The Department of Transportation is considering a proposal to strengthen consumer protections for the use of charter brokers and charter transportation.
Jet Aviation Hong Kong received authorization from the Hong Kong Business Aviation Center to provide maintenance services for third-party aircraft, along with those in Jet Aviation’s aircraft management division in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong base serves as an authorized factory warranty center for Gulfstream and an authorized service center for Dassault Falcon. Jet Aviation also has a 24/7 aircraft management and charter operation in Hong Kong and 25 aircraft in its Asian Management fleet.
Oct. 8-10—Latin American & Caribbean Engineering & MRO Summit, Bogota, Columbia, www.alta.aero/2010/ Oct. 10-12—2013 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Summit, Fort Worth, Texas, www.aopa.org Oct. 20–21—National Business Aviation Association Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Oct. 20–23—ATCA 58th Annual Conference and Exposition, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Washington, D.C., www.atca.org/58annual
MD Helicopters is making performance enhancements to its MD540F as it prepares to move toward certification in 2015. The new aircraft, an updated and modernized variant of the MD500 family, will get a new anti-torque system. Engineers are studying a number of options including a four-bladed tail rotor to improve the aircraft’s performance in conjunction with the new Rolls-Royce M250-C47E turboshaft, which the company announced it had selected for the MD540F during Heli-Expo 2013 in Las Vegas.
Bombardier Aerospace has begun construction on a 150,000-sq.-ft. facility at the Midparc Casablanca Free Zone in Nouaceur in Morocco. The facility, scheduled to open in mid-2014, is producing simple structures, including flight controls for the CRJ. Bombardier in January began operating out of a transitional facility in Nouaceur. The company expects to employ more than 100 workers there in December. Bombardier says it is investing about $200 million in its new plant, which will eventually employ 850 workers.
PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC seat restraint rotary buckle assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2013-0752; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-44-AD] – proposes to require, within 30 days, inspecting each buckle for a crack and replacing any cracked buckle with an airworthy buckle. Also, within six months, this proposed AD would require inspecting the thickness of the buckle handle vane and replacing any buckle with a handle vane thickness of 0.125 in. or greater. Lastly, this proposed AD would prohibit installing an affected buckle on any helicopter or airplane.
ASIG Panama, S.A., a joint venture including Aircraft Service International Group, is expanding its services in Panama, providing aircraft fueling services at Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC) for all general aviation and domestic commercial flights. ASIG, which is managing and operating the airport’s sole fuel facility, received a contract to provide these services on behalf of PAC’s fuel suppliers, including Petróleos Delta, S.A.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to weigh in on FAA’s proposed airworthiness directive (AD) calling for inspections and replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 model reciprocating engines.
FlightSafety International has taken the next step in its simulation technology with the introduction of a new Vital1100 visual system, which it says provides “unprecedented fidelity” for use in both full flight simulators and advanced trainers. FlightSafety says the new system has a computational performance five times greater than the VitalX predecessor. As a result, the technology provides mission-specific imagery with improved scene content and new levels of detail. This includes dynamic shadowing.
House GA Caucus co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is urging the inspectors general for both the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation to investigate recent practices of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in conducting searches of general aviation aircraft. Graves cites more than 40 reports of “general aviation pilots being stopped, in many cases for extended periods of time, while their documentation, belongings and aircraft are exhaustively searched.” Graves adds the searches appear to be taking place without probable cause.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is hoping the investigation into the Sept. 29 crash of a Cessna Citation CJ2+, N194SJ, at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) will lead to a much larger look at the safety of the airport’s layout. SMO critics have long pushed for curbs on the use of the airport or closure of it altogether, arguing that the layout does not provide enough safety buffers to protect neighboring residents.
Brazilian airframer Embraer believes the next notable pickup in the market will be for midsize jets, but cautions that improvement will require consumer confidence to grow. Embraer, which keeps a rolling forecast of the market, sees a shift, with midsize jets playing a much greater role in the next few years than they have recently.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0398; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-065-AD; Amendment 39-17578; AD 2013-18-05] – requires, for helicopters with certain fire extinguishing systems installed. This AD requires modifying the fire extinguishing system injection tubes. This AD is prompted by a report that the injection tubes are deforming due to heat.
Constant Aviation recently secured a supplemental type certificate for installation of a Wi-Fi system, along with Aircell’s Gogo Biz inflight Internet system, on an executive configured Boeing 737-200. The installation marked an expansion of the facility’s in-house capabilities and STCs. Constant already has STCs for the installation of Gogo Biz inflight Internet aboard Gulfstream, Embraer, Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna Citation aircraft.
PAUL CLASS was appointed senior vice president of charter sales for Solairus Aviation. Class has more than two decades of charter industry experience, including serving as vice president of charter sales at TAG Aviation for nearly 10 years. He also served on the National Air Transportation Association’s Air Charter Committee.
Embraer has scheduled five Embraer Executive Operators Conferences (EEOCs) this month and next in Jakarta, Bangalore, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Los Cabos, Mexico. The EEOCs cover various aircraft of the executive jet programs, including Legacys, Phenoms and Lineage, based on the regional customer base. Embraer also will demonstrate its fly-by-wire technology incorporated in the Legacy 500 and 450.
The aviation industry today hailed a significant development on climate change issues made at a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN specialised agency for aviation. After two weeks of tense negotiations, following many years of discussions, delegates representing 191 countries have agreed a resolution charting the way forward for tackling aviation's climate change impact.
The first production version of the updated Citation Sovereign has rolled off the production line in Wichita. The first of six new Cessna aircraft expected to hit the market this year.
Flight Display Systems Glare Shield Camera is a high-definition, 1080p camera that mounts in the cockpit and provide passengers with an opportunity to observe taxi, takeoff and landing. Specifications include: standard 28 volt power; digital signal processor; removable ¼ - 20 mounting bracket and capable of low-light and glare shield applications. (Product Part Number: FS600CAM-3) Flight Display Systems Alpharetta, Ga. www.flightdisplay.com
FltPlan.com has completely redesigned its website. The updated design features all of the same tools such as weather/notams, airports and FBOs, area fuel prices, nearby airport, quick-trip information, digital charts, and aircraft tracing in a more organized and easily accessible presentation. This is the first major redesign of FltPlan.com since the company started 14 years ago. FltPlan.com Southbury, Conn.
Pan Am International Flight Academy launched its new pilot training website — PanAmAcademy.com/Pilot-Training. The site details the training courses and programs, training location and aircraft, accommodations, student resources, and an application process for enrollment. The company recently re-entered Ab Initio training after a 5-year hiatus with the acquisition for the former Airline Career Academy (ACA) earlier this year. Pan Am International Flight Academy Miami, Fla.
Jeppesen has introduced CrewAlert Pro, a new iPad app designed to assist crews with preventing and mitigating fatigue. The app helps crews and safety professionals comply with ICAO guidelines including predictive capabilities for fatigue avoidance and awareness and proactive fatigue data collection. The CrewAlert Pro iOS app is available through the Apple App Store for $29.99. Jeppesen Englewood, Colo. www.jeppesen.com
Gulfstream Aerospace launched 24-Hour Support, an iPhone- and iPad-compatible application that provides customers with access the company's worldwide product support network. It is a comprehensive source for direct access to Gulfstream Technical Operations, 19 company-owened and authorized service centers, 13 authorized warranty facilities, 43 field service reps, spare part sales, and other key contacts. The app includes phone and fax number, email addressed, location information and operating hours. The app can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store.
