BELL Model 206B and 206L helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0488; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-002-AD; Amendment 39-17619; AD 2013-20-13] – requires installing a placard beneath the engine power dual tachometer and revising the operating limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by several incidents of third-stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-state operations.
Boeing will fly a demonstrator of its P-8 Poseidon-based Maritime Surveillance capability in a Bombardier Challenger next year. Partner Field Aviation has begun modifying the business jet to carry a Selex 7000-series radar, mission system, electronic support measures (ESM) system as well as an electro-optical camera, which will turn the aircraft into Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft offering.
As defense manufacturers become accustomed to the prospect of lower Pentagon budgets, there is growing concern over the health of the supply chain, particularly the lower tiers and specifically small companies that may be the sole source of critical parts or a unique technology.
For investors like Chen who want to try their hand at airplane-making, two more possibilities recently surfaced. First, Aerostar Aircraft Corp. is working to make good on the late designer Ted Smith's vision, by developing a turbofan-powered version of his Aerostar. A pressurized model, with PW615s below each wing, has been flying since July 25, when it lifted off the runway at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Airport, Aerostar's home field.
The other day I participated in a great general aviation tradition by lofting into brilliant blue skies with a pal in his Mooney Bravo and galloping eastward in a 220-kt. pursuit of a $100 hamburger. Well, to be squeakily factual, when figuring $6/gal. avgas at 20 gph, engine and maintenance reserve (his budget), and considering our pain d'Avignon spread actually comprised a croque madame, battered chicken, limonata, coffee and two chocolatey desserts (my treat), it was more like a $500 excursion. Fun, but pricey. A serious, industry-wide problem of long standing.
Additive manufacturing has captured industry’s imagination, but even as the first parts appear inside jet engines, the technology’s possibilities are only just being realized. As researchers experiment with new materials and optimized designs made possible by 3-D printing, the potential scale of the revolution in manufacturing is becoming clearer.
The FAA is proposing a policy that would require pilots and controllers with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before obtaining a medical certificate. In a recent FAA Federal Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin, Federal Air Surgeon Fred Tilton says the agency is planning to soon release a policy that would require aviation medical examiners to calculate the BMI for airman and air traffic control specialist applicants.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0486; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-031-AD; Amendment 39-17622; AD 2013-20-16] – requires, for affected helicopters with certain main rotor blade (MRB) retention bolts installed, a daily check of the position of each bolt, a daily check and a repetitive inspection for a gap in each bolt, and, if necessary, removing and inspecting the bolt for a crack and replacing any cracked bolt with an airworthy bolt. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of in-service bolt failures.
GE Aviation has joined the UK National Composites Centre (NCC) as a Tier 1 member, positioning GE’s Aerostructures and Dowty Propeller units to take an instrumental role in researching and developing new technologies for the design and manufacture of composite products. Based in Bristol, the NCC is the U.K. center of excellence for composite materials and manufacturing development, working with industry and academia.
Berkshire Hathaway is crediting increased share sales by its fractional ownership business NetJets for helping improve overall company revenue. NetJets is part of Berkshire Hathaway’s “other services” group, which also includes FlightSafety International, Dairy Queen, Business Wire, TTI and a range of other media outlets.
Signature Flight Support, already the largest and fastest-growing fixed-base operation chain worldwide, is set to further its penetration in the Caribbean, winning a request for proposals for a new FBO at Port of Spain, Trinidad. The RFP, for a facility at Piarco International Airport, is the second RFP that Signature has won this year; Signature earlier captured a bid to build a $70 million facility at San Jose International Airport.
FAA, which has increasingly worked toward a risk-management based approach to safety over the past decade, is moving to incorporate it with private pilots with the overhaul of knowledge testing standards. The agency in the coming weeks is expected to publish and seek comment on a comprehensive report released this month that provides detailed recommendations and draft documents to establish knowledge testing standards for private, commercial and instructor certificates.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 variants) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0332; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-009-AD; Amendment 39-17637; AD 2013-22-05] – requires, for certain airplanes, inspecting for drain bottles having certain part numbers, and replacing affected drain bottles. This AD requires, for certain other airplanes, replacing drain bottles. This AD was prompted by reports of airspeed mismatch between the pilot and co-pilot’s airspeed indicators, which occurred during or after heavy rain.
The Turkish National Police have begun operations with the first seven of 15 Bell 429 helicopters ordered in early 2012. The force signed the contract following a competitive tender in March 2012, making it the largest single operator of the new Bell light twin helicopter so far. The Model 429s will replace a fleet of single-engine MD 600 helicopters, which have been operated by the organization since the early 1990s. The first seven helicopters were accepted in September and October, and operations began “as soon as they were delivered,” Bell says.
Piaggio investors Tata Group and Mubadala Development Company have increased their shares in the Italian airframer, a move that will hike the equity in the company by €190 million ($256 million) and narrow the Ferrari stake to just 2%. The investment provides capital to further development of the P.1HH HammerHead and the MPA Multirole Patrol Aircraft.
Los Angeles-based TWC Aviation and Oxford, Conn.-based Key Air each added aircraft to their respective charter and management fleets. TWC added a fourth Bombardier Global Express. The 6,000-nm Global Express becomes one of 20 large cabin jets available for charter from TWC Aviation. Meanwhile, a Dassault Falcon 900C joined the Key Air fleet. The Falcon is based in Virginia, helping to expand Key Air’s newest market, Washington, D.C., and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Astronics Corporation’s Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System was selected as standard equipment aboard the Simplex Aerospace SkyCannon and Fire Attack systems. The SkyCannon is a helicopter-mounted system for firefighters. The Max-Viz system will enable operators of Simplex firefighting equipment to see through smoke while fighting high-rise fires. The Fire Attack system supports data acquisition of door operation, hover pump activation and foam pump activation, all correlated with aircraft GPS position.
Aviation Search Group, an executive recruiting firm for the aerospace and aviation industries, formed a new recruiting department dedicated to business aviation clientele. Grayson Barrows, director sales, says that hiring demand in the business aviation segment has grown significantly recently. Aviation Search Group works with manufacturers, airlines, service providers, business and general aviation businesses and airports.
JULIO RAMIREZ was appointed general manager of AeroMaritime America’s Mesa, Ariz., facility, which specializes in Rolls-Royce M250 series engines. Ramirez has served with AeroMaritime parent ITP Group for more than 15 years, including three years as general manager of AeroMaritime’s facility in Queretaro, Mexico.
The House on Nov. 14 gave final clearance to a bill designed to boost the general aviation industry. House approval, by unanimous consent, followed Senate approval of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, H.R.1848, last month. The bill, which calls on FAA to adopt new Part 23 certification standards by the end of 2015, next heads for President Barack Obama’s signature.
