Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., announced that Kevin Dutton is the new vice president, Operations Finance. He will lead financial functions for Gulfstream operations in the U.S. and Mexico. David Pearman was appointed general manger of the company's service center in West Palm Beach, Fla. He has served as general manager of Gulfstream's component repair facility in Lincoln, Calif., since 2008.
Signature Flight Support won San Jose City Council approval for its planned $82 million fixed-base operation complex at Norm Mineta San Jose International Airport. The approval included a 50-year lease and operating agreement to build and operate the FBO on 29 acres on the west side of the airport. The city council in April formally approved Signature's bid to develop the project. Signature teamed with Blue City Holdings, a San Jose company representing the personal aircraft of the principals at Google, on the project.
John Adler Adler, Murphy and McQuillen (Chicago, Ill. )
“Serving Up Liability” (Point of Law, January 2014) was a good article. I'm also aware of airline liability under the old saloon keeper liability (dram shop liability in Illinois). Airlines were sued for accidents involving over served passengers after they got off the plane. I'm aware of a suit some years ago wherein an intoxicated passenger wandered out into the “Bloody Bayshore” in San Francisco and was killed; his estate sued the airline. Keep up the good work!
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, named Craig Olson vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems. He succeeds Jeff Standersky, who was recently named senior vice president, Information Management Services. Olson has been with Rockwell Collins for more than 27 years.
Zenith Aviation, a Fredericksburg, Va.-based marketer and distributor of Dornier 328 parts, has significantly increased its inventory with the purchase of Dornier 328 jet assets from Comtran and Jetran International. The assets include two Dornier 328-310 heavyweight jets, six Pratt & Whitney 306B engines, two sets of Dornier 328-310 heavyweight landing gear, a complete 12-seat executive interior, and more than 2,000 line items of rotable parts .
William (Bill) Stine, the longtime director of international operations for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), retired in January after nearly 35 years with the organization. Stine served as the staff liaison to the NBAA International Operators Committee and Schedulers and Dispatchers Committee. He was a founding officer of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and had served as its corporate secretary. A U.S.
AgustaWestland is continuing to add improvement modifications to its AW609 as the aircraft moves toward its confirmed certification scheduled for 2017. The hybrid fixed/rotary wing aircraft currently has “almost 60 potential orders from global customers,” according to Roberto Caprarella, Communications Manager for the company. These are from both civil and government customers in a range of configurations, primarily VIP/executive transport and offshore oil and gas operators.
Honda Aircraft's new customer service facility in Greensboro, N.C., has received FAR Part 145 certification. Opened in October 2013, the facility is initially cleared for component-level repairs, but Honda expects to expand the approvals to cover heavy aircraft maintenance and major services repairs this year. The facility is also the base for Honda's customer service organization and will provide warranty administration; service programs sales and administration; provide 24/7 technical support and training; and develop technical publications.
A decade after Congress mandated that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) adopt new repair station security rules, the agency is finally issuing them and effectively lifting a five year ban on certification of new foreign repair stations. In that time, the number of repair stations awaiting FAA certification had grown to more than 90. The final rule applies to some 4,700 Part 145 FAA-certified repair stations. But in a major concession to both industry wishes and general practicality, not all of its elements apply to every facility.
Tips and insights from a veteran By AC-U-KWIK's Consulting Editor, Alain George, [email protected] Private/corporate operators with aircraft registered in an ICAO-contracted state do not require prior permission to overfly/land in the U.K. However, there are Customs re–quirements that apply according to your point of departure or destination:
Keith Plumb, president and COO of regional fractional ownership provider Executive AirShare, added the title of CEO on Jan. 1. Plumb is succeeding Bob Taylor as part of a succession plan that began in early 2013. Taylor, who has been chairman and CEO, will become chairman emeritus, focused on various sales and business development projects. Taylor, who turns 67 shortly, jointly founded Executive AirShare with Plumb in 2000 in Wichita.
Arinc, teaming with the National Business Aviation Association and a number of flight planning providers, have been adding advanced passenger information capabilities to meet new Mexico requirements that recently took effect for both private and commercial operations. The Mexican government passed a measure calling for the reporting requirements in 2010 in an attempt to tighten security and better account for taxes paid by arriving and departing passengers, NBAA says.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has given it assurances that he will make the petition for an exemption from third-class medical requirements a priority. AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association jointly petitioned the agency seeking the ability to use the driver's license medical standard. In a letter to AOPA, Huerta wrote it was important to “ensure that such an unprecedented change will not result in any adverse impact that could lead to degradation in safety.”
