Speakers at a recent aviation outlook conference in Abu Dhabi expressed confidence that the business aviation sector in the Middle East would continue to grow in 2009. Panelists at a business aviation session agreed that the industry had enjoyed exceptional growth in past years. While the current economic climate will inevitably restrict similar growth levels this year, they all also see signs for a healthy 2009.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES DA40 and DA40F airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0240; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-015-AD] – This proposed rule, which would supersede AD 2007-17-06, would require operators to repetitively inspect the nose landing gear leg for cracks, per the instructions of Diamond Aircraft Industries Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1 (dated April 25, 2007) or MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3 (dated Nov. 17, 2008). If any cracks are found, operators would need to replace the leg before further flight.
HONEYWELL is moving closer to receiving the first FAA certification of a satellite-based landing system that will be used to replace traditional instrument landing systems at airports in the U.S. and around the world. Honeywell expects FAA to certify its ground-based augmentation (GBAS) product, known as SmartPath, late in the second quarter. GBAS has been used extensively in Australia, and Airservices Australia has played a major role in the development of GBAS.
Economic woes continue to mount at Cessna, which is slipping production schedules on its existing business jet lines and planning to slow development of the Citation Columbus.
The March 19 crash of Cessna’s second – and only remaining – SkyCatcher flying model will impact company plans to produce 40 of the light sport aircraft in 2009. But to what extent will be determined in the coming weeks. Cessna will first fully assess the accident’s impact to the production program and proceed from there, according to company official Doug Oliver. The manufacturer planned to start deliveries of the two-seat SkyCatcher, also known as the Cessna 162, in the second half of this year.
SATSAIR, the Greenville, S.C.-based air taxi operator, reports that it conducted more than 14,000 flights in 24 states during the past year, with a cumulative total of 11 million passenger miles since it launched in 2004. The closely held company did not disclose amounts of revenue or earnings but pointed to operations growth as an indicator of its performance. SATSair primarily serves the Southeastern U.S. with a fleet of Cirrus SR22 aircraft.
WHILE DASSAULT FALCON JET (DFJ) continues to work on a European R&D program for a supersonic business jet, plans to move ahead with the project are on the back burner, DFJ President and CEO John Rosanvallon tells BA. Instead, the company is focusing on continued product improvement, certification of the 2000 LX and the development of the new Falcon Super Mid Size (SMS) business jet program. Dassault is extending the definition work on the SMS after the first phase of definition did not achieve performance targets.
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) recently added a new articulated arm robot for friction stir welding. The robot, installed at NIAR’s Advanced Joining & Processing Lab, is capable of both friction stir welds and spot welds. NIAR noted the welds are stronger than rivets, and friction stir welding minimizes or eliminates defects and reduces parts count, the complexity of the manufacturing process and weight. Eclipse Aviation had planned to use the process for high-volume production of its Eclipse EA-500 Very Light Jet.
JetDirect Holdings, LLC, late last week signed an agreement to complete the sale of the assets of JetDirect Aviation Inc. to a new entity, JDA Acquisition Corp. (JDAAC), which is owned by an investor group led by Brantley Partners of Beachwood, Ohio. Brantley Managing Partner Robert Pinkas will become chairman of JDAAC, and the new company will hire the management team of JetDirect Aviation – which includes the former managers of TAG Aviation USA and The Air Group.
Mike Press, chief executive and president of St. Louis-based Sp Jets and an owner of an Eclipse aircraft, together with Mason Holland, a 60 percent deposit holder on an undelivered EA-500, announced plans to form Eclipse Jet LLC, a new firm that will seek to buy the assets of insolvent Eclipse Aviation during the upcoming liquidation auction.
Congress last week passed another short-term extension of FAA’s reauthorization and aviation taxes, buying six more months to work out a compromise on a comprehensive, multi-year aviation bill. Last week’s action came just two weeks before FAA’s authorization was set to expire March 31. FAA has been operating under a series of short-term extensions since September 2007.
