires conducting inspections of the HMU. This AD was prompted by further cases of deterioration of HMU rotating components. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown of the engine and possible loss of the helicopter.
Eric Byer, who spent more than 14 years with the National Air Transportation Association, was named president and COO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, effective Jan. 1. Byer most recently has served with Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, PLC. There he led association programs for the firm’s largest clients, including holding the role of senior vice president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
Signature Flight Support, continuing on an ambitious capital expenditure program for new and upgraded facilities, is opening a new private aviation terminal at its Newark Liberty International Airport location in New Jersey. The company has scheduled a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dec. 13.
Spirit AeroSystems is “deep” into the process of selling its Tulsa production facility, a move that should mean significant bottom-line improvement as the supplier shifts focus to growing airliner programs and tackles issues uncovered in a sweeping strategic review, say analysts at Canaccord Genuity.
