It is so ubiquitous, so unextraordinary, it's easily overlooked. But a recent move by an unexpected entity suddenly made me take notice as if for the first time. ViraZH, a Russian training outfit, is buying nearly four score of Cessna 172s to join the 11 it purchased in 2011. That's heartening news for the Cessna's lightplane makers in Independence, Kan.
A timed competition is underway to become the clean air successor to nasty avgas. The standard fuel for most light aircraft, 100 octane, low lead (100LL) is very much on every Earth defender's “environmental pariahs” list, thanks to that second L. Produced and consumed in paltry amounts compared to autogas and diesel, 100LL has become a “boutique” fuel. It also has the dubious distinction of being the last fuel containing lead—specifically, Tetraethyl—to prevent engine knock and boost performance.
The FAA is facing considerable uncertainty, with the U.S. government headed toward a possible partial shutdown Oct. 1 and sequestration levels of funding likely to remain in place even if a shutdown is avoided. “I have no idea what’s going to happen,” FAA’s deputy associate administrator-airports Kate Lang said at the annual Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Conference and Exhibition in San Jose, Calif. “I have no idea whether we’ll be at work on Oct. 1 . . . Frankly, nobody knows.”
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta is warning that the ongoing “fiscal uncertainty” surrounding the U.S. government’s budget is “very damaging” to the FAA’s long-term planning capability, and in particular could hurt the agency’s effort to modernize air traffic control (ATC).
Twenty of the top avionics manufacturers reported combined sales of $1.6 billion in the second quarter, according to the latest data from the Aircraft Electronics Association’s (AEA) fledgling Avionics Market Report. Launched earlier this year, the report compiles sales figures from companies willing to share that information, including Garmin, L-3, and Rockwell Collins. The manufacturers submit sales figures to a third party that produces the report, preserving confidentiality of the data.
As the ban on FAA certification of new foreign repair stations passes the five-year mark, the number of applications from companies seeking U.S. approval has grown to close to 90, according to the regulator. Industry groups maintain hopes that the ban could be lifted sometime in the upcoming weeks or next few months, but still fear it could take years for the FAA to process the backlog given limited resources.
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s board of directors plans to discuss the future leadership of the organization at its fall meeting in November, a little more than a year after Rod Hightower stepped down as president. EAA Chairman Jack Pelton, the former Cessna CEO who has had experience dealing with Washington, has steered the organization in the absence of a president.
The French government’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, has taken delivery of the first of four newly converted Dassault Falcon 50s for the maritime patrol mission. The aircraft, which eventually will be used by the French navy for maritime surveillance, was handed over to the DGA on Sept. 6 by Dassault Aviation, which is making the conversions. The four Falcon 50Bs previously had been part of the French air force’s ETEC VIP squadron.
The House General Aviation Caucus has reached a new record level of membership, now accounting for more than 50% of the House Representatives. The caucus has grown to 223 members. GA Caucus Co-Chair John Barrow (D-Ga.) calls the membership “an important milestone for the industry. Our mission is to inform folks about general aviation, and having a majority of the House...will help achieve that goal.” Fellow Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) adds that passing the 50% mark is “a great victory for general aviation.”
Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer, which recently flew its first Legacy 650 to be built in China, is predicting a market for more than 800 business jets in China over the next decade. Embraer has released its China Executive Aviation Market Outlook 2014-2023, forecasting a demand for 805 executive jets. Of those aircraft, 51% will be large-cabin aircraft, representing 78% of the value, the company says.
Sweden’s Maritime Administration (SMA) has taken delivery of the first of seven new AgustaWestland AW139s ordered for search and rescue. The aircraft were ordered in October 2012. They will replace several Sikorsky S-76s, operating in the same role from bases at Ronneby, Visby, Gothenburg, Norrtäljegatan and Umeå. The state-owned operator inherited the S-76s after the Swedish government nationalized private operator Norrlandsflyg, which flew the aircraft on SAR and air ambulance duties on behalf of the agency.
JONATHAN BUFF was named general manager of the Hawthorne Global Aviation Services facility at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW). Buff will oversee the management of the fixed-base operation, which includes a terminal and more than 50,000 sq. ft. of hangar space. He has 14 years of FBO experience, most recently as an FBO development strategic advisor for The 500 Group Ltd.
