Looking for help enabling electronic signatures? The FAA has an Advisory Circular to point you in the right direction. “AC 120-78 — Acceptance and Use of Electronic Signatures, Electronic Record-keeping Systems and Electronic Manuals “ is the place to look. The main idea is to ensure that only the person doing the work and returning the aircraft to service is making the entry. This can be done in a number of ways, and this guidance will help you choose.
Becker Avionics, based in Miramar, Florida, has introduced a new ADS-B tracking and surveillance system for flight and ground operations. The system is called ATLASS, for ADS-B Traffic Localization and Surveillance System, a traffic monitoring system that provides air and ground situational awareness. The concept will be on display at the Heli-Expo convention March 3-5.
Royal Jet, a charter company based in Abu Dhabi, has awarded SR Technics a five-year contract to maintain, repair and overhaul its fleet of CFM56-7B engines. The contract is for the 12 engines currently in service on Royal Jet’s six Boeing Business Jet aircraft used by the carrier’s VIP guests. The engine work will be done at SR Technics’ headquarters at Zurich Airport, Switzerland.
A national program called “ExporTech” will be offered in Kansas for the first time through the Mid-American Manufacturing Technology Center, or MAMTC. The program will help up to eight South Central Kansas companies with an eye on foreign export markets in three group sessions, organizers say. Companies will be selected in the coming weeks. They will be assessed a $2,000 fee and allowed to bring up to three executives to the sessions. The end result will be a completed export plan and action items to grow exports.
HAITEC Aircraft Maintenance GmbH, based in Germany, was granted Repair Station Approval by the FAA, which will allow it to offer maintenance, repair and overhaul services to operators of N-registered aircraft worldwide and grow its customer base, it said. HAITEC said it will mean growth at maintenance facilities at Hahn Airport and its VIP aircraft maintenance facility in Erfurt in Germany.
Cirrus Aircraft announced a Special Edition SR22T for use in the Australian market, called the Australis. The aircraft was designed and tailored to the climate, condition and remote area flight operations that Australian pilots frequently experience, the company said. The Australis features a custom interior and exterior design with a two-tone paint exterior and an array of color options, bolstered leather seats, carbon fiber accents on the instrument panel and polished lights and vents throughout the cabin.
The first simulator for Honda Aircraft Co.’s new HondaJet aircraft has been delivered and is being installed at its headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. The installation is underway as Honda Aircraft expects FAA type certification on the very light jet by the end of March. The full-motion, Level D simulator and HondaJet training program were developed in a partnership with FlightSafety International. The simulator will be located at the HondaJet Training Center at Honda Aircraft.
Teterboro, New Jersey-based Meridian has added a Bombardier Challenger 605 (N605MM) to its charter fleet. The large-cabin aircraft was completed in 2008 and seats up to nine passengers. It will be based at Teterboro Airport (TEB). Meridian manages a wide range of airraft types that are available for private charter including Gulfstream, Hawkers, Falcons and Citations.
In 2014, Embraer delivered 116 executive aircraft, including 92 light jets and 24 large jets, as well as 92 commercial aircraft, compared to 119 executive jet deliveries in 2013. Meanwhile, the Brazilian manufacturer’s total revenue in 2014 at Embraer increased 0.9% to $6.3 billion, driven by growth in Embraer’s defense and security segment, it said.
The Gulfstream G280 has been certified by Brazil’s Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC). This approval validates the airworthiness of the aircraft’s design and clears the way for in-country deliveries to begin. “Of all the South American countries, this aircraft is particularly well-suited for Brazil. Departing from Sao Paulo, the G280 can reach the entire continent without refueling and can fly to the U.S and Europe with one stop,” said Larry Flynn president, Gulfsream.
Bristow Group has signed an agreement with AgustaWestland to help the manufacturer develop oil and gas support capabilities for its AW609 civil tiltrotor, which its manufacturer maintains is “an ideal transportation solution for offshore travel.” According to AgustaWestland, it now has 60 customers for the aircraft. Meanwhile, two prototypes are conducting flight tests at the company’s facilities in Ft. Worth, Texas, and in Italy. A third should join testing in the U.S. later this year.
