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.
JayJet Private Aircraft Charter recently launched in Swanton, Ohio, to provide charter broker and consulting services for individuals and flight departments. JayJet was founded by Jay Treat II, who spent nearly 20 years in multiple roles with FlightSafety International, including director of standards. Treat has also served as a Part 135 pilot and is currently an accredited IS-BAO auditor.
The Manassas Regional Airport Commission is considering a series of changes to rules and regulation of the Manassas, Va.-based airport, including new nighttime restrictions on engine run-ups. The commission currently asks operators to avoid engine run-ups between 10 p.m.-6 a.m., but says if they are necessary they should be limited to designated run-up pads with the aircraft oriented to channel the noise to the north, which faces a business park. The new regulations ban the run-ups outright.
CONRAD VANDERSLUIS was promoted to sales development director for AJW Group. Vandersluis will help AJW expand globally. He has more than 25 years of aviation experience, including with Flightspares and the BBA Group. He joined AJW in 2004 as commercial and contracts manager.
The designer of the distinctive Edgley EA-7 Optica is looking for new investment to restart production of the lightweight observation aircraft. John Edgley, who designed the EA-7 in the 1970s, believes there is now a wider market for observation aircraft for security and utility operations. He claims that the Optica, with its unique, helicopter-like visibility around the cabin, could find a niche in operations for which helicopters would be too expensive.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0938; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-057-AD] – proposes to require repetitively inspecting frame number (No.) 9 for a crack. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a crack in frame No. 9 on an AS365 helicopter. The proposed actions are intended to detect a crack and prevent loss of structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates the proposal would affect 37 helicopters on the U.S.
AGUSTA Model AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0529; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-050-AD; Amendment 39-17648; AD 2013-22-16] – requires replacing certain solder splices in the co-pilot audio system. This AD was prompted by the discovery of improper installation of solder splices on the co-pilot audio system causing intermittent noise through the audio system during flight.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), which formally launched its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) in the Great Lakes region in August 2012, is working to expand the program next in the Western Pacific, New England and Eastern regions, ACSF President Bryan Burns says. The program is one of a couple of cornerstone programs that the organization has been developing as it continues to expand its membership and reach new categories of members.
President Obama on Nov. 27 signed into law the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, setting a definitive timeline for FAA to complete a sweeping rewrite of Part 23 certification regulations with the goal of doubling safety while cutting certification costs in half. Industry leaders lauded the signing, calling the December 2015 deadline for new Part 23 rules necessary to ensure that the effort stays on track on a global scale.
Landmark Aviation, known as one of the largest chains of fixed-base operations, has been working to raise the visibility and build up two of its other core businesses – Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Aircraft Management and Charter – as the company continues on the acquisition trail. Landmark President and CEO Dan Bucaro notes that Landmark “clearly has a different model than most in that we fill all three spaces.” But he adds that those spaces – FBO, MRO, and management/charter – “fit well together” to serve the customer base.
