Certification of Eurocopter’s EC175 medium helicopter will be delayed by at least another four months, as the company tries to mature its troubled Helionix avionics system. The company confirmed the delay during the Paris air show. Eurocopter’s head of engineering, Jean-Brice Dumont says the European Aviation Safety Agency is now likely to certify the aircraft in early 2014.
CAV Ice Protection’s TKS Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) protection system will be offered as an option on Cessna’s new Corvalis TTx single-engine aircraft when it reaches market later this year or in early 2014. The system uses titanium leading edge panels that secrete TKS ice protection fluid through laser-drilled holes. The system is integrated into the TTx’s Garmin G2000 cockpit display to indicate operational status. Pilots are able to select from three flow rate settings, and the system includes a backup mode for pump redundancy.
Ed Iacobucci, the technology entrepreneur who had a dream of revolutionizing private transportation by selling per-seat charter for the cost of an airline ticket using a fleet of Eclipse Aviation EA-500 business jets, died at his home June 21 following a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 59.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2B, 2B1 and 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0024; Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-12-AD; Amendment 39-17469; AD 2013-11-09] – supersedes an existing AD currently requires replacement of injector manifolds and borescope inspection of the flame tube and the high-pressure (HP) turbine area for possible damage. This new AD requires, depending on the engine model, repetitive replacements of fuel injection manifolds and the privilege injector, or repetitive replacements of the privilege injector.
Bell Helicopter received an order for four Bell 407GX helicopters from CareFlite, a North Texas-based medical transportation company. CareFlite will operate the helicopters to transport ill or injured patients to critical care facilities within a 150-mi. radius of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for this year.
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees on June 27 made substantially different recommendations for the fiscal 2014 FAA budget, clearing bills that are nearly $1 billion apart in funding. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill 22-8 that calls for an increase in FAA’s funding over fiscal 2013 levels to $15.921 billion. This would include increased funding for safety inspectors and NextGen investments. At the same time, the House approved 28-20 a bill that would cut FAA’s funding to $15 billion.
In a rare unanimous vote, the U.S. Senate has confirmed Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx to become the next U.S. transportation secretary. Senators today voted 100-0 to confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Cabinet department that oversees the FAA, the Maritime Administration and numerous other related federal agencies.
The budget crunch and sequestration cuts are setting the stage for a potential renewed debate on user fees. National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen and Airlines for America President and CEO Nick Calio broached the topic at a recent conference on the next generation air transportation system.
GE Aviation has begun certification testing of its Passport engine that will power the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 business jets. The Passport engine, developed under a joint venture between GE, IHI of Japan and TechSpace Aero of Belgium, began ground testing on June 24, running for more than 3 hr., and reaching more than 18,000 lb. of standard day sea-level takeoff thrust, GE says. The engine will be certified to produce 16,500 lbst on the Bombardier aircraft, and meet Stage 4 noise regulations. First run occurred at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio.
CLOVIS MARTINS has joined Vector Aerospace Engines Services –Atlantic as sales and service manager for Brazil. Martins has nine year of aviation industry experience. He formerly has served with Synerjet, Premier Aviation and Linford Aviation.
JOHN MULDER was promoted to director of operations for TWC Aviation. Mulder has spent seven years with TWC, serving as chief pilot, director of training and line pilot. He has also served as director of operations and chief pilot for other Part 135 operators, along with assistant aviation commander for the Washington State Patrol and a U.S. Navy jet flight instructor.
Duncan Aviation was named the exclusive worldwide distributor of Safran Power UK & Safran Power USA’s Learjet 60 replacement starter generator. Duncan houses generator inventories at its Lincoln, Neb., facility and ships units worldwide.
Nepal’s Shree Airlines has placed an order for eight helicopters from Eurocopter, with deliveries scheduled to begin early next year. With the order of five AS350 B3e and three EC130 T2, the Himalayan nation will become one of the largest operators of Ecureuil helicopters in South Asia. Financial details were not disclosed. Shree Airlines currently operates an AS350 B3e for emergency relief operations. The EC130 T2s, however, will be used for commercial operations.
MARISA ALKIN was appointed charter coordinator for Cutter Aviation. Alkin has served with Cutter since May 2012 in the customer service department. She also has previous experience in both the aviation and customer service industries.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0459; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-044-AD] – proposes to require repetitive replacement of the bellcrank supports on the inner rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer with new, improved bellcrank supports.
ROBERT MULLINS was named executive vice president, corporate strategy and mergers & acquisitions for Cobham. Mullins was formerly senior vice president, corporate strategy for Alliant Techsystems, an aerospace, defense and commercial products company. Mullins has also served with Northrop Grumman in a number of executives positions, including vice president of operations strategy and development for Northrop’s ISR Systems Division.
San Francisco-based Lam Aviation completed another round of flight tests using a Lancair Columbia fitted with its Lam Aileron, confirming a number of performance improvements that range from 30% improved fuel consumption to a 50% increase in rate of climb over the in-production aircraft, the company says.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 900 and 900EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1322; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-155-AD; Amendment 39-17466; AD 2013-11-06] – requires modifying the tail strobe power supply wire routing. This AD was prompted by reports of chafing between the tail strobe power supply and a hydraulic line.
Although the House and Senate have drafted substantially different FAA funding bills, both chambers are providing full funding to preserve the contract tower program in their respective 2014 budget bills. The House would provide $140 million for the program; the Senate $140.35 million. The funding is designed to shield the program from the sequestration cuts that had threatened it this spring. The U.S.
SAAB Model 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0460; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-222-AD] – proposes to require an inspection of the stick pusher rigging and an adjustment to the correct setting if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the elevator position quoted in an aircraft maintenance manual is incorrect for the Saab 340B airplane.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), exasperated by the continued delay in the release of the congressionally mandated aircraft repair station security rule, is urging Congress to reverse course on the penalty it imposed in 2008 after TSA failed to produce the rule. Congress nearly five years ago banned FAA from certifying any new foreign repair station until the rule is released. ARSA is receiving indications of support in the House for a bill to overturn the ban and is hopeful that a measure will be introduced in upcoming weeks.
July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 29-Aug. 4—2013 EAA Airventure Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org Aug. 12-13—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Sao Paulo, Brazil, www.aea.net/events.asp Aug. 27-28—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, www.aea.net/events.asp
BELL Model 214B, 214B-1 and 214ST helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0470; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-008-AD; Amendment 39-17465; AD 2013-11-05] – requires inspecting the bearing to determine whether an incorrectly manufactured seal material is installed on the bearing. This AD is prompted by a report that certain bearings were manufactured with an incorrect seal material that does not meet Bell specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of bearing grease, failure of the bearing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Signature Flight Support, which teamed with Montreal-based fixed-base operator Starlink Aviation in 2010 under a licensing agreement, is acquiring a majority share of the FBO operations in a move that provides Signature its first majority-owned base in Canada. Under an agreement that is expected to close in the third quarter, Starlink will continue to own and operate the real estate in Montreal, along with its aircraft management, maintenance, corporate shuttle and charter businesses.
