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.
Four years after the bankrupt program's purchase, the first new Eclipse—with upgraded avionics, systems and interior and rebranded the Eclipse 550 (see photo)—is about to be delivered.
He's back. Kenny Dichter, the ultimate Badger and business aviation booster, has returned to the tarmac. And he's promising to “revolutionize aviation around the world.” Don't be too quick to dismiss that prediction. He's done it before.
A radical conversion of an Avro RJ85 regional jet by firefighting company Conair Aviation has made its first flight. Canada-based Conair Aviation is one of four North American firefighting operators that have selected the British Aerospace BAe 146 and Avro RJ series of aircraft for the mission, but unlike the other three, the company has gone for a highly complex configuration attaching the water tank outside the pressure hull.
A private initiative to supply a test, evaluation, demonstration and experimentation facility for beyond-line-of-sight (BLoS) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations in the U.K. took an important step forward with the formal launch of the National Aeronautical Centre (NAC) Sept. 9.
JetBlue Airways Chief Operating Officer Rob Maruster says the FAA has a “credibility” problem implementing the satellite-based NextGen air traffic control (ATC) system, leading many U.S. airlines to worry that expensive investments in equipment deemed critical to NextGen’s success will not “pay off.”
Kilimanjaro Aviation Logistics Centre (KALC), an affiliate of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., based in Mwanza, Tanzania, has enhanced its landing permit and overflight permit support services for business aviation operators for all 56 African nations.
A team including Aurora Flight Sciences is proposing unmanned flights of the company’s Centaur optionally piloted aircraft (OPA) over the Alaskan tundra in 2014, following the completion of manned flights to measure greenhouse-gas released from thawing permafrost. On Aug. 30, the company-operated aircraft completed a month-long campaign led by Harvard University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Div.
Business aviation activity in North Africa is out-performing global average, according to MEBAA, the association for business aviation across the Middle East and North Africa.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has added GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems as its 84th member. A division of GKN Aerospace, GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems designs and manufactures glass, acrylic and polycarbonate transparency systems.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has agreed to a compromise solution on the introduction of global market based measures (MBMs) to tackle aviation emissions. The council accepted the principle of regional emissions trading schemes and agreed to have a single global MBM for aviation to be implemented from 2020. The principles for a global MBM should be adopted at ICAO’s assembly in 2016.
Business aviation leaders are encouraged by last week’s endorsement by transport ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of a set of core principles to foster business aviation in the region. The ministers, representing 21 economies, agreed to three core principles Sept.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0631; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-142-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, repair of the pylon pick-up brackets. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a cracked pick-up bracket of the forward outboard pylon of the number 1 engine due to stress corrosion.
VistaJet is partnering with Jet Aviation Flight Services and newly formed Wheels Up to expand into the U.S. Under the agreement, VistaJet will initially place 12 new Bombardier Global business jets valued at $600 million in the U.S. Jet Aviation will manage and operate the aircraft on its certificate. Wheels Up, meanwhile, a membership-based private aviation company unveiled in August by the founder of Marquis Jet, will market and sell the service, called the VistaJet Flight Solutions Program.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0679; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-015-AD] – proposes to require measuring the distance between the end of the main rotor collective pitch lever locking stud and the locking strip and repairing the locking stud if the clearance is insufficient. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that insufficient distance between the locking stud and the locking strip may cause the collective to become inadvertently locked in the low pitch position.
FlightSafety International is boosting its Cessna training with new training offerings and simulators at its facilities in Orlando, Fla., San Antonio, Texas, and Wichita. The Orlando center is now providing training for the full Citation XL series, including the addition of the XLS+, using a simulator equipped with a Collins Pro Line 21 suite. The simulator has received Level D approvals from the FAA, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil of Brazil; Mexico Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is hoping to provide a boost to the business aviation community in North Africa with a Middle East Business Aviation conference to be held Oct. 8 in Marrakech, Morocco. MEBAA says the event will provide a forum to cover common challenges and trends. MEBAA is hosting the event with the support of H.E. Abdullah Bouhouche, director general of civil aviation for the Kingdom of Morocco.
THIELERT TAE125-01 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0561; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-23-AD] – proposes to require applying sealant to close the engine clutch housing (crankcase assembly) opening. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of engine power loss due to engine coolant contaminating the engine clutch. The design of the engine allows the crankcase assembly opening to be susceptible to contamination from external sources.
Rolls-Royce has completed the sale of its share in the RTM322 turboshaft program to Turbomeca. The two companies announced Rolls-Royce’s sale of its 50% share in the engine program in April, formally completing the €293 million ($382 million) transaction on Sept. 2.
Beechcraft, which has been downsizing its properties, is selling its maintenance, repair and overhaul station in Broughton, U.K., that it had inherited through the original purchase of the Hawker aircraft program. Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group on Aug. 30 struck an agreement to buy the Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester facility and will rename the business as Marshall Aviation Services.
The acquisition of Flexjet assets by Flight Options owner Directional Aviation Capital will spur an evolution of both fractional ownership providers, with one positioned as the premium, high-end brand and the other selling a value proposition, company executives say.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2B1, 2B1A, 2B2 and 2K1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0381; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-16-AD] – proposes to require initial and repetitive inspections of the hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU) high pressure pump drive gear shaft splines, cleaning and inspections of the sleeve assembly splines, and replacement of the HMU if it fails inspection. The proposed AD was prompted by inflight shutdowns caused by interrupted fuel supply at the HMU. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent inflight shutdown and damage to the engine.
YANNICK KERRIOU was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International’s Paris-Le Bourget training facility. Kerriou first joined FlightSafety at the Paris center in 1990, leaving in 1998 to work with BA City Express as manager technical training, fleet technical manager, captain and type rating instructor. He also flew for EasyJet and Cathay Pacific. He returned to FlightSafety in 2011 as program manager for Embraer 170 training and most recently was director of training.
