The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is partnering with the World Food Program (WFP) to launch a new “Fly and Feed” program. While details are still being hashed out, MEBAA will create a program to enable operator and passenger contributions to WFP, an organization that operates under the auspices of the United Nations. The program will be rolled out to MEBAA’s membership later this year.
BELL 204B and certain Model 205A-1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0379; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-17580; AD 2013-18-07] – supersedes AD 76-12-07 for affected helicopters with a certain tail rotor pitch control chain installed. AD 76-12-07 required visually inspecting the chain to detect a crack in the link segments and, for affected Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control system with a push-pull control system.
CRAIG ZIRZOW joined CTP Aviation as vice president of sales and marketing. He has more than a decade of sales, marketing and charter development experience, including serving as vice president of business development for Solairus.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new facility at its Belfast location that will be dedicated to wing manufacturing and assembly. Bombardier had already expanded its Northern Ireland site with the hiring of nearly 1,000 employees over the past two years, and expects to add at least 250 more over the next year at the new wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The 600,000-sq.-ft. site is making wings for the CSeries. The opening follows the recent ground-breaking of Bombardier’s planned 150,000-sq.-ft. facility at the Midparc Casablanca Green Zone in Morocco.
Airports preservation, FAA costs and the third-class medical exemption are three of the top priorities that new Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Mark Baker emphasized during his first major keynote address before association members. Baker, who last week addressed the AOPA Aviation Summit in Fort Worth, notes “airports shouldn’t look like prison camps. We respect the need for security, but airports can only thrive when people can use them.” He questioned why airports couldn’t have picnic tables, shelters, grills, viewing areas and playgrounds.
Bell Helicopter signed an agreement with its independent representative, Reignwood Investment, covering the purchase of 10 Bell 407s and two Bell 429 helicopters. Along with the purchase agreement, Bell and Reignwood signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore future business opportunities in China. The MOU lays the groundwork for collaboration in areas such as sales and marketing, service and support, training reassembly, completions and customizing.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-AD; Amendment 39-17541; AD 2013-16-03] – requires inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes, and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This AD is prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may lead to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could cause a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control of the helicopter.
AGUSTA Model A109E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0146; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-060-AD; Amendment 39-17559; AD 2013-16-21] – supersedes an AD that required reducing the tail rotor (T/R) blade life limit, modifying a T/R hub and grip assembly, reidentifying two T/R assemblies, clarifying the never-exceed speed (Vne) limitation, and reducing the inspection interval. Since FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer has redesigned a T/R grip bushing that reduces the loads, which caused the T/R cracking, on the T/R blades.
Business aviation in North Africa is growing at a rate nearly double the global average, but activity is down this year, according to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). MEBAA points to WingX data that shows the number of registered business aircraft is increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%, compared with the global average of 3.7%.
SELWYN HOUSE was promoted to president and CEO of CTP Aviation. House succeeds Reid Dennis in the role. He has worked with the firm for more than a decade and formerly was director of operations.
JASON ZELENAK was promoted to sales manager for Aviation Search Group, an executive, direct-placement search firm dedicated to the aviation and aerospace industries. Zelenak will continue to be responsible for customer support, as well as identifying new business opportunities. He joined the company in January 2012 and most recently was a senior search coordinator, recruiting professionals for senior positions with a cargo charter operator, helicopter operator, engine and parts manufacturer and repair station, among others.
Avionics and head-up guidance system provider Rockwell Collins is developing a passive, uncooled multi-spectral vision aid that will see “first light” by early November, marking a key benchmark in the company’s bid to become an end-to-end enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) provider .
GA 8 AIRVAN (Pty) Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0823; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-027-AD; Amendment 39-17594; AD 2013-19-12] – requires modifying the fuel system for ventilation and drainage. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the Civil Aviation Authority for Australia, which found that the fuel system integral sump tank does not meet U.S. FAA regulations.
Mooney Aircraft is slated to become the next general aviation manufacturer to be acquired by Chinese interests, according to Chinese news sources. According to Xinhua, real-estate developer Meijing Group has received U.S. clearance to acquire the Kerrville, Texas manufacturer. The deal is slated to close in November. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Wheels Up, the recently launched membership-based charter and broker company, and SilverStone Group, an insurance and risk management company, have joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation. The foundation membership has grown to nearly 110 members.
Flying Colours has broken ground on an expansion of its facilities in Peterborough, Ontario. The project will enable Flying Colours to increase its large-cabin completion and maintenance capabilities.
GREG KINSELLA , president and CEO of Key Air, has joined the Board of Governors for the Air Charter Safety Foundation. The board establishes the foundation’s strategic goals, policies and programs designed to improve air charter safety. Kinsella brings a background in flight operations and safety management systems to the board, along with expertise in manufacturing, maintenance and aviation law.
While most of the focus on the Oct. 4 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) emissions agreement has centered on market-based measures (MBM), business aviation advocates are pointing to other aspects of the resolution – such as technological improvements – as playing an equally important role in reducing global emissions.
Rockwell Collins opened a new customer support center that will be staffed seven days a week throughout the year to provide a single point of contact for its commercial aviation customers
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0399; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-064-AD; Amendment 39-17574; AD 2013-18-01] – requires inspecting the collective pitch lever for correct locking and unlocking conditions. This AD was prompted by two separate reports of inadvertent collective pitch lever locking and unlocking. The actions of this AD are intended to detect an incorrectly adjusted collective pitch lever, which could result in loss of control of the helicopter.
REID DENNIS has taken the role of chairman of CTP Aviation, the charter and management firm he founded in 2000. Dennis, who has been a pilot for 50 years and amassed 9,000 hr., is transitioning from the president and CEO role, saying the move positions the company for its next phase of growth.
Redbird Skyport’s fuel-price sensitivity experiment has drawn such an overwhelming response that the San Marcos, Texas-based fixed-base operator is ending its $1-per-gal. offer on Oct. 15 instead of the end of the month as originally planned, saying it simply can’t keep up with demand.
A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, reportedly operating with Shine Aviation, was involved in an accident during takeoff from an airstrip in the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania on Saturday.
The FAA, sticking to the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) plan laid out to cope with a prolonged partial government closure, has called in more than 800 Office of Aviation Safety employees responsible for both field inspections and certification of “critical” products.