Chicago Jet Group (CJG) was awarded supplemental type approval for retrofit of FANS systems aboard the Dassault Falcon 50. The supplemental type certificate, the first for the FANS1/A+/Controller Pilot Datalink (CPDLC) system over Iridium in a Falcon 50, was accomplished in coordination with Universal Avionics. CJG has a number of other airframes in process for FANS retrofit certification.
MORRIS SMITH has joined West Star Aviation as Gulfstream/Bombardier technical sales manager at the company’s East Alton, Ill. (ALN) location. Smith has nearly 35 years of technical and management experience, including overseeing a Honeywell 731 engine major periodic inspection shop and C-20 depot maintenance.
Aviation Modification Leaders (AML), the Dallas-based aircraft communications and entertainment systems specialist, is offering a program to upgrade the first generation of CNX routers. The routers, installed on about 2,000 large-cabin jets, are no longer manufactured and support services for them are decreasing, AML says. CNX is based on Swift 64 bandwidth at early DSL speeds. AML’s program entails removing the CNX and installing an interface plate in the existing slot with the same connectors. The plate can house AML’s new OOM-200 broadband router.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0472; Directorate Identifier 98-CE-097-AD; Amendment 39-17538; AD 99-07-10 R1] – rescinds an existing AD that required inspections for inner protective film detachment of the nacelles and corrective actions. That AD stemmed from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency that cited reports of partial detachment of the inner protective film of the composite nacelles.
MAULE M-4, M-5, M-6, M-7, MT-7, MX-7, MXT-7, and M-8 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0725; Directorate Identifier 98-CE-01-AD] – proposes to revise AD 98-15-18 that applies to certain Maule aircraft equipped with rear wing lift struts, part number (P/N) 2079E, and/or front wing lift struts, P/N 2080E. AD 98-15-18 currently requires repetitively inspecting certain wing lift struts for internal corrosion and replacing of any wing lift strut where corrosion is found.
StandardAero is transitioning its leadership with a new overall CEO and a new senior vice president to steer the Business Aviation group. The appointments, announced last week, come a little more than a week after StandardAero parent Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) announced that talks over a potential merger of portions of its business with BBA Aviation have ended.
T URBOMECA Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0557; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-22-AD] proposes to require a one-time inspection of the free turbine (FT) module (M04) for the affected Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 engines and, if a discrepancy is found, repair of the affected module. This proposed AD was prompted by a “chip illumination event”’ in flight on a Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 engine.
Swift Fuels is taking a step to expand its effort to produce a high-octane unleaded aviation gasoline, 100SF, that could potentially serve as a replacement for leaded gasoline. The company officially opened a new aviation fuel blending facility that could store up to 50,000 gal. of the unleaded, high-octane fuel components and broke ground on a new pilot plant operation in Lafayette., Ind. that will be capable of producing more than 10,000 gal. of 100SF per month at full capacity.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0197; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-17524; AD 2013-15-08] requires inspection of the first-stage power turbine (PT) blades, and the removal from service of those blades that fail the inspection, or their replacement with blades eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by reports of fractures of the first-stage PT blade.
AGUSTA Model AB412 and AB 412EB and Bell Model 412, 412CF and 412EP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0145; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-059-AD; Amendment 39-17554; AD 2013-16-16] – requires, for affected helicopters with certain Dart high gear aft crosstubes installed, adding a life limit of 10,000 landings to the crosstube and removing from service any crosstubes with more than 10,000 accumulated landings. This AD is prompted by five separate reports of crosstube failures.
Sept. 25-27—ALTA Aviation Law Americas, Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Miami, Fla, www.alta.aero/aviationlaw/2013/home.php Sept. 25-27—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., www.aea.net/events.asp 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
Jet Aviation Moscow has added a range of interior refurbishment capabilities through an agreement with Kazan-based Tulpar Interior Group. Under the agreement, Tulpar will provide scheduled interior refurbishment services out of Jet Aviation’s maintenance facility at Moscow Vnukovo Airport. The agreement comes as Jet Aviation experiences an increase in demand for interior restoration and upgrade capabilities in the region.
The Flight Safety Foundation is mulling strategies that could help pilots make the decision to perform a go-around rather than continue an unstabilized approach. “We feel that the lack of a go-around decision is the leading risk factor in landing accidents,” says Kevin Hiatt, Flight Safety Foundation president and CEO. He notes that 63 airline accidents occurred in the approach and landing phase of flight from 2001 to 2011, representing 68% of all accidents.
