Massachusetts-based regional carrier Cape Air has cut as much as 25% off its flight times for certain city-pairs by equipping GPS units with the wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) in its Cessna 402C fleet.
NASA has awarded $38 million in contracts to four companies to address “system technology gaps that are exposed by the operational challenges” of the next-generation air traffic control system (NextGen).
NASA has awarded $38 million in contracts to four companies to address “system technology gaps that are exposed by the operational challenges” of the next-generation air traffic control system (NextGen).
With the contract air traffic tower program protected in the current fiscal year, aviation groups are now turning their attention to fiscal 2014 to guard against potential cuts that could threaten the program. Leaders from nearly a dozen associations concerned with the issue wrote House of Representatives and Senate appropriators seeking $150 million for the program in the next fiscal year, and a provision that would ensure the continued operation of the towers.
Asian VIP aviation services provider, ASA Group, has expanded its operations, and opened offices in Indonesia and Malaysia thanks to support from the Middle East.
NEW DELHI — Pilatus plans to establish a manufacturing facility in India, as the country looks at acquiring more aircraft from the Swiss aircraft maker. The facility will initially manufacture airframes for its single-engine turboprop PC-12 aircraft. “This will be our third support facility for PC-12 aircraft, the other two being in Portugal and Poland. It will be part of our offset commitment in India,” says Pilatus Vice President Jim Roche. Plans call for shipping the airframes to Switzerland for final assembly.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on May 29 told federal agencies to prepare their fiscal 2015 budget requests with three levels of spending in mind, including 5% and 10% cuts from the projection laid down in April with the 2014 request. The budget-crafting guidance represents the first formal recognition of the long-term effects of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA), whose first round of widespread, automatic sequestration rescissions took effect in March and led to FAA furloughs and the threatened closure of 149 contract towers.
FAA’s now-retired general aviation chief thinks risk-management tools and methods do not get enough emphasis either in initial or recurrent GA pilot training, even though his own research suggests as many as 75% of personal GA flying accidents can be traced to poor risk-management decision-making.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0951; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-52-AD; Amendment 39-17437; AD 2013-08-19] – requires visual and dye penetrant inspections for cracks in the rear roller support shaft and rear fitting of the sliding door, and replacing the shaft or fitting if there is a crack.
Nextant Aerospace sold a second Nextant 400XTi to Time Air, a Czech charter, management and aircraft acquisition specialist. Time Air becomes the first fleet operator in Europe of the Nextant 400XT line.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-1303; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-049-AD; Amendment 39-17434; AD 2013-08-17] – requires an initial and recurring inspection of the 9-deg. frame for a crack, and repair of the frame if there is a crack. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a crack in the 9-deg. frame of a Eurocopter Model AS-365N2 helicopter, and these cracks could develop on the other specified model helicopters because they contain the same 9-deg. frame.
June 6—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, White Plains, N.Y., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 17-19—National Air Transportation Association 2013 Air Charter Summit, Marriott Dulles, Dulles, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero Jun 21–22—National Business Aviation Association Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, Washington, D.C., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
CAE is expanding its training offerings on Dassault, Gulfstream and Bombardier business jets. These include maintenance training for the new Dassault Falcon 2000 LXS and 2000S aircraft platforms, which are equipped with the EASy II avionics suite. The new training supplements the initial Dassault Falcon 2000 EX EASy training with additional model-specific content. The company also will begin offering Gulfstream G450/G550 training at its London training center in Burgess Hill, U.K. in 2014.
PIPER Models PA-18 and PA-19 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0756; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-012-AD] – withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would have required either moving all toggle-style magneto switches located on the left cabin panel, adjacent to the front seat, away from this position; or replacing these switches with FAA-approved, non-keyed, rotary-style switches. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has re-evaluated this airworthiness concern and determined that an unsafe condition does not exist that would warrant AD action.
Gulfstream Aerospace has bolstered its product support network resources in Europe, where more than 180 Gulfstream operators are based. Gulfstream increased its spare parts and materials inventory in the region to a value of $125 million. The company’s London Luton facility, which moved into a larger hangar in September 2011, has since grown to include 190 employees. Gulfstream also added a sixth member to its mobile repair team unit in Europe.
Jet Aviation reports adding 23 aircraft to its global management fleet so far this year, three of which are available for charter. The new aircraft comprise seven in Europe, two in the Middle East, two in Africa, four in Asia and eight in the U.S. The charter aircraft include a Falcon 900EX in Europe and a Global 5000 and Challenger 604 in the U.S. A General Dynamics subsidiary, Jet Aviation provides aircraft maintenance, completions and refurbishment, FBO and fuel services, along with aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and personnel services.
Gulfstream Aerospace received FAA approval for its G650 Flight Operations Risk Management Service (FORMS) program. The FORMS program meets European Aviation Safety Agency flight data monitoring requirements for commercial operations. FORMS collects data during all phases of flight and identifies when certain criteria have been exceeded. The system analyzes the conditions present and provides a summary to the operator. Operators receive both event-based and quarterly reports. The system also provides safety-improving data to Gulfstream and its training partners.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0631; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-021-AD; Amendment 39-17282; AD 2012-25-01] – requires, for helicopters with certain Aerazur emergency flotation gear attachment brackets installed, an initial and recurring inspection of the brackets for a crack, and if there is a crack, replacing the cracked bracket with an airworthy bracket. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the brackets.
LONDON – Bristow has predicted it will not see its fleet of Eurocopter EC225 helicopters return to service before the first quarter of 2014. While posting its fourth-quarter earnings recently, the company said progress in Eurocopter’s probe to discover what caused two EC225s to ditch in the North Sea in 2012 was encouraging, but that it would not rush its aircraft back into operation.
Enstrom Helicopter Corp. is doubling the size of its facility in Menominee, Mich. The helicopter manufacturer last month held a groundbreaking for the project, which will add 77,000 sq. ft. to the current 85,000-sq.-ft. facility. The expansion will enable the installation of new paint, gel coat and sandblast booths for component parts, along with additional space in the manufacturing and flight line areas. The expansion will also include a second floor to house the engineering department, a new training center and space for other manufacturing capabilities.
JENNA ALBRECHT was appointed safety analyst for business aviation for Argus subsidiary Professional Resources In System Management (PRISM). Albrecht, who has a master’s degree in safety science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, holds a variety of flight certificates and ratings including commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. She formerly was an aviation claims specialist who provided client safety evaluations and safety management system program reviews.
CAE is continuing to expand its business-aviation training capacity, with plans to add a Challenger 605 full-flight simulator in Europe at the beginning of 2016 under its authorized training provider (ATP) agreement with Bombardier. The Canadian company already offers training on Bombardier’s Challenger 300 and 604 in Amsterdam and on the Learjet 40/45, Global 5000 and Global Express in the U.K.
Daher-Socata delivered its TBM 850 Elite to Nantes, France-based Abalone Group, marking the first corporate operator of the Elite model of the single-engine turboprop. The Elite model can be tailored to accommodate four or six passengers. Daher-Socata launched the 850 program in 2005 and has delivered 307 since. Combined with the successor TBM 700, deliveries have reached 629 and the fleet has exceeded 1 million flight hours.
CALVIN RIEB was named helicopter aviation services program manager for Argus subsidiary Professional Resources In System Management (PRISM). Rieb has more than 11 years of aviation safety management experience. A U.S. Army veteran, he has served as an UH-60 medevac and an Army C-12, King Air 200 fixed-wing pilot. He held a number of positions in the Army, including logistics officer, unit movement officer and company safety officer.
