BOMBARDIER’S Global Vision Flight Deck is on schedule to fly this summer, the Canadian manufacturer said. The flight deck completed a “Power-On” test during the winter, a milestone that prepares for the first flight in the summer on a Global Express XRS aircraft. The flight deck will be offered on both the XRS and Global 5000 jets. During the Power-On test, the flight deck’s system computers, its flight software and the aircraft systems are powered up to verify functionality and compatibility, Bombardier said, adding that all systems performed as expected.
AGUSTAWESTLAND has opened a new regional business headquarters in Lisbon for the newly established AgustaWestland Portugal S.A. AgustaWestland executives noted that the Portuguese helicopter market has increased in recent years, and the company has orders for more than 20 commercial and military helicopters from Portugal.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT sold a Premier II to charter operator RayaJet and flight trainer Ayla Aviation Academy in Jordan. A follow-on to the Premier IA, the Premier II will cruise faster and have a 20 percent longer range. The joint order for the Premier II is in line with plans for Ayla and RayaJet to merge this year.
SAAB 340A, SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0035; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-096-AD; Amendment 39-15909; AD 2009-10-13] – Conduct a detailed inspection of the frame and closing angle on the forward engine cowl door for cracking, deformation or wear damage, in accordance with the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-71-060 (dated Feb. 8, 2008). If any damage is found, repair it before further flight.
EUROPEAN AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY is expected to discuss a range of pressing issues during the 2009 Europe/U.S. International Aviation Safety Conference this week in Athens, including progress on a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) that could represent a fundamental change in philosophy on regulation of foreign corporate and charter operations in Europe, said Jens Hennig, vice president of operations for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION’S 13th annual Day on the Hill event held last month drew nearly 75 association members who met with more than 100 members of the House and Senate and their staff.
STS HOLDINGS, INC. has changed the company name to STS Aviation Group in an effort to unify its four divisions that provide aerospace services, the company said. The individual services divisions will carry the STS name. STS executives said the move will not change the management team or operations, but “will give added visibility to the fact that we are a unified company with a network of services designed to support the aerospace industry.
DON SWAIM was named a partner in the aviation practice of Dallas trial law firm Rose Walker L.L.P. Swaim will work in aviation law and focus on product liability, premises liability and personal injury claims. He is board-certified in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He also holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest lawyer rating offered by the lawyer-ranking service.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND MBB-BK 117 A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, and C-1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0453; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-63-AD; Amendment 39-15911; AD 2009-11-01] – Visually inspect the upper and lower surfaces of affected main-rotor blades for bulging in the area where the lead balance weights are found, per the instructions of Eurocopter Deutschland Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK117-10-108, Rev. 3 (dated Aug. 7, 2008). If bulging exceeds 1.0 mm (0.040 inch) in height, remove the blade and replace it with an airworthy blade before further flight.
BOMBARDIER is improving its aircraft on ground (AOG) support with the addition of a new Mobile Response Team (MRT), as well as the introduction of its PartsExpress airborne parts delivery service to Europe. The MRT, which will support Learjet, Challenger and Global business aircraft, comprises six maintenance and technical experts licensed by the European Aviation Safety Agency through Bombardier’s Belfast operations. The team will provide around-the-clock AOG maintenance. PartsExpress, originally launched in the U.S.
A broad-based coalition of general aviation, airline and financial organizations are urging FAA to make substantial changes to proposed new aircraft-registration requirements before the final rules are released.
June 8 – GWAO Rescheduled – 21st Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open, Lansdowne Resort, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.gwao.org June 8-10 – NATA Air Charter Summit, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, Va., (703) 845-9000 June 9-11 – NATA FBO Leadership Conference, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, Va., (703) 845-9000 June 14-17 – American Association of Airport Executives: 81st Annual Conference & Expo, Philadelphia, (703) 824-0500 or go to www.aaae.org/products/allmeetings.html
Early returns from the industry’s “No Plane, No Gain” campaign indicate attitudes about business aviation are beginning to change, but more needs to be done, Gulfstream President Joe Lombardo said.
NEW WORLD AVIATION, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., has added a Gulfstream GIV and GIISP to its charter certificate. The 18-passenger GIV is based in Allentown, while the 12-passenger GIISP is based in St. Louis, Mo.
AIR TRACTOR AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0473; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-027-AD; Amendment 39-15915; AD 2009-11-05] – This new directive, which supersedes AD 2008-10-12, is an expansion of a rule that requires repetitive inspections for cracks in engine mounts, repair of any cracks found, and installation of gussets as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
SHORT BROTHERS SD3-60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0464; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-189-AD] – This proposed revision of an earlier directive (AD 2008-16-09) would require operators to conduct repetitive inspections and eventually replace elevator trim tab balance weight attachment brackets, per Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-55-20, Rev. 2 (dated March 29, 2007). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by several occurrences of cracked elevator trim tab balance weight attachment brackets.
DOWTY PROPELLERS R354/4-123-F/13, R354/4-123-F/20, R375/4-123-F/21, R389/4-123-F/25, R389/4-123-F/26 and R390/4-123-F/27 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2008-0545; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-16-AD] – This revision of an earlier proposal corrects the list of propeller models affected by a requirement to conduct initial and repetitive visual inspections for cracks of propeller blade-root outer sleeves. Any propeller blades that have cracked blade-root outer sleeves would need to be removed before further flight, per the instructions of Dowty Propellers Service Bulletin No.
The general aviation community breathed a partial sigh of relief after the Transportation Security Administration Thursday signed off on a new Security Directive that clarifies a controversial measure that called for background checks, threat assessments and badging for anyone with unescorted access to the airport operations area (AOA) – essentially inside the airport fence – of commercial airports. But GA organizations still want more clarification on the measure.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL’S London Farnborough center in the United Kingdom received Level D qualification from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority for three new simulators. The Hawker 750, Citation Sovereign and Gulfstream G550 simulators all were qualified within eight weeks. The London Farnborough facility provides pilot and maintenance training for Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Gulfstream and Sikorsky aircraft.
PHILLIP FIENEN joined Precision Aviation Group as regional sales manager. Formerly director of sales and customer support for Kansas Aviation for 17 years, Fienen has a background in engine and airframe accessories. He also was a former U.S. Marine crew chief for the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter.
DALLAS AIRMOTIVE entered a five-year agreement to provide engine maintenance for fractional ownership provider Avantair. The agreement covers repair, hot section inspection, overhaul and field service on the PT6A-66 engines that power Avantair’s fleet of Piaggio Avanti turboprop aircraft. Dallas Airmotive has been an authorized distributor and designated overhaul facility for the PT6A since 1967. Dallas Airmotive will service Avantair engines at its Charlotte, N.C. regional turbine center and its Dallas major overhaul facility.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND EC135 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2009-0482; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-54-AD; Amendment 39-15920; AD 2009-11-10] – Remove the lower transmission cover and measure the clearance between the outer race and the transmission housing, per the instructions of Eurocopter Deutschland Alert Service Bulletin EC135-63A-013, Rev. 02 (dated Sept. 12, 2008). If the measured maximum clearance is insufficient, take remedial actions.
Business travelers are seeking cheaper alternatives to first and business class travel, and after four years of high growth, the use of executive jets has declined, according to a new study by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
WHILE THE HOUSE last month passed a three-year FAA reauthorization bill (BA, May 25/245), industry observers believe the Senate is less likely to follow suit. Key senators have expressed a desire for a shorter bill – perhaps for as little as one or two years. This would give the White House time to fully explore, and push for, its proposal to replace the aviation excise taxes with up to $9 billion in annual user fees beginning in a couple of years, the industry observers fear.
