Five years after DayJet's ambitious adventure into per-seat, on-demand air taxi operations ended in financial failure, two key components are making a comeback—the Eclipse very light jet and the operations management and optimization software that was DayJet's secret weapon.
The story clearly seems too good to be true. A small, privately owned business jet operator places the biggest-ever order for large corporate jets and conquers the market with its not-so-unusual business model, while others complain about the continuing crisis in European business aviation.
The European Defense Agency (EDA) is preparing for a second series of manned test flights of a sense-and-avoid (S&A) system under development to allow unmanned aircraft to operate in unrestricted airspace. The system is being developed under the four-year Mid-air Collision Avoidance System (MidCAS) program, which ends in 2014, by a consortium of 13 companies from five European nations, including Saab, Alenia Aermacchi, EADS Cassidian, Indra, Selex and Thales.
Five years ago, the U.S. rotorcraft industry was stagnant, fat and happy. It was building the same old helicopters for customers who did not think they needed anything better. Today, the industry is vibrant and developing new designs, but running the same risk of focusing on a single, dominant customer with a shaky record of making and sticking to procurement decisions.
Duncan Aviation is expanding its service capabilities with the addition of a 10th Rapid Response engine location in Portland, Ore., and increased accessory shop space at its facility in Lincoln, Neb. Based at Portland International Airport, the new Rapid Response unit will provide mobile engine services such aircraft-on-ground emergency services, and many scheduled and unscheduled events, including engine changes. The Portland area formerly was served by Duncan Aviation’s response team in Seattle.
Airborne is re-entering the fixed-base operation business with a facility at Stewart International Airport in New York. Airborne created a new subsidiary, Airborne Aviation Services, to run the FBO. Jeff Madtes, who serves as president of Airborne’s charter and management subsidiary, Firstflight, will also serve as president of the FBO. The FBO initially will be housed in facilities at the intersection of Runway 9/27 and 16/34, with the company planning future development of a hangar.
A bill designed to boost the general aviation industry took a step closer to final adoption after the Senate recently approved the measure by unanimous consent.
Aviation industry leaders are trying to ratchet up the pressure to get FAA reopened, saying the continued shutdown is halting thousands of certification projects and holding up billions in aircraft deliveries. National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen sent letters urging President Barack Obama and congressional leaders to either end the shutdown or re-evaluate which services are shuttered, saying the current situation is having “grave repercussions” on all aspects of the general aviation industry.
Almost a year after Embraer flew its first midsize jet, the Legacy 500, the company is preparing to fly its smaller sibling, the Legacy 450. The two models, essentially the same aircraft sized for different markets, are part of the Brazilian airframer’s ambitious agenda to offer a product in every major business-jet category.
AGUSTAWESTLAND Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0350; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-050-AD; Amendment 39-17583; AD 2013-19-01] – requires inspecting the pilot and co-pilot doors to ensure that the windows are properly bonded within the doors. If the windows are not properly bonded, the AD requires applying bonding to the windows, the seals, and the window frames of the pilot and co-pilot doors. This AD was prompted by the loss of a pilot-door window during a test flight.
Oct. 20–23—ATCA 58th Annual Conference and Exposition, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Washington, D.C., www.atca.org/58annual Oct. 22–24—National Business Aviation Association 2013 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013), Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Nov. 6-8—SpeedNews 18th Annual Regional & Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), Ariz. www.speednews.com
SAMUEL ADCOCK was named vice president and general manager for American Eurocopter’s plant in Columbus, Miss. Adcock has served as senior vice president of strategy and business development for EADS North America. He has also been senior vice president of government affairs for EADS North America.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is partnering with the World Food Program (WFP) to launch a new “Fly and Feed” program. While details are still being hashed out, MEBAA will create a program to enable operator and passenger contributions to WFP, an organization that operates under the auspices of the United Nations. The program will be rolled out to MEBAA’s membership later this year.
BELL 204B and certain Model 205A-1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0379; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-17580; AD 2013-18-07] – supersedes AD 76-12-07 for affected helicopters with a certain tail rotor pitch control chain installed. AD 76-12-07 required visually inspecting the chain to detect a crack in the link segments and, for affected Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control system with a push-pull control system.
CRAIG ZIRZOW joined CTP Aviation as vice president of sales and marketing. He has more than a decade of sales, marketing and charter development experience, including serving as vice president of business development for Solairus.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new facility at its Belfast location that will be dedicated to wing manufacturing and assembly. Bombardier had already expanded its Northern Ireland site with the hiring of nearly 1,000 employees over the past two years, and expects to add at least 250 more over the next year at the new wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The 600,000-sq.-ft. site is making wings for the CSeries. The opening follows the recent ground-breaking of Bombardier’s planned 150,000-sq.-ft. facility at the Midparc Casablanca Green Zone in Morocco.
Airports preservation, FAA costs and the third-class medical exemption are three of the top priorities that new Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Mark Baker emphasized during his first major keynote address before association members. Baker, who last week addressed the AOPA Aviation Summit in Fort Worth, notes “airports shouldn’t look like prison camps. We respect the need for security, but airports can only thrive when people can use them.” He questioned why airports couldn’t have picnic tables, shelters, grills, viewing areas and playgrounds.
Bell Helicopter signed an agreement with its independent representative, Reignwood Investment, covering the purchase of 10 Bell 407s and two Bell 429 helicopters. Along with the purchase agreement, Bell and Reignwood signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore future business opportunities in China. The MOU lays the groundwork for collaboration in areas such as sales and marketing, service and support, training reassembly, completions and customizing.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-AD; Amendment 39-17541; AD 2013-16-03] – requires inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes, and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This AD is prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may lead to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could cause a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control of the helicopter.
AGUSTA Model A109E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0146; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-060-AD; Amendment 39-17559; AD 2013-16-21] – supersedes an AD that required reducing the tail rotor (T/R) blade life limit, modifying a T/R hub and grip assembly, reidentifying two T/R assemblies, clarifying the never-exceed speed (Vne) limitation, and reducing the inspection interval. Since FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer has redesigned a T/R grip bushing that reduces the loads, which caused the T/R cracking, on the T/R blades.
Business aviation in North Africa is growing at a rate nearly double the global average, but activity is down this year, according to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). MEBAA points to WingX data that shows the number of registered business aircraft is increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%, compared with the global average of 3.7%.
SELWYN HOUSE was promoted to president and CEO of CTP Aviation. House succeeds Reid Dennis in the role. He has worked with the firm for more than a decade and formerly was director of operations.
JASON ZELENAK was promoted to sales manager for Aviation Search Group, an executive, direct-placement search firm dedicated to the aviation and aerospace industries. Zelenak will continue to be responsible for customer support, as well as identifying new business opportunities. He joined the company in January 2012 and most recently was a senior search coordinator, recruiting professionals for senior positions with a cargo charter operator, helicopter operator, engine and parts manufacturer and repair station, among others.
Avionics and head-up guidance system provider Rockwell Collins is developing a passive, uncooled multi-spectral vision aid that will see “first light” by early November, marking a key benchmark in the company’s bid to become an end-to-end enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) provider .
