BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0835; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-095-AD] – proposes to require accomplishing modifications to the fuel system results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposal affects 94 aircraft on the U.S.
Beechcraft named Kalamazoo Aircraft in Kalamazoo, Mich., as an authorized service center for its Baron and Bonanza aircraft lines. Kalamazoo Aircraft, a family-owned and operated business, has hosted a number of American Bonanza Society Service Clinics since its founding in 1995. Based at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, the facility provides a range of maintenance, repair and overhaul service on single and light twin-engine aircraft. Separately, Beechcraft’s Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) was named a distributor for Sherwin-Williams aerospace coatings.
Aircell and Arinc Direct are teaming with Honeywell to offer the Inmarsat GX Aviation global Ka-band connectivity. GX Aviation is expected to become available in early 2015, providing consistent global coverage with faster broadband feeds. Inmarsat commissioned Boeing to build four Inmarsat-5 satellites to provide the Ka-band service. The first satellite is scheduled to come online later this year with global coverage anticipated by the end of 2014. Honeywell is the authorized reseller of GX Aviation’s airtime to the business aviation market.
When Dassault Aviation launched design studies for a new business jet in 2006, it intended to develop a midsized aircraft to compete against Bombardier’s Challenger 300, Gulfstream’s G250 (now G280) and Embraer’s Legacy 600. Within two years, world financial markets plummeted, and with them, demand for smaller aircraft. Last week, the French aircraft builder finally lifted the curtain on the new jet’s design, and the result is a product that scarcely resembles its origins.
25,425: The National Business Aviation Association’s 2013 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013) last week drew 25,425 attendees for the three-day event in Las Vegas, up slightly from the 25,150 people who the 2012 event drew in Orlando, Fla., but also down slightly from the 26,077 who turned out in 2011 in Las Vegas.
Rockwell Collins is rolling out the first 3D moving map system for light business jets. The Airshow 500 system is a lighter-weight replacement for the Airshow 410, and comes loaded with detailed worldwide maps and other features, such as passenger-selectable languages and adjustable settings. It is available in a flange mount and is compatible with Rockwell Collins’ Airshow interactive app for the Apple iPad. Airshow 500 is expected to be available through Rockwell Collins-authorized dealers by year’s end.
Snecma has revealed more details about the upcoming flight tests of the Silvercrest engine on a Gulfstream II in the U.S. later this year before the evaluation campaign moves to Istres, France, in early 2014.
Cessna is moving ahead on a number of fronts, with key milestones approaching for most of its developing aircraft programs in the coming months. At the same time, though, the company is still investigating the forced landing of the diesel Skylane, pondering changes to the Longitude, and ending the SkyCatcher. The Wichita airframer is nearing certification of its Citation M2 and new Sovereign – both expected this quarter. The new X – billed as the “world’s fastest aircraft” – is expected to follow in March.
With the imminent launch of its new U.S. service, Wheels Up announced it is already planning to expand into Europe, grow its fleet well beyond 100 aircraft and introduce a second private membership aviation program to its portfolio. Founder and CEO Kenny Dichter says that the company will spend the next two years establishing its services in the U.S. but in three years will be ready to cross the Atlantic and launch an equivalent service, based perhaps in London.
Gulfstream matched last year’s green aircraft delivery output in the third quarter, but a more than doubling of completed aircraft shipments helped propel General Dynamics Aerospace Group’s profit to a 41.4% increase. Gulfstream parent GD reported that Gulfstream delivered 34 aircraft in the third quarter, 28 of which were large cabin aircraft (the 650, 550 and 450) while the remaining six were mid-cabins (the 150 and 280). Not only did the total mirror last year’s third quarter, but so did the mix of deliveries.
SIKORSKY [Docket No. FAA-2013-0352; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-063-AD; Amendment 39-17598; AD 2013-19-16] – requires modifying the No. 1 engine forward firewall center fire extinguisher discharge tube (No. 1 engine tube) and inspecting the outboard discharge tube to determine if it is correctly positioned. This AD was prompted by the discovery that the No. 1 engine tube installed on the helicopters is too long to ensure that a fire could be effectively extinguished in the helicopter. The actions are intended to ensure the No.