Jan. 6 — At 0700 EST, a Mooney M20R (N1046L) collided with trees and terrain about 1 mi. east of the Boyne City Municipal Airport (KN98), Boyne City, Mich. The private pilot and the passenger on board were both fatally injured. The airplane was heavily damaged from the impact and a post-crash fire. The airplane was registered to Chair Covers Leasing, Inc., and operated by the private pilot. The purpose of the flight is unknown at this time. It was VFR for the flight and an IFR flight plan was filed.
In the interim, there are specific recommendations from the 2013 study that are worthy of consideration by business aviation operators: First Seek out a true subject matter expert on your exact FMS who can provide you with the in-depth knowledge and skill necessary to operate the equipment expertly during line operations. Second Maintain and improve knowledge and skills in manual flight operations. Third improve autoflight mode awareness as part of an emphasis on flight path management.
Greenpoint Technologies has been tapped by an undisclosed customer for a second time to outfit a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a VIP interior. The Kirkland, Wash., outfit says it spent five years learning about the airplane and visiting the nearby Boeing plant in preparing to work on the new model. Now 25 years old, Greenpoint works on Boeing aircraft exclusively. The company provides all-encompassing completion service including in-house engineering and design to manufacturing and installation of VIP interiors.
According to the DC-6 emergency checklist, the proper procedure for an engine fire is to ensure the engine is feathered first before pulling the fire-extinguishing handle. The checklist notes the effectiveness of the fire extinguisher system is greater after engine rotation has stopped. A letter submitted to the NTSB by the operator, says, in part: 1. “Engine rotation may be the source of the engine fire. Feathering and stopping engine rotation may remove that source.” 2.
Although cleared, the driveway was snow crusted. So, I watched with keen interest as my daughter made her way up its steep incline, her all-season tires going slower and slower until just inches from the summit, they stopped. Not good. Hustling up, I told her to take a back seat. Daddy would get it over the top. A perfect Papa Berenstain Bear* moment: Don't be upset getting stuck on a hill, Driving cars through snow takes know-how and skill
DeathsRobert “Bob” Ruskay died on Dec. 8 after a battle with cancer. He spent over forty years in corporate aviation most of if flying out of Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York for the Crane Co. and later as flight department manager for Reader's Digest. He semi-retired to Tucson, Ariz., where he was a Challenger instructor at FlightSafety and a contract pilot for the past 13 years.
Former Flying magazine Publisher Dick Koenig, who has served on the board has been named to head the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), succeeding Peter Fleiss, who has retired after leading the charitable organization for 14 years. Koeing had been a member of the CAN board. Founded in 1981, CAN arranges free flights aboard empty seats of corporate jets for cancer patients traveling to or from treatment. More than 500 corporations participate, flying about 250 patient flights monthly. Since its founding, CAN has arranged nearly 45,000 flights.
Gulfstream Aerospace announced it will expand its aircraft service and support organization by adding a new worldwide Product Support distribution Center located in the NorthPort Industrial Park in Savannah. The center is expected to be completed in early 2015 and will have more than 300 employees and about $900 mill in parts and materials inventory. The center will be 338,100 sq. ft. for parts and materials and 67,000 sq. ft. for office space.
Beginning Jan. 8, Airbus Helicopters became the official name of the organization formerly known as Eurocopter. The name change tracks with that of its parent, formerly known as the European Aeronautic Defense and Space ace and Defense Co. (EADS), but henceforth to be called the Airbus Group. “This rebranding works hand in hand with our ongoing transformation, which is now bolstered by the Airbus brand's strong foundation in innovation, quality and industrial excellence,” said Guillaume Faury, president of Airbus Helicopters.
Wheels Up, the membership-based private aviation company founded last summer, remains “slightly ahead of plans” with 150 members signing on in its first few months of operation and finishing the year with nine aircraft in service, says founder and CEO Kenny Dichter. The company launched with a firm order for 35 Beechcraft King Air 350s and options for up to 70 more, the largest commercial order ever for the twin turboprop aircraft.“We're just getting started,” says Dichter, who believes the company is on pace to top 250 members shortly.
Bell Helicopter plans to its build its new SLS — shorthand for “short light single-engine” — helicopter at an all-new production facility at Louisiana's Lafayette Regional Airport. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered an incentive package that includes performance-based grants of $4.0 million for lease support, $3.8 million for infrastructure and equipment, and $0.2 million to reimburse relocation expenses. Meanwhile, Bell is investing $11.4 million in equipment and tooling. The new facility is expected to create 115 new jobs.