A New Delhi fixed base operator is the first to be certified under the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling, or IS-BAH. SRC Aviation was the first FBO to become certified to the new standard, a voluntary, performance-based program for ground handlers based on practices to ensure quality, manage risk, avoid ground mishaps and protect people on the ramp, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) said. Several FBOs around the world are in the process of adopting the standard, according to the NBAA.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will begin a large-scale runway construction and rehabilitation project beginning in March. The construction will take place in five stages and is expected to be completed in 2017. Phase one includes the closure of Runway 25L-07R for 33 days, from March 6 to April 7. Departure delays are likely during peak times because of reduced departure rates. At times, the airport will be down to a three-runway operation.
Continental Motors Group has announced that its six-cylinder engine that will run on alternative fuels, the IO-360-AF (Alternative Fuel) engine, has received type certification from the FAA.The engine is certified for standard 100LL as well as for 91UL avgas now available in several countries. Flight Design GmbH is expected to take delivery of the first certified engine in the second quarter of this year for use on its Flight Design C4 all-carbon composite light aircraft.
Piaggio Aerospace completed the first flight of its first fully configured P.1HH HammerHead unmanned aerial vehicle in December. The HammerHead — an unmanned version of the P.180 Avanti executive turboprop — made its first flight on Dec. 22 from Trapani air base in Sicily.
Purdue is expanding its propulsion laboratory for research directed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions for the next generation of jet engines. Expansion will include test cells to support laser-based measurements in a building to be constructed next to its high-pressure lab. The high-pressure lab was developed in 1964 as part of NASA’s Apollo program and is sponsored by aerospace companies, NASA, the Air Force and other agencies. The lab specializes in rockets and gas-turbine engines.
Gulfstream’s done it again. Winning the Collier Trophy, that is. On March 12, the National Aeronautic Association announced Gulfstream will be awarded the 2014 Robert J.
Pilatus Aircraft recently delivered its 1,300th turboprop PC-12 to Surf Air, a private air travel club based in California. Surf Air flies members to small airports in the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles Metro area, Santa Barbara, Carlsbad/San Diego, Truckee/Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas and is adding destinations. The PC-12 NG delivery marked Surf Air’s fourth since it placed an order for 15 aircraft with options for an additional 50 last fall.
The Aerospace Industries Association is searching for a new president as Marion Blakey, the longtime face and voice of U.S. aerospace and defense industry concerns in Washington, will be taking a job as the president and CEO of Rolls-Royce’s North American Operations. The unit’s current president, CEO and chairman, James Guyette, is retiring May 31. In Blakey, RRNA is getting an executive who knows Washington and the industry.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gulfstream Aerospace and Spirit AeroSystems have settled a case in which the latter alleged it had sustained damages for incomplete payments for G650 wings it manufactured for Gulfstream. Jefferies aerospace analyst Howard Rubel noted that by the end of last year, Gulfstream had retained $135.1 million in payments for work completed. Meanwhile, Spirit had liabilities tied to the program of $65.1 million. Rubel estimates Spirit received a net payment of $70 million in the settlement.
Three Textron Aviation service centers have gained certification to repair and service King Air aircraft, the company said. Its company-owned service centers in Sacramento, California, Mesa, Arizona, and Paris have gained certification for Beechcraft King Air 90-, 200- and 300-series aircraft. The certification expands King Air operators’ access to its global customer service, the company said. The Sacramento and Mesa facilities are the first Citation service centers in North American to gain FAA authorization for Beechcraft King Air Service.
American Aero FTW, an FBO at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, has purchased 64,000 sq. ft. of additional hangar space and 2.3 acres of land at the airport as part of an effort to expand its presence and enhance its ability to offer services to business aviation customers. The company is building three hangars and a two-story office complex, which is expected to be completed later this year.
Bell Helicopter has delivered its first Bell 429WLG in North America. The aircraft was delivered to Kenny Habul, a professional Nascar driver and founder of CEO of SunEnergy1, a solar energy performance certificate company in Moorseville, North Carolina, specializing in utility-scale, ground-mount projects. The Bell 429 Wheeled Landing Gear, or WLG, will be used for corporate and VIP travel. “The Bell 429WLG is the perfect fit for our corporate and transportation needs,” Habul said.
Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi is retiring retiring from his position with Presidential Flight of Abu Dhabi to focus on growing the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association, or MEBAA, which he founded. Al Naqbi, one of Presidential Flight’s founding members, served as vice president of finance and administration of the company, where he spent nearly 25 years. Presidential began business as Private Flight and changed names to Amiri Flight before adopting the Presidential name.