Embraer Executive Jets President Ernest Edwards is planning to hand over the reins of the organization he helped build into one of the largest business jet manufacturers to longtime employee Marco Tulio Pellegrini. Edwards announced last week that he was planning to retire at the end of the year and put his suitcases in a place where he wouldn’t have to move them for a long time. Pellegrini currently is the senior VP and COO for Executive Jets.
JetSuite, the Irvine, Calif.-based charter, is planning to more than double its fleet of Cessna Citation CJ3s by the end of next year. The company, which currently has six “JetSuite Edition” CJ3s on its certificate, plans to acquire two more this year and build the fleet to 15 by the end of 2014. The six-passenger aircraft will be painted in the JetSuite livery and equipped with WiFi. JetSuite, which also operates a fleet of 13 Embraer Phenom 100s, added the initial CJ3s in 2012. Since then, the light business jets have been accruing about 120 hr.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0480; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-090-AD; Amendment 39-17589; AD 2013-19-07] – requires for helicopters with certain EADS Sogerma pilot and co-pilot seats installed, inspecting the rear beam of each seat to determine if all of the weld beads are present and replacing the seat if any weld bead is missing.
The FAA’s temporary shutdown combined with sequestration is increasing pressure on the agency to do “more with less” and should jump-start serious conversations about how to establish stable funding for the agency, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta says. The agency is “gearing back up” following the 16-day shutdown, and “it will take time to assess the backlog of work that developed,” Huerta told the Aero Club of Washington last week.
StandardAero is continuing to “pursue [its] own strategies” after talks collapsed over a possible merger with BBA, says new CEO Russell Ford, but it is open to other partnerships.
Signature Flight Support is poised to expand its reach into the Canadian market under a new agreement with Imperial Oil to offer Canadian Esso dealers the option to become either fully licensed Signature locations or participate in the Signature Select affiliate program. Signature entered the Canadian market in 2010 under an original licensing deal with Starlink Aviation in Montreal and later became a majority shareholder. Signature later added a second licensed location in Edmonton with Airside.
PATRICK O’CONNELL was named regional sales director for the Upper Midwest region for Beechcraft. O’Connell has served as a demonstration pilot for Beechcraft for the past six years. He will manage Beechcraft sales for a territory that includes Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
LANCE LAJARA was named regional sales manager for Constant Aviation. Lajara formerly has served as a large fleet account manager for the Cleveland-based maintenance, repair and overhaul company. In his new role, he will be responsible for selling maintenance, avionics, interior modifications/refurbishments, arts and composite/accessory services for customers based in the Central region of the U.S.
Strong growth and renewed confidence in the market for Beechcraft aircraft will allow the Wichita plane maker to bump up its prices in 2014. Boosted by rising orders in several key sectors – and the added lift from its recent $1.4 billion order from Wheels Up – Beechcraft says that an increase in prices is now not a matter of if, but when.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0807; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-035-AD; Amendment 39-17601; AD 2013-19-19] – requires replacing certain serial-numbered main gearbox (MGB) bevel gear vertical shafts because they are no longer airworthy. Also, this AD requires certain inspections of each MGB bevel gear vertical shaft for a crack. Also, this AD requires if there is a crack, replacing the shaft with an airworthy part before further flight.
Nextant Aerospace is returning to Beechcraft products to add a second airframe to its remanufacturing business, this time targeting the King Air C90 twin turboprop. Nextant has teamed with both GE and Garmin to offer the G90XT, an upgraded C90 with GE H80 engines in place of the current Pratt & Whitney PT6As, and a Garmin 1000 avionics suite instead of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21.
Abu Dhabi private aviation company,Royal Jet,has launched a new Fixed-Base Operation (FBO) facility in the Seychelles Islands to cater to rising number of private aviation tourists from the Middle East, Europe and CIS countries.
Initial test results of the Passport turbofan and its unusual one-piece blisked fan are on track and augur well for next year’s fast-paced development and certification phase, says General Electric (GE). The 16,500-pounds-thrust engine is expected to complete certification in 2015 and enter service on Bombardier’s new Global 7000 and 8000 ultra-long-range corporate jets in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
StandardAero is continuing to “pursue [its] own strategies” after talks collapsed over a possible merger with BBA, says new CEO Russell Ford, but it is open to other partnerships.
