The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is still planning to hold this year’s annual Aviation Summit Oct. 10-12 in Fort Worth, but the association is scrapping plans for future summits to concentrate on a series of “grassroots” local events that will bring its new President Mark Baker to the members. The decision marks the first major shift for the association under Baker, who officially took the helm on Sept. 6, succeeding Craig Fuller, who served as president and CEO since late 2008.
FAA is extending the comment period on a proposal that would facilitate expanded use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) in place of natural vision during landing. The comment period, originally set to close Sept. 9, was pushed to Oct. 15 at the request of Dassault.
DANIEL ZEDDY was appointed chief financial officer of Leading Edge Aviation Services. Zeddy has more than 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, human resources and information technology. He also has 20 years of experience in lean manufacturing programs.
A government and industry group operating under the auspices of the RTCA’s NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) Sept. 19 will give the FAA a prioritized list of NextGen capabilities to help the agency navigate likely budget cuts due to sequestration.
As the business aviation community continues to rapidly expand in the Asia-Pacific region, transportation ministers are moving to lay the groundwork to create a regulatory environment to support the burgeoning industry. This effort, welcomed by business aviation leaders during a press conference in Beijing last week, is particularly important as business aircraft have been hamstrung in many areas in the region by operating restrictions and lack of infrastructure.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a proclamation declaring September “Aviation Appreciation Month,” highlighting an industry that is the second largest contributor to the state’s economy. The proclamation is part of several activities the state has planned during the month to promote the industry. Others include an annual airshow in Wichita and a first-ever Kansas Aviation Expo on Sept. 26-27. The proclamation is the second such declaration by Brownback. He previously proclaimed May 2011 as Kansas Aviation Month to kick off an economic summit in the state.
Beechcraft is moving to build up its sales and support network in Europe with the appointments of Marshall Aviation Services as a sales distributor and Air Service Basel as an authorized service provider. The appointments come as the Wichita manufacturer sells off its key European maintenance, repair and overhaul station (MRO) to Marshall Aerospace.
Dynamic Precision Group, a manufacturer of turbine engine components based in Stuart, Fla., is poised to significantly expand its international manufacturing footprint with an agreement to acquire component fabrications and machining facilities from Unison Engine Components. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by year’s end, were not disclosed. The Unison facilities, based in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., provide precision manufacturing capabilities, designing, manufacturing and integrating components and systems for aircraft engines and airframes.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association is expanding its international reach, shifting Greg Bowles to the association’s office in Brussels. Bowles, who had been director of engineering and manufacturing for GAMA, takes on the new role as director of European regulatory affairs and engineering, working with Brian Davey, GAMA’s director of European and international affairs.
Cessna Aircraft completed the first international delivery of its TTx, handing over the fixed-gear single-engine aircraft to a customer in Thailand. Cessna received certification of the TTx in July, marking a return of the former Corvalis program that had suspended production in late 2010. The new TTx is the first aircraft to sport the Garmin G2000 avionics system with a glass cockpit and dual 14.1-in high-definition displays and touch screen controls.
Avicopter will build cabins for the Sikorsky S-76D helicopter as a second-source supplier. The work will be done by Avicopter’s Changhe factory at Jingdezhen, which has previously made eight cabins for the S-76C++. Czech company Aero Vodochody also makes S-76D fuselages. Avicopter will deliver its first cabins in 2016, according to the schedule. The cabins — fuselages forward of the tail booms — will be delivered to Sikorsky fully fitted with equipment.
The repair station security rule continues to languish at the Office of Management Budget, where it has now been under review for six months – twice the typical 90-day review time for most rulemakings. While the repair station rule sits at the White House office, the resulting ban on FAA certifying any new foreign repair stations has passed the five-year mark. Congress prohibited FAA from certifying new foreign repair stations until the Transportation Security Administration releases the long-awaited security rule. That prohibition took effect in August 2008.
Business aircraft activity is remaining relatively flat worldwide, increasing just 1% overall in the second quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to engine maintenance management specialist Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). But JSSI says the more recent trend of flight hours improving 3% over the first quarter is more promising, with a few key industries flying more.
StandardAero secured a three-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for RainAir Aircraft Services. Under the agreement, StandardAero will be the exclusive engine service provider for RainAir, which is based at Albertville Regional Airport in Alabama. StandardAero’s facility will perform line and heavy maintenance engine work up to hot section inspection at its Maryville, Tenn. facility and engine overhauls at its Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada shop.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0216; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-206-AD; Amendment 39-17521; AD 2013-15-05] – requires revising the maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitation tasks. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain flap actuators require restoration by installing a redesigned flap actuator inboard pinion seal. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent flap system failure, and consequent reduced control of the airplane. FAA estimates that this AD affects 573 airplanes on the U.S.
Click here to view the pdf Second QuarterBizAv Flight OperationsBy Industry Sector Second Quarter BizAv Flight Operations By Industry Sector Category Year-over-Year (Calendar) Quarter-over-Quarter Automotive +10% +16%
JAMES RODDEY has joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as communications and media relations manager. Roddey is responsible for working with print, broadcast and online media publications and campus and university outlets. He has more than three decades of broadcasting, marketing and public relations experience, including as Oregon public information officer, communications director for the American Red Cross, and producer of nationally syndicated educational television programs.
General Electric has signed partnership agreements with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) of Japan and Techspace Aero of Belgium to provide more than 37% of the company’s Passport engine, currently in development for Bombardier’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets.
VARIOUS RESTRICTED CATEGORY HELICOPTERS Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model UH-1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) helicopters. [Docket No.
KEVIN HAWLEY joined Blackhawk Modifications as principal engineer. Hawley will provide expertise in electrical and mechanical systems and flight analysis to help with new product development. He has 35 years of aviation experience, holding positions with CAV Aerospace and Boeing Commercial Aircraft Company.
Cessna Aircraft agreed to a $28 million settlement to end a lawsuit brought by supplier Avcorp over breach of contract. The Wichita airframer says it still believes that it “acted in accordance with its rights under the contractual relationship with Avcorp … [but] we have chosen to settle the matter now to bring finality to our dealings with Avcorp.”
CHRIS HARANO was appointed CEO of Leading Edge Aviation Services. Harano, who formerly was president, succeeds Mike Manclark, who remains with the company as non-executive chairman. Harano has more than 20 years of experience in industrial services and manufacturing, previously as president of InsulTech and CFO of Day Software. He originally joined Leading Edge to spearhead the company’s strategic growth into new maintenance, repair and overhaul and manufacturing markets.
The U.S. Court of Appeals has set a timetable for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s petition seeking reimbursement from FAA for air traffic services, giving the association until Oct. 23 to file a brief on its case and providing the agency until Nov. 22 to respond. EAA filed the petition July 3 asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago to require FAA to refund more than $450,000 in payments that the agency charged for air traffic control services it provided during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., from July 29-Aug. 4.
GULFSTREAM Gulfstream 100 airplanes and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0093; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-109-AD; Amendment 39-17515; AD 2013-14-10] – supersedes AD 2010-11-02, which required amending the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to include additional procedures for verifying complete closure and locking of the main entry door (MED).
Avicopter has joined the trend for developing high-speed helicopters. The Chinese manufacturer is building a technology demonstrator with a compound configuration that combines coaxial rigid rotors and nose-mounted, counter-rotating propellers.
