Since Olympic ski runs rarely occur in palm-treed towns, Russian President Vladimir Putin may soon be sweating the snow report for Sochi. But Rhonda Fullerton is fretting over her summer Olympics conditions now. As director of the Citation Special Olympics Airlift, she must find big-hearted jet operators to supply 175 Citations to carry athletes, coaches or sponsors to and from the games in the Princeton, N.J., area, June 14-21.
JETS, a business aviation maintenance and technical support organisation has announced it has become an authorised service centre for Dassault Aviation.
PATS Aircraft Systems has announced that it has redelivered a 737‐900ER Boeing Business Jet (BBJ3) interior completion project, the fourteenth such turn‐key interior completion performed by PATS at its facility in Georgetown, Delaware.
The FAA is allowing early adoption of its newly revised airworthiness approval tag, clearing up confusion among field offices that were prohibiting the new form’s use until the mandated retiring of the current form in early 2014. The agency earlier this year finalized changes to the 8130-3 form, which—depending on the circumstance—is required for domestic airworthiness approval, export approval or return-to-service approval of engines and aircraft parts.
House lawmakers continue to move quickly to ensure that the FAA conducts a formal rulemaking if it plans to require sleep apnea testing and treatment for pilots and controllers. The full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 4 approved a bill by voice vote calling for such a rulemaking. The bill, H.R.3578, was cleared by the committee less than two weeks after it was introduced by House aviation subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.).
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.
A group of House lawmakers sent a clear signal to FAA with a quickly introduced bill that would require the agency to conduct a formal rulemaking process if it plans to compel obese pilots to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before receiving a medical certificate.
SIKORSKY Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17647; AD 2013-22-15] – requires certain inspections of each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD requires replacing the cracked part. If there is no crack, this AD requires applying white paint to the inspection area to enhance the existing inspection procedure. This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in the spindle cuffs.
EMBRAER Model EMB-505 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0936; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-033-AD; Amendment 39-17652; AD 2013-22-20] – adopts an emergency AD requiring an inspection to determine if the airplane has the affected part number (P/N) brake assembly installed and inspection for cracks of the affected brake assembly with repair or replacement as necessary. The AD stems from reports of cracks found in the stator pressure plate of the brake assembly of the affected airplane.
Air medical services specialist Air Methods is expanding its reach into the air tour business with a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and its affiliates. The acquisition will provide Air Methods with a strong presence in the Hawaii air tour market, complementing its Grand Canyon business that it acquired through the purchase of Sundance Helicopters late last year.
PILATUS Model PC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0928; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-036-AD; Amendment 39-17645; AD 2013-22-13] – requires a one-time inspection of the wiring harness and flexible duct of the condenser for chafing. If major damage is found, the damaged parts must be replaced. If minor damage is found, this AD requires the installation of a protective sleeve on the wiring harness. The AD is prompted by a report of chafing of the wiring harness attached to the engine mounting frame on the RH side of the engine compartment.
Textron, parent company of Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter, is adding two companies to its aviation training business – Montreal-based Mechtronix and Opinicus Corp. of Lutz, Fla. Textron signed an agreement to acquire both companies, which will be combined with Textron Systems training and simulation business that has been focused on the military aircraft market. Textron estimates the additional businesses combine for annual revenue in excess of $100 million.
HARDY BUTSCHI was appointed vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation’s maintenance and fixed-base operations in Dubai. Butschi, who steps into his new role in January, will oversee Jet Aviation’s operations at both Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport, as well as at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He has been responsible for the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia as vice president of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia.
Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia received approval from the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to provide on-site training to its fixed-base operation and maintenance team employees in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, as well as its commercial customers in Saudi Arabia. Jet Aviation offers courses on GACA regulations, maintenance human factor and hazmat (dangerous goods). The company also offers courses in ramp safety, aircraft ground handling and CPR/AED and first aid.
Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is adding Tip-to-Tail coverage for another relatively new aircraft, the Gulfstream G280 super midsized business jet, as the Chicago-based hourly cost maintenance program provider looks to substantially grow its entire aircraft business.
Dassault Aviation completed the first simulated flight of its new Falcon 5X, a key development milestone used to verify aircraft behavior in various flight configurations, including takeoff, cruise and landing. Philippe Deleume, Dassault Aviation’s chief test pilot, and Philippe Rebourg, test pilot, were at the controls of the Nov. 13 flight at the Falcon Simulation Bench in St. Cloud, France. The simulation tested conditions of an actual flight and included an initial run-through of the flight envelope.
Rockwell Collins received a multi-year contract from Alpha Star Aviation Services to provide its Ascend flight information capabilities and services. The Alpha Star Ascend system integrates Rockwell Collins Flight Operations System scheduling and dispatch software, flight planning, regional and international trip support, fuel pricing, Flight Watch meteorologist services, ground handling, regulatory compliance assistance, and data link communications. The services are accessible via online and or mobile devices.
Eurocopter has claimed two climb records for its twin-engine EC175 as it moves the aircraft closer to certification. Eurocopter’s two records for the EC175, which have been ratified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, are a time-to-climb to an altitude of 6,000 meters, performed in 6 min., 54 sec., and a time-to-climb to 3,000 meters, achieved in 3 min., 10 sec. The record-setting flights were performed in February of this year and are claimed by Eurocopter’s lead EC175 test pilot, Alain di Bianca.
TIMOTHY YOUNG has joined TWC Aviation as director of aircraft management sales. He has more than two decades of aviation experience, including serving as captain and aircraft manager for a number of Part 135 companies for 12 years. He has also served as a commercial airline pilot for America West and USAir Express, among others.
ANDRE COHEN was appointed non-executive director of Capital Lease Aviation. Cohen is currently CEO of the consultancy Coherent Financial. He has also served as managing director of Transportation Finance at WestLB and as finance director for TNT’s European operations. He began a commercial banking career in 1977 with Citicorp in Australia.
Air medical services specialist Air Methods is expanding its reach into the air tour business with a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and its affiliates. The acquisition will provide Air Methods with a strong presence in the Hawaii air tour market, complementing its Grand Canyon business that it acquired through the purchase of Sundance Helicopters late last year.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model BO105C (C-2 and CB-2 Variants) and BO105S (CS-2 and CBS-2 variants) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0519; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17623; AD 2013-20-17] – requires, for affected helicopters with a certain third stage turbine wheel, installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM).
Dassault Aviation, working with Honeywell, has developed a “Falcon Elite II” upgrade package for Falcon 900C and 900EX aircraft that will permit operators to comply with air traffic management mandates such as ADS-B Out, reduce crew workload and enable use of new approach procedures such as WAAS-LPV and RNP. The French airframer expects the package will be the first of a series of avionics improvements that will be offered as individual upgrades or as a package of upgrades.