The latest Hawker Beechcraft ad campaign has generated about 20 interviews and received coverage by more than 200 media outlets in the U.S. and abroad. Launched just a month ago (BA, Feb. 16/74), the campaign has given the company a platform to support the industry in the media in the short term and promote the value of the company’s products in the long term, according to Charles Mayer, the company’s vice president of marketing.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION President and CEO Ed Bolen Friday urged JetBlue President and COO David Barger to pull an advertising campaign that pokes fun at the use of business jets.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION has scheduled its 13th annual Day on the Hill event for May 13. The association will coordinate more than 200 visits for NATA member representatives with their members of Congress and staff.
Used Business Jets, Turboprop Sales Inside And Outside North America For January Used Business Jets Sales – North America ---------------------------------------------------------------- Jan. 2006 Jan. 2007 Jan. 2008 Jan.
GARMIN was granted FAA supplemental type certification for installation of the G1000 avionics suite onboard Beechcraft King Air 200 and B200 aircraft. Garmin said the STC applies to most King Air 200/B200 configurations, including those with Blackhawk engines. The G1000 integrates primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, and engine instruments on a 15-inch multifunction display and two 10.4-inch primary flight displays. The King Air installation includes the GFC 700 automatic flight control system.
BRETT MACLACHLAN was named sales director for Embraer’s Executive Jets team in Asia-Pacific. MacLachlan will be responsible for Executive Jets sales in Australia, New Zealand, The Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. He has more than 10,000 flight hours flying for Qantas Airlines and subsequently private jets. He served as director of operations for Elite Jets Dubai, Dubai Air Wing and Consolidated Press Holdings in Sydney. He also participated in Embraer’s Man-Machine Interface Advisory Group for Embraer products.
QUEST AIRCRAFT CO., based in Sandpoint, Idaho, delivered a Kodiak 100 single-turboprop utility aircraft to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). MAF is a nonprofit ministry that reaches isolated areas throughout the world. The new Kodiak will be flown on a multicity tour this summer before being ferried to Papua, Indonesia, the aircraft’s destination of service. Quest designed the Kodiak for mission operations and humanitarian efforts in remote areas. Quest teamed with MAF 11 years ago to devise a financing arrangement for the mission operations.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT received an order from Massey University of New Zealand to supply 14 Diamond DA40 and DA42 L360 aircraft for the university’s School of Aviation. The order calls for two twin-engine DA42s and 12 DA40 single-engine aircraft. The aircraft, which will be based at Milson Flight Systems Centre at Palmerston North Airport, will replace the school’s current fleet of Piper Warrior single-engine and Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft.
UBS reduced its four-year business jet delivery forecast estimates for 2009-2012 by 44 percent from its 2008 predictions, UBS Analyst David Strauss said in a new report.
DAVE HUNTZINGER joined Baldwin Aviation, an aviation safety and management firm. Huntzinger has a 30-year aviation career, holding a number of safety and security positions at airlines and aerospace companies. He was vice president of safety, security and compliance for two airlines – Korean Air and America West, and held leadership positions at TAG Aviation, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, and Bell Helicopter. He also has served as a safety and security consultant.
MANFRED BAUDZUS was appointed sales director for Executive Jets in Asia-Pacific for Embraer. Baudzus will focus on sales in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. A pilot for 36 years, Baudzus has logged nearly 11,000 flight hours. He had a 25-year career flying executive jets, holding positions as line pilot, chief pilot and aviation manager. He also has headed various aircraft operating companies. He joined Embraer in 2001.
TRIMBLE/FREEFLIGHT SYSTEMS Model 2101 I/O Approach Plus GPS navigation systems [Docket No. FAA-2007-28689; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-17-AD; Amendment 39-15832; AD 2009-05-08] – Upgrade the system software, per the instructions of FreeFlight Systems Service Bulletin 81440-XX-00-19 (dated Dec. 12, 2006). This rule, which was prompted by an incident that led to the discovery of several annunciation errors with the system, is intended to prevent a pilot from making an unsafe decision based on erroneous navigation information provided by the unit.
The European Aviation Safety Agency granted type certification for Diamond Aircraft’s Austro Engine-powered DA42 NG. Certification follows a little more than a month after Diamond won EASA certification for the 170-horsepower Austro Engine AE-300 diesel engines installed on the DA42 NG (BA, Feb. 2/ 47).
