Amid an increasing number of helicopter crashes, India’s air safety regulator has issued several stringent measures, including instituting a mandatory breathalyzer test for pilots before takeoff. “It will be ensured that doctors are available at the helipads prior to commencement of operations of helicopter services and the doctors shall be fully conversant with the breath analyzer equipment and procedures to be followed,” an official of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) says.
PHILLIP WADE was promoted to vice president of business development in Titeflex Aerospace. Wade will be responsible for identifying new product development opportunities and expanding into new markets. He joined Titeflex in October 2000 and most recently managed the Quality and R&D groups.
A fatal midair collision between a Beechcraft Bonanza piloted by a National Transportation Safety Board employee and a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee piloted by an FAA employee underscores the fact that the see-and-avoid principle alone is insufficient to guard against midairs when aircraft are flying under visual flight rules (VFR), the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) concludes.
Rockwell Collins’ largest acquisition to date—purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, Arinc, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group—will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
Embraer unveiled a series of “block-point” changes that include new standard and optional features for the Phenom 100 very light jet. These include multi-function spoilers, 11 new interior selections and new options including a refreshment center, stowage space and premium seats. The multi-function spoiler acts as a ground spoiler and speed brake. It can be used to increase drag and lift dump, along with reducing speed and sink-rate increase on the approach phase. The 11 new interior collections include new color choices and materials such as wood veneer.
VULCANAIR (type certificate previously held by Partenavia) Models P 68, P 68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, P 68 “Observer,” P68TC “Observer,” and P68 “Observer 2” [Docket No. FAA-2013-0602; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-010-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that established safe limits for the wing structure and required repetitive inspection and repair of the wing and stabilator structures when the airplanes reach safe life limits. That AD stemmed from reports of cracking and/or corrosion discovered in the wing spar.
Eclipse, in the final stages of certifying avionics systems before it begins delivery of the new Eclipse 550, has packaged some of the upgrades developed for the new aircraft as a retrofit option for existing Eclipse 500 very light jets.
COLT MEHLER was named vice-president - project engineering for Jormac Aerospace. Mehler joined Jormac in 2012 and has more than 13 years of customer completions engineering, project management and operations experience. He has served with Bombardier, Lufthansa Technik Completion Engineering, Midcoast Aviation and JetTech Aerospace.
Inflight connectivity specialist Aircell has enjoyed a fourfold growth in its business aviation division over the past four years as inflight Internet is becoming commonplace in fractional, charter and other operations.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 99900, 900EX and 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1067; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-231-AD; Amendment 39-17444; AD 2013-09-03] – requires modification of the wing fuel tanks in the area of the wheel well. This AD was prompted by reports that collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) could cause wing tank structure failure, which could result in fuel spillage and consequent fire hazard. FAA is issuing the AD to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a MLG collapse, and consequent fire hazard.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0554; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-009-AD] – proposes to require analyzing the main gearbox (MGB) oil for indications of metal chips or pieces, reviewing the MGB log or equivalent record, and inspecting certain teeth in the MGB after two chip indications. This proposed AD is prompted by a partial tooth rupture found in an MGB that was returned to the manufacturer for repairs.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0573; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-042-AD] – proposes to require replacing the rivets on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) Y350 longitudinal beams (longitudinal beams Y350). This proposed AD is prompted by a report that non-conforming rivets had been installed on an AS332 helicopter during a production modification. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the longitudinal beams Y350 and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
While business aviation flights in the U.S. and Canada have remained flat to down overall this year, Part 135 activity continues to gain strength with improvements every month this year, according to the most recent data by aviation safety expert and industry analyst Argus International. Part 135 flights jumped 17.8% in July compared with July 2012. That follows a 12% improvement in June and a 10.7% increase in May. In fact, charter-activity gains have been in the double digits every month this year except March, which was up 9.3%, and February, up 5.5%.
ANDREW BRADLEY was promoted to president of global sales for Avjet Corp. Bradley has served with the company since 1997, and most recently was senior vice president, global sales. He will remain based at Avjet’s Washington, D.C. office.
Avantair is under order to liquidate after the fractional ownership provider failed to meet a deadline to respond to the involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation that the company’s creditors filed in July. Avantair creditors, led by Soldier Creek Ranch, on July 25 filed the involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation and sought the appointment of an interim trustee. The court granted the request for an emergency trustee and gave Avantair until Aug. 6 to respond to the petition. But U.S.
LEO MENDOZA was appointed regional sales leader for StandardAero’s Latin American Airlines and Fleets business. Mendoza brings a background in management and aviation sales with companies including Pratt & Whitney and MTU. He also managed the supply chain for Avensa Airlines in Caracas, Venezuela.
When Pilatus Aircraft began contemplating a successor to its iconic PC-6 Porter, it initially considered an unpressurized, turboprop-powered utility aircraft. But Cessna preempted that concept with its Model 208 Caravan. Recalculating, the Stans, Switzerland, designers settled on something unprecedented. They conjured up a large-cabin, executive/utility aircraft with a big cargo door, a single PT6 turboprop, short- and rough-field capability, pressurization to cruise over the weather and enough horses to do so at 280 kt.
Rockwell Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg uses a telecommunications analogy to sum up the company's Aug. 11 purchase of communications provider Arinc: If Rockwell Collins is the iPhone, then Arinc is the cell phone network. Though simple, the metaphor is notionally correct—an iPhone is relatively useless without connectivity. The same is true of an information-enabled next-generation flight deck.
The U.S. Transportation Department is working to designate permanent areas of the Arctic where small unmanned aircraft can operate 24/7 for research and commercial purposes, with the first approved operations coming this summer.
Emerging from the Wild West of wartime, with its urgent requirements, rapid prototyping and operational experiments, unmanned aircraft systems are seeking roles in a civilian world of airworthiness regulations, airspace restrictions, privacy concerns and ownership costs. Just as the U.S. Wild West was tamed by lawmakers and regulators, so the pioneering spirit of the unmanned-systems industry is being channeled toward maturing technologies and operating procedures that will enable the creation of new civilian and commercial markets.
NASA has unveiled a new “strategic vision” for aeronautics that focuses civil-aviation research into six themes. But there is no new money, so work that does not align with the main thrusts will be reduced. The strategy is based on understanding emerging global trends, including new competitors for U.S. manufacturers, and focuses research on the drivers of those trends, such as growing worldwide demand for mobility and concerns over climate change, says NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
U.S. cargo carrier Ameriflight is cautioning the FAA that a mandate to equip aircraft with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) “out” avionics by January 2020 may be too optimistic. The operator has filed a request for exemption from the FAA rule, noting that it anticipates “supply problems for some components” in the ADS-B installations “due to high demand upon manufacturers and vendors” that may be exacerbated by “a last-minute rush” as operators attempt to meet the deadline.
Rockwell Collins’ largest acquisition to date—purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, Arinc, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group—will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
