ERICKSON AIR-CRANE Sikorsky Model S-64E helicopters (type certificate previously held by Sikorsky) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0556; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-30-AD] proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires checks of the main rotor blades for a crack. This proposed AD would retain the actions of the existing AD, would reflect that the type certificate (TC) for this model helicopter has been transferred to Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (Erickson), and expand the applicability to include the similar Erickson Model S-64F helicopters.
Signature Flight Support is remaining on the acquisition trail, picking up the Jet Systems facility at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. for $38.5 million, a move that strengthens its position on a key business aviation airport.
A group of business aviation officials led by VanAllen Group Chairman Peter Agur is teaming with Georgia State University (GSU) to help develop leadership skills of industry executives. VanAllen and GSU are hosting a Business Aviation Leadership Summit/Certificate Program next month to improve executives’ performance as leaders.
Air Tractor celebrated the delivery of its 3,000th airplane, an AT-502B that was handed over to a Brazilian customer. The single-seat ag plane rolled off the company’s production line in Olney, Texas in mid-July and was on display at EAA AirVenture 2013 in Oshkosh, Wis., before last week’s formal delivery. Air Tractor’s roots trace back to founder Leland Snow, who began designing and building ag in 1958 as The Snow Aeronautical Company. The company later was sold to Rockwell-Standard and began building the first “Thrush” aircraft.
Putting its Oklahoma operations on the market could be the first major step in Spirit AeroSystems’ effort to re-focus resources on what it does best: playing major roles in maturing, growing Boeing and Airbus airliner programs. Spirit executives last week announced that the company’s Tulsa manufacturing operation is for sale, along with its McAlester, Okla., facility, which provides machined parts and subassemblies.
FAA is soliciting comments on the next round of recommendations to streamline and improve pilot training and certification standards. The agency considers the push to revise the standards as a key component in a multipronged effort to improve the general aviation fatal accident rate. The latest round of documents, open for comment through Aug. 23, includes new recommendations for authorized instructors standards, along with revisions to previous work of pilot certification/instrument ratings.
DAVE MILLS was appointed general manager of Landmark Aviation’s facility at Oakland International Airport (OAK) in California. He has 30 years of aviation experience, formerly as general manager for Business Jet Center in Oakland. He has also served as director of operations for Sierra Academy of Aeronautics.
Purdue University is expanding biofuel research to very light jets, teaming with Embraer and Honeywell on a project involving a Jet A/camelina-based blend.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) continues to expand its membership with online broker JetCharters.com the latest to join. JetCharter.com is among a handful of brokers and operators that joined the foundation this summer, with others including Air Trek, New Flight Charters, Private Jet Charter and Apollo Jets. The foundation membership has reached 107 businesses.
Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC) has delivered its 24th ACJ cabin to an undisclosed customer in the Middle-East, integrating more than 15 new technologies to meet the customer's high requirements in terms of layout design, comfort and systems.
LONDON — Eurocopter’s Brazilian subsidiary Helibras has received permission to produce the Eurocopter EC225 helicopter domestically. Currently the EC225 is only built in France, but production of the EC225 in Brazil would pave the way for EC225s to support Brazil’s rapidly expanding oil and gas industry.
LONDON — Bristow Helicopters has begun offering the AgustaWestland AW189 to its oil and gas customers in the North Sea region. The company, which has ordered six of the type for the offshore support mission, has been demonstrating the aircraft to customers since July 30 using one of AgustaWestland’s pre-production aircraft at Norwich Airport, U.K., one of the locations where the new aircraft is likely to be based once it enters service in early 2014.
Bristow Helicopters has begun offering the AgustaWestland AW189 to its oil and gas customers in the North Sea region. The company, which has ordered six of the type for the offshore support mission, has been demonstrating the aircraft to customers since July 30 using one of AgustaWestland’s pre-production aircraft at Norwich Airport, U.K., one of the locations where the new aircraft is likely to be based once it enters service in early 2014.
Elit'Avia has announced that it has opened an office in Accra, Ghana and is currently managing four business aircraft for West African clients, specifically: two Bombardier Global 6000s and a Bombardier Global XRS in Nigeria, plus a Dassault Falcon 2000 in Ghana. Management of these aircraft is a blend of both exclusive client use and charter availability.
Prospects for abundant and inexpensive natural gas have aircraft manufacturers reassessing the options for future fuels, particularly for the military where both energy security and affordability could trump any desire to reduce emissions by moving away from fossil fuels.
New airline rules for first officers instituted Aug. 1 will increase pressure on flight-training providers to devise more innovative and affordable solutions to building hours. At a minimum, freshman first officers will need 1,500 hr. flight time for an Air Transport Pilot rating, up from 250 hr. and a commercial rating, with fewer hours required for military pilots or those with an aviation degree.
Kestrel Aircraft is stumbling along on the road to developing its 320+ kt. single-engine, carbon-fiber JP10 turboprop, as the company’s president and CEO Alan Klapmeier looks for sponsors willing to invest the tens of millions needed to bring the aircraft to market. Absent Chinese or Russian investors with deep pockets, he’s finding it very tough to woo white knight venture capitalists to back his program. How tough is this task?
The Small Airplane Revitalization Act, a bill calling on FAA to rewrite light aircraft standards, is set to head to the Senate floor after the Senate Commerce Committee approved it July 30. The bill, S.1072, is the companion to legislation passed by the House earlier this month. The bill essentially would require FAA to rewrite Part 23 certification standards, taking into account the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), by Dec. 31, 2015.
Quest Aircraft recently secured two more certifications for its Kodiak single-turboprop – from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation – bringing to 12 the total number of approvals for the aircraft. Quest notes that its aircraft, designed for multi-mission operations in rugged terrains, has received strong interest in both regions, and the certifications “will help us move the discussion forward.” Quest received an order for 12 Kodiaks from Blue Eagle Aviation Investment Corp.
JIM BENNETT was appointed vice president of flight operations for Key Air. Bennett is a 40-yr. aviation veteran, most recently holding a similar position with Jet Access. He has more than 21,000 flight hours and holds type ratings in Boeing, Cessna, Bombardier, Dassault, Hawker and Gulfstream aircraft, among others. He also held numerous positions with Tag Aviation.
Piper Aircraft is continuing to see a steady increase in orders, with both revenues and deliveries up through the first half of the year, the company reports. The 13% increase in deliveries to 86 aircraft and 11% increase in revenue to $77 million continue a three-year trend of improved results for the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer. The company’s top-of-the-line M-Class family continues to slowly edge upward, with three more delivered in the first half, compared with a year ago.
Cessna Aircraft checked off two more milestones in its business jet development programs. The first production model of the new Citation X completed its first flight, and the first production M2 rolled off the assembly line. Slated to enter the market early next year, the new X flew a 3.1-hr. flight, averaging a cruise speed of Mach 0.915 at 41,000 ft. The aircraft reached 49,000 ft. and its top speed of Mach 0.935, putting the aircraft on track to reclaim the business jet speed title from Gulfstream’s 650.
